Commercial vacuum cleaners are quite different from residential vacuums. Typically, you need them for business purposes, and since you use them everyday, they are required to last longer, cover more area, and stand up to more abuse then a typical vacuum. The best commercial vacuum cleaners can be used for larger homes too, that warrant the power but also the price of these awesome cleaners.
Types of commercial vacuums
Canister Vacuum
A canister vacuum can either come in the form of a canister with wheels that you pull around a room, or it can come with a shoulder harness. They are typically quieter than upright vacuums and are great for cleaning hard surfaces as they are less likely then uprights to scatter debris. They also come with a variety of detailing tools that help you clean any size room quickly and professionally.
Upright Vacuum
Compared to canister vacuums, they typically do a better job cleaning carpets, and they take up less storage space. Strangely, they generally do not come with detailing tools.
Backpack
Commercial backpack vacuums consist of a canister vacuum worn as a backpack. They come
with a variety of detailing tools, and since you wear the vacuum on your back, you can clean small spaces much more easily than you can with an upright vacuum.
Bagless versus Bagged Vacuum
Bagless vacuum cleaners eliminate the need to empty or replace bags. They require less effort to maintain, and they do a better job of maintaining suction power while filling the dirt tank.
However, if you suffer from allergies or asthma, bagless vacuums may not be a good choice because emptying the dirt tank several times each day exposes you to all of the allergens you are attempting to remove from the room. For people with allergies, bagged vacuums are a better choice as they are typically sealed, significantly decreasing exposure to allergy or asthma triggering pollutants.
Options To Consider When Buying A Commercial Vacuum Cleaner
Cord length
For a commercial vacuum, cord length is an extremely important feature. Depending on the type of buildings you will be cleaning, the length of the cord could either help or hinder your work. In general, power cords range in length from 30 to 50 feet. Make sure to choose a length that is appropriate to the size of the areas you will be cleaning. For example, spending time plugging in and unplugging your vacuum wastes time and decreases profit. Conversely, you do not want to be constantly tripping over a cord that is too long for the area you are cleaning.
Weight
Commercial cleaning is a difficult job. Do not add to its difficulty by purchasing a vacuum heavier than you can comfortably handle.
Suction power
Most commercial vacuum have excellent suction power. However, you must keep in mind the type of cleaning you will be doing and choose your commercial vacuum accordingly. For example, cleaning carpets requires more surface suction power than that required by vacuums used for cleaning debris-laden areas. For carpets, uprights provide more suction power.
Filter type
If you suffer from allergies or asthma, it is very important to consider a commercial vacuum with an air purifier and True HEPA filter. Hepa-type filters, for instance, are not the same as True HEPA filters. HEPA-type filters will handle 99 percent of particles in the room, dust and pet dander, for example, which are two microns or larger.
However, True HEPA filters will filter 99.97 percent of particles in the room, including allergens and odor particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Cleaning path size
Cleaning path is a vacuum’s maximum cleaning width. In terms of commercial vacuums, it is best to get the widest possible cleaning path that matches the areas you will be vacuuming. For instance, if the room is expansive and has few obstacles, a vacuum with a wide cleaning path will decrease your work time and increase your profits.
If, however, you will be cleaning areas with lots of furniture and other objects, you may want to consider a smaller cleaning path to decrease the likelihood of repeatedly bumping into objects.
Noise pollution
This may or may not be a consideration. However, if you are cleaning in settings where the noise of the vacuum may annoy workers in adjacent offices, you should consider the noise level of the vacuum.
Detailing tools
Quality detailing tools can make or break your cleaning experience. Fortunately, there are a lot of options available with both commercial canister and backpack vacuums. Uprights, unfortunately, typically do not come with detailing tools. For uprights, if detailing tools exist, they must be purchased separately.
Carpet and Rug Institute
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) tests and rates vacuum effectiveness. A gold rating is the highest achievable score a vacuum can receive.
Best Commercial Vacuum Cleaners Reviewed
Clearly, there are a lot of things to consider when purchasing a commercial vacuum. Following are the top commercial vacuums.
Best Canister Commercial Vacuum Cleaners
BISSELL BigGreen Commercial Bagged Canister Vacuum
Features
With the BigGreen commercial canister vacuum by Bissell, you can switch between suction power and brush height to accommodate any floor type. Additionally, it comes with a metal telescoping wand that will increase your cleaning reach. Upholstery, dusting, and crevice tools are included. The rubber gaskets along the lid and filters ensure the vacuum is sealed.
Pros
lightweight
use on carpet, upholstery, stairs, and floors
50-foot power cord
three-stage True HEPA filtration system
Cons
no rotating brush on floor head
Note: this vacuum offers extremely powerful suction and may lift up a carpet. When vacuuming a carpet, it is recommended that you set the vacuum to low suction.
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Hoover CH30000 PortaPower Lightweight Commercial Canister Vacuum
Features
The Hoover CH30000 PortaPower commercial lightweight canister vacuum cleaner is a lightweight, 8.3 pound canister vacuum designed to mitigate the fatigue caused by heavier commercial vacuums.
The compact design allows you to easily fit into smaller areas, such as stairwells, hallways, or the interiors of vehicles. Likewise, the extended reach this model affords makes cleaning hard to reach places, such as drapes and upholstery, a breeze. The paper bag option is great for quick dust vacuuming while the reusable commercial grade cloth bag is an excellent choice for cleaning those heavier duty messes that might contain sharp objects.
Pros
33-foot power cord
8.3 pounds
easily reaches tight spaces
reusable cloth bag with paper option
built-in blower
Cons
lack of wheels
If you are wanting to vacuum large areas of carpet, you may not want to carry the vacuum the whole time.
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Oreck Commercial BB900DGR XL Pro 5 Super Compact Canister Vacuum
Features
Whether you carry it on your shoulder or by hand, the lightweight Pro 5 canister vacuum by Oreck is a compact canister vacuum designed especially for portability.
Using the extension wand, you can easily clean ceiling fans, overhead vents, ceiling light fixtures, curtains, and crown molding. Additionally, the wand is adjustable to the exact length needed.
A 48-inch vacuum hose adds even more reach. Finally, the long power cord allows you to clean large areas without having to continually switch from outlet to outlet.
Pros
4-amp, two-stage bypass motor
30-foot power cord
a variety of detailing tools to meet any vacuuming need
Cons
disposable bags increase cost
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Best Upright Commercial Vacuum Cleaners
Sanitaire SC899F Commercial Shake Out Bag Wide Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Features
The Sanitaire SC899F upright commercial vacuum is perfect for use in hotels and other large settings, such as government and educational buildings. It has a 16-inch wide cleaning path, which makes quick work of any room, small or large. Additionally, Sanitaire’s “no-tools-necessary,” shake-out bag system makes emptying the contents quick and easy while also negating the need for spending money on replacement bags.
Pros
50-foot cord
16-inch cleaning path
dry dust capacity: 18 quarts
7-amp motor
Cons
detailing tools not included.
non-HEPA filtration
Note: Individuals with allergies or any type of lung issue may want to look for another commercial vacuum that includes a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system.
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Sanitaire SC888K Commercial CRI Approved Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Features
The allergen filtration system and the Arm-and-Hammer odor-fighting-system make the Sanitaire SC 888K commercial upright vacuum safe and pleasant for allergy sufferers. The 7-amp motor ensures this vacuum will last, and there are six different height adjustments available, making it a snap to clean any carpet pile: low, medium, or high. Finally, the removable chamber makes access to the impeller fan quick and easy.
Pros
allergen filtration
Arm and Hammer odor eliminator
50-foot power cord
CRI approved
Cons
12-inch cleaning path
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Oreck Commercial XL Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner, XL2100RHS
Features
The Oreck XL2100RHS is designed with ease of cleaning in mind. At eight pounds, it is extremely lightweight, making maneuvering in any setting effortless. Its “Helping Hand” handle earned this XL model the coveted Ease-of-Use Commendation award from the Arthritis Foundation.
Additionally, it includes an automatic floor-adjustment feature that enables you to go from carpet to any hard surface without having to manually adjust the height of the vacuum. Finally, the side edge brushes allow you to get close to baseboards and cabinets.
Pros
power switch on handgrip
roller brush is high-speed
side-edge brushes
automatic adjustment between carpet and floor
Cons
shorter than average power cord
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Best Backpack Commercial Vacuum Cleaners
Hoover Commercial Lightweight Backpack Vacuum, C2401
Features
Hoover has designed a lightweight commercial backpack vacuum that takes its user’s comfort into account. For instance, the C2401 is under ten pounds, and it comes with a harness designed by a chiropractor. The design is intended to ensure the least amount of strain. Additionally, the design is compact, allowing you to clean small areas and narrow passages with ease.
In terms of noise, you will not annoy anyone around you as this vacuum is designed to be operate very quietly.
It comes with a 48-foot power cord, and buyers have the option of either a disposable paper bag or permanent cloth liner that requires shaking and cleaning. Finally, it includes a True HEPA filter, so there is no need to worry about allergens.
Pros
True HEPA filter
harness specially designed to reduce strain
quiet motor
four detailing tools
lightweight
Cons
The 6.4 quart capacity might be too small for bigger jobs.
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ProTeam Backpack Vacuums, Super CoachVac Commercial Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
Features
The ProTeam Backpack vacuum by Super CoachVac is an extremely quiet, versatile, and maneuverable commercial backpack vacuum. The motor is powerful enough to handle any surface: stairs, carpets, hard surfaces, or upholstery, and its size allows for effortless maneuvering around objects, such as chairs, desks, couches, and office equipment.
The 10-quart debris capacity is perfect for cleaning large areas and cuts down on emptying time. In terms of efficiency, the ProTeam backpack costs up to 77 percent less to operate each year. Also, in terms of speed, it can cover 7,407 square feet (sf) in one hour. In general, this backpack commercial vacuum is perfect for high-traffic settings like universities, college campuses, and schools.
Pros
HEPA Media Filtration with advanced, quad-level filtration
10-quart capacity
CRI certified: gold level
66 dBA makes it extremely quiet to operate
50-foot power cord
Cons
The ProTeam backpack is designed for large, high-traffic areas. It may not be a good fit for smaller, low-traffic venues.
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Best Bagless Commercial Vacuum Cleaners
Oreck Commercial TaskVac Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, CK93010
Features
The bagless TaskVac cordless vacuum cleaner is for cleaning small areas that experience high traffic. The cordless technology allows you to use it quickly and easil–even when surrounded by others in public areas.
It is powerful enough to pick up debris off the floor or dirt embedded in carpet. The brush-roll can be turned off when using it on floors, which helps avoid scattering debris or scuffing the floor. TaskVac’s lightweight design also includes a scuff guard to protect walls, baseboards, and furniture from scratches or nicks.
Pros
cordless
bagless
scuff guard
hands-free, bottom-release dirt tank
Cons
short battery life: 25 minutes.
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2018 Prolux 2.0 Commercial Bagless Backpack Vacuum with Deluxe 1 1/2 inch Tool Kit Pro Model
Features
The Prolux 2.0 Commercial Bagless Backpack Vacuum is so revolutionary that it has been patented. In addition, the vortex chamber has been slightly improved, allowing the HEPA filter to self clean, basically eliminating filter clogs. As a result, the Prolux 2.0 will never lose suction.
The HEPA filters are washable, and the backpack is compact and lightweight, making it easy to maneuver while cleaning. With the 125 cubic feet per minute (CFM) thermal protection and specially designed valve technology, burned-out motors are a thing of the past.
Pros
patented technology
40-percent more efficient
self-cleaning HEPA filter
three prong, commercial grade, 50-foot extension cord
improved straps
improved chamber seals
adjustable telescopic wand
Cons
Since this vacuum is bagless, you may wanted consider another vacuum if you suffer from asthma or allergies.
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