What To Look For In A Cordless Vacuum

In today's day and age, everything is going wireless. Your phone, headphones and even vacuum cleaners in New Zealand are often giving the power cord the chop. Cordless vacuums are becoming increasingly popular in the Kiwi home, and for good reason. However, like with all good appliances, each make and model comes with its pros and cons. 

At Briscoes, we have a wide variety of vacuum cleaners that are cordless. You can rest assured that all of our options are from leading brands and of fantastic quality. In saying that, certain cordless vacuums are better suited for specific lifestyles and homes. That’s why this guide will take a deep dive into what to look for. That way, you can pick the best appliance for your specific needs. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Benefits of a cordless vacuum

The different kinds of cordless vacuum

Considerations when shopping for a cordless vacuum

The range of cordless vacuums at Briscoes

Let’s get into it! 

Benefits of a cordless vacuum

The benefits of a cordless vacuum go beyond just removing the risk of tripping over. In saying that, this is a big safety benefit. There are many reasons why cordless vacuum cleaners are the best option for many homeowners. Other benefits include:

• Vacuuming outside of the house, like your car
• Easy to manoeuvre in hard-to-reach places
• Automation, like with a robot vacuum

As well as these key selling points, one of the ultimate selling points of a cordless vacuum is convenience. A cordless vacuum is often easy to get out in a pinch for small but urgent clean-up jobs. 

The different kinds of cordless vacuum

Each cordless vacuum will be charged from an outlet or a charging station. However, there are many different kinds of cordless vacuums available. Each of the key types of cordless vacuum is available at Briscoes. Understanding the pros and cons of each is essential to understanding which to buy for your home. 

Stick vacuum

When most people think of a vacuum cleaner that is cordless, their minds will first jump to an image of a stick vacuum. Sometimes called an upright vacuum, this option is usually a vacuum cleaner that is bagless. Other features of a stick vacuum include that they are lightweight and generally quieter than other vacuum cleaners.

Top tip: If you’re vacuuming every week over a lifetime, the potential for damaging your ears certainly shouldn’t be ignored. 

Robot vacuum

Robot vacuums are becoming increasingly popular. These days, much of our life is based around a smartphone. And your vacuuming is no different. One of the key benefits of a robot vacuum is that it can be fully automated and controlled by the push of a button. This means that a robot vacuum can be set up to clean the house while you’re at work. That way, you come home to a nice clean home. Robot vacuums are often small, flat and inconspicuous.

Dustbuster

Dustbusters have been one of the most popular vacuum cleaners in NZ for years. Dustbusters are the true hand-held vacuum as they’re small and lightweight enough to be held and used with one hand. Given its size and shape, a dust buster may need charging more often than other cordless vacuums. However, this also means that a dust buster is fantastic for spot cleaning and reaching awkward areas. Examples of these nooks and crannies include: 

• Down the sides of couches
• In cupboards and pantries
• Stairs
• Highchairs

Considerations when shopping for a cordless vacuum

In an ideal world, you’d probably have every type of vacuum cleaner for your home. However, we all have budget and storage constraints. With that in mind, understanding key considerations and matching a cordless vacuum cleaner's features to your needs is important.  

Variable suction power

You may think that you just switch your vacuum cleaner on and you’re away laughing. However, some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market have variable suction power. Variable suction power means that you’re prepared for any cleanup job. You’ll have a setting for heavy-duty cleaning and a lighter setting for smaller jobs. Using the lighter setting when you can is a good way to save power. Variable suction power is definitely something to look for in a cordless vacuum to help you clean smarter. For more cleaning advice, read our guide, which covers cleaning hot tips. 

Your lifestyle

Vacuum cleaners have come a long way since they were invented way back in 1901. Back then, there weren’t many types to choose from. Nowadays, though, you could say we’re spoilt for choice. When choosing a cordless vacuum cleaner, it’s important to ensure it’s suited to your personal needs. For example, a dust buster would be perfect for sucking up sand in your car if you're a surfer. If you regularly travel for work, a robot vacuum can be great to automate cleaning while you’re away. Other lifestyle factors like having kids or pets also impact how frequently you vacuum, so having a couple of options such as a heavy-duty vacuum and a small handheld vacuum for quick clean ups may be the way to go. 

Budget

Like with any other appliance, cordless vacuum cleaners in NZ come at various price points. Yes, you get what you pay for. However, you still need to buy a vacuum that’s within budget. At Briscoes, we stock cordless vacuums at a range of prices. As well that we offer a best price guarantee. 

Attachments

The best vacuum cleaners in New Zealand often come with many different attachments. Having many attachments mean you’ll be prepared for any clean-up job. So, attachments should definitely be a consideration when shopping. Especially if you have a fluffy carpet or hard-to-reach places in your home, having long nozzles or hoses can be helpful. If you have a hardwood floor, you may want a vacuum cleaner with a brush or mop and vacuum in one. 

Noise

Technology has come a long way, and vacuums aren’t as loud as they used to be. However, many vacuums still make a lot of noise. Luckily, most vacuums specify their DB or noise level so that you can make an informed purchase. If you’re vacuuming regularly, how loud your vacuum is should be a purchasing factor. You don’t want to damage your ears. As well as that, if you have a baby or a pet that spooks easily, a quiet vacuum may also be preferred. Thankfully, given that most cordless vacuum cleaners operate on a battery, they aren’t as loud as their large motor cousins. However, noise shouldn’t be overlooked. 

Top tip: Read our guide that explores the top health benefits of vacuum cleaning your home to learn about the positive impact vacuuming has. 

Charge time

Especially if you plan to use your cordless vacuum every day, how long it takes to charge should impact which make and model you choose. Ideally, you want to buy the cordless vacuum with the lowest charge time. However, for some cordless vacuums, it’s best always to leave them on charge when not in use. For further information on how long a vacuum cleaner should last in general, read our guide that explores how long vacuums should last. 

Battery life

Regarding battery size for a cordless vacuum, it’s a bit of a balancing act. Obviously, you want the battery to last as long as possible. However, the larger the battery, the heavier your vacuum is. If you plan to use your cordless vacuum for cleaning small and intricate areas, you may be ok with a smaller battery size and lightweight vacuum. However, if you plan to vacuum large areas regularly, you may need a vacuum with a larger and heavier battery. Thankfully, all cordless vacuum cleaners in NZ specify their battery size. 

Capacity

Given that some cordless vacuums are smaller than other plug-in models, capacity is a big shopping consideration. Especially when it comes to small dust busters and robot vacuums, there certainly isn’t a large vacuum bag to fill up. If you have pets or know that you’ll regularly fill up your cordless vacuum fast, choosing an option with a large storage capacity may be a good idea.

The range of cordless vacuums at Briscoes

All of the best vacuum cleaners are available at Brisoces. This includes all popular types of cordless vacuum cleaners, including dust busters, stick vacuums and robot vacuums. You can view our large range online or pop into your local Briscoes store to chat with the local team. The brand of dust buster we stock is Black & Decker. Our robot vacuum range includes iRobot. And when it comes to stick vacuums, we stock brands including:

• Electrolux
• Brabantia
• Samsung
• Shark

Looking to buy a cordless vacuum?

At Briscoes, we’re proud of our wide range of appliances, including our vacuum cleaners. If you already have a vacuum, view our range of attachments and vacuum bags. If you’re planning a big spring clean at your place, be sure to read our guide on how to approach a spring refresh. If you’re looking to buy a new vacuum cleaner to fit out your first home, you may want to check out our guide for first home buyers. It features a lot of handy tips and inspiration.