Who said you needed to pay a premium price for a clean home? Honestly, keeping your vacuum cleaner well maintained is the easiest way to get the most bang for buck. Getting down and dirty with your appliance helps maintain a strong suction and keeps the vacuum working as efficiently as possible for longer.
Aside from choosing the right power mode for different tasks, Dyson’s Senior Design Manager of RDD Floorcare, Sallahuddin Mashkuri said even “regularly emptying your vacuums’ bin is essential for your machines health and ensuring you continue to get a deep clean and avoid any kind of blockage”.
“Keeping your cleaner heads in good condition is another way to continue to get the most from your machine,” he told news.com.au.
“Cleaning your vacuum filter is also important to ensure you continue to get the best out of your machine. Simply remove the filter, tap excess dust into the bin, wash with warm tap water – no detergent required – then shake off the excess water and leave it to dry for 24hrs. Your filter must be completely dry before being put back in the machine.
RELATED: Top stick vacuums to buy in Australia
While the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ certainly applies to electronic gadgets, you can still find a cheap vacuum cleaner that can provide just as a satisfying finish as a model that retails for double the price. Some of our favourites include the Dyson V7 Advanced Cordless Stick Vacuum, which one TikToker dubs “one of the best budget vacuum cleaners I’ve ever seen in my entire life”. It’s also currently $200 off, now on sale for just $399. What a bargain!
We’re also loving the Electrolux Ergorapido Classic Stick Vacuum and the eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S Robot Vacuum. Check out our list below to inspire your search for a budget vac.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
In this article
OUR TOP PICKS
OUR TOP PICKS FOR BUDGET VACUUM CLEANERS IN AUSTRALIA
EDITOR’S PICK OF THE BEST AFFORDABLE VACUUMS
Dyson V7 Advanced Cordless Stick Vacuum, $399 (down from $599), Myer
What You Need To Know
The Dyson V7 Advanced is the definition of the saying, “an oldie but a goodie”. It’s almost three times cheaper than the brand’s latest Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, but still offers the same powerful suction the brand is famous for and provides a decent runtime of 40 minutes.
This budget friendly Dyson stick vac also includes the standard Motorbar cleaner head, which contains detangling vanes that automatically remove wrapped hair from the brush bar. You can also expect the combination tool, crevice tool and hygienic bin emptying system.
“I love the Dyson V7. Easy to use, easy to change attachments, and super easy to empty. I can see how much grime it is lifting from my carpets,” praised a shopper on the Myer website.
“Fast, efficient and what I needed for my apartment. The vacuum stores easily, charges quickly and can get around my two bed apartment with ease,” agreed another.
“What a great product! Waited ages to get this in the sale. So pleased I did. Makes a huge difference to our carpets with pets,” a third added.
EDITOR’S PICK OF THE BEST AFFORDABLE VACUUMS FOR CARPET
Pullman CB15 Wet & Dry Commercial Vacuum Cleaner HL151, $269, Godfreys
What You Need To Know
Need a tough carpet cleaner? The Pullman CB15 Wet & Dry Commercial Vacuum Cleaner is one appliance up to the task, boasting a heavy duty stainless steel build and a whopping 15L capacity that’s perfect for large houses and long jobs. It additionally comes with over 10m of cleaning reach, reducing the need to constantly find a power point whenever you move into a new space.
“Great quality vacuum for the price and I will not need to buy a new one for years,” a reviewer posted.
EDITOR’S PICK OF THE BEST AFFORDABLE HANDHELD VACUUMS
Bosch Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Set UniversalVac 18, $189, Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
If you already have a power tool from Bosch’s 18V PowerforAll System, you can save money and opt for a unit without the battery instead. Similar to the three-in-one Bosch AdvancedVac 18V-8 vacuum, you can swap the battery between the gadgets (or always have an extra pack as backup if you want to buy the vacuum with the battery and charger).
This “powerful and light” cheap vacuum cleaner only weighs 1.3kg and comes with multiple attachments to clean a variety of surfaces inside and outside the house.
“Fantastic as a handheld vacuum for small jobs, but definitely not a replacement for a ‘household’ vacuum. I love that it uses the same high quality (and replaceable one day to reduce fire hazards) battery that I can use for lots of other Bosch DIY tools,” an Amazon customer wrote.
BEST CHEAP CORDLESS STICK VACUUMS
BEST STICK VACUUMS UNDER $500
Electrolux Ergorapido Classic Stick Vacuum ZB3501IG, $229 (down from $449), The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
If you like the look of Dyson’s Fluffy Optic cleaner head but don’t want to pay the premium price, you can still light up hard-to-see dust and dirt with the Dustspotter LED lights on Electrolux’s Classic Stick Vacuum.
The model also contains BrushRollClean technology, which uses an internal blade to remove entwined hairs and fibres that can end up clogging the cleaner head and reduce the effectiveness of the vacuum. Plus, it means you won’t need to constantly clean the brush roll yourself.
Tineco iFloor 2 Plus Cordless Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner, $409, Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Another cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaner is the Tineco iFloor 2 Plus. It offers Spot Mode for particularly sticky and stubborn messes, and a one-touch self cleaning function that cleans the brush roll and tubes for easy maintenance. The stick vac also includes a dual tank system to separate clean and dirty water, helping prevent the same grime from being transferred back on the floor and spread across the home.
“This mop is amazing. It used to take me over an hour to mop my large house, changing the dirty water over a few times. And the floor would then be wet for ages, like almost an hour, or I would have to go over the mopped area with a different mop,” praised an Amazon customer.
“ (T) he clean water and dirty water tank are separate, so it’s never pushing dirty water around… No more elbow grease needed here!
“It says it has a battery life of 22 mins but I can do my whole house in well under that. And it dries in 5 minutes, in the middle of winter with no heating on. SO GOOD! No more waiting ages for it to dry or my kid slipping over after I have just told him I had mopped.”
This Tineco stick vacuum is lightweight, self-cleaning and can tackle both wet and dry messes.
BEST CHEAP ROBOT VACUUMS
BEST ROBOT VACUUM UNDER $500
eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S Robot Vacuum, $259.99 (down from $349.99), Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Want a robot cleaner, but prefer to use a remote control than an app? Take a look at the eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S. This cheap robot vacuum has many of the same features you would expect in a more expensive model, such as multiple cleaning modes, scheduling, drop sensors, obstacle avoidance technology and an 0.6L dustbin capacity.
“This product is fantastic… love it! I cannot believe how much dirt it collects – well worth the money,” praised an Amazon customer, rating the robot vac five stars.
“I had many doubts about getting a robot vacuum. I bit the bullet and had no regrets. (It has) simple function(s), can set a schedule (and) not overly loud – not too annoying considering it’s vacuuming the floor,” another reviewer wrote.
“First schedule cleaning went for 1hr 50mins. Requires to be emptied every time (which is simple and rewarding to know what it picks up). (The robot vacuum) gets up on a medium height rug; and navigates pretty well… Worth the investment and I agree, I should have gotten it sooner.”
HOW DO I CLEAN AND MAINTAIN MY VACUUM CLEANER?
It’s a good habit to deep clean your vacuum 12 to 18 months, or when you notice your vacuum isn’t working as efficiently or if there is a bad smell when you empty the canister or vacuum bag.
Here are a few ways you can keep your vacuum cleaner well maintained.
• Remember to check the instruction manual on how to clean your vacuum correctly.
• Clean the brush and bristles after every use, especially if you have a robot vac.
• Clean or replace filters around every one or two months.
• Use scissors de-tangle any hair wrapped around the roller brush, plus and dust bunnies stuck in the crevices at the end.
• Soak and rinse any washable parts in hot water and mild detergent. Use an old toothbrush to scrub off any stubborn dried-in grime.
• For robot vacuums, make sure to wipe the sensors with a microfibre cloth and scrub the wheels with a brush.
• Always leave any washed parts to air dry completely before reattaching them to the main body.
ARE BAGGED OR BAGLESS VACUUM CLEANERS BETTER?
Bagged vacuum cleaners are ideal for those with allergies or anyone who wants to make sure any dust, debris and allergens stay trapped inside the bag and don’t escape back into the air when you’re emptying the vacuum. Some vacuum bags also hold more dirt and make maintenance less messy since they’re usually designed with a built-in filter, which makes it easier to maintain the vacuum filter.
Alternatively, bagless vacuum cleaners tend to be cheaper, more environmentally friendly and offer convenient access if you need to retrieve something that has been accidentally sucked up.
Bagged vacuum cleaners
Pros of having a bagged vacuum cleaner
• Less messy to empty: having all the dust, hair, crumbs and dirt contained in a bag makes it easy to empty. There’s also little chance the debris will blow back into the hair, which isn’t ideal for someone with allergies.
• Doesn’t need to be emptied as often: bagless vacuum cleaners need to be emptied after every clean, while but vacuum bags only need to be disposed once they’re full. You will also need to clean the canister more frequently since it’s constantly in direct contact with all the debris.
Cons of having a bagged vacuum cleaner
• Expensive: you will need to buy replacement bags every few months. The cost can vary from around $5 for a single bag and reach up to $85 for a large pack, depending on what you need. Bagged vacuum cleaners themselves also tend to be pricier than bagless units, too.
• Ongoing maintenance: in addition to regular cleaning, you will also need to replace the vacuum bag once it’s full – which is usually every three months, depending on how often you vacuum and how much dust and dirt it picks up.
Bagless vacuum cleaners
Pros of having a bagless vacuum cleaner
• Saves time and money: bagless vacuum cleaners don’t require ongoing costs and involve less maintenance.
• Environmentally friendly: bagless vacuum cleaners don’t have the ongoing cost and are environmentally friendly since you won’t need to also throw away a bag. Keep in mind that if you don’t replace the bag, it can impact the effectiveness of the vacuum – similar to how not cleaning the brush head can affect how well it picks up debris.
Cons of having a bagless vacuum cleaner
• They’re tricky to replace: vacuum bags are not always super simple to replace, unless you’re working with a bagged robot vacuum like those from Ecovacs and iRobot which easily slot in and out.
• Requires frequent maintenance: you may need to clean and replace the main filter regularly. All vacuum cleaners should be properly maintained by brushing and washing anyway, but bagless are more high maintenance and need to be freshened up more frequently.
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