5 Vacuums You Should NEVER Buy (And 5 That Actually Clean)

Vacuum marketing sells you wattage and amps, numbers that measure how much electricity a motor draws, not how much dirt a machine actually lifts. The two figures that matter, sealed suction and airflow, rarely make it onto the box. This video breaks down five vacuums, all priced under $200, that test well on those two metrics despite being routinely overlooked for cheaper build materials or a less recognizable brand name. Covered in this video: the Eureka PowerSpeed, a sub-$100 upright with above-average carpet pickup; the Kenmore 22614 bagless canister, rated among the best for bare-floor and pet-hair performance; the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe, measured at roughly 200 air watts of airflow; the Bissell CleanView Compact Turbo, TechGearLab's top ultra-budget pick; and the Kenmore Intuition BU4050, which out-scored its own $325 sibling in Consumer Reports lab testing. Each pick includes the honest trade-off that comes with its price. Because a $150 vacuum that seals well and moves air is still a $150 vacuum, not a replacement for professional deep cleaning.