How to choose the best heavy duty vacuum cleaner for your space? Choosing a heavy duty vacuum is a long and hard process that is often a nightmare for business and owners, handymen or even pet owners (we all know that some pets really do require a much stronger equipment). To make this whole journey a bit easier for you, we’ve compiled a varied list of our top 8 vacuum cleaners – both canister and upright, to match your personal needs.
Generally speaking, an industrial vacuum, sometimes also called a heavy duty vacuum, is a vacuum cleaner used for cleaning in industrial settings (often including more than sole vacuuming). The definition is vague because there are many types of industrial vacuums out there!
The best vacuum cleaner for industrial use is essentially one that matches the need of a specific workplace/jobsite and thus it’s hard to point out one, universal model that could work well for everyone. Some people will prefer a large dry/wet, canister vacuum cleaner and some will always choose an upright vacuum cleaner. To make this ranking as diverse as possible, we’ve included both of these types.
TOP 8 Heavy Duty Vacuum Cleaners – 2022
| 1. | Stanley SL18116P Wet/Dry Vacuum |
| 2. | Oreck XL Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner |
| 3. | Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 |
| 4. | Hoover Commercial CH53010 TaskVac |
| 5. | BISSELL 2254 CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner |
| 6. | Shark Navigator Light Upright Vacuum (NV105) |
| 7. | Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet |
| 8. | Dyson 216041-01 Ball Animal Upright Vacuum |
Reviews
1. Stanley SL18116P Wet/Dry Vacuum
First up on our list is a heavy duty vacuum cleaner from Stanley which combines 3 functions: vacuuming dry debris and dirt, vacuuming wet liquid spills and leaf blowing (with the use of a blower port). Stanley’s SL18116P Wet/Dry Vacuum has a 4 peak horsepower motor and a capacity of over 22 liters. These factors make it one of the best industrial vacuum cleaners available on the market – it can handle almost any cleanup job in multiple different settings: jobsites, workshops, garages, basements, vehicles etc.
The cleaning reach of this vacuum cleaner is over 16 ft. This is composed of a 6 ft hose, 10 ft built-in power cord and 3 pieces of extension wands. In addition to that, four swivel casters ensure that the whole machine is easy to manoeuver around the cleaned area.
2. Oreck XL Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Oreck XL Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner is one of the best heavy duty commercial vacuum cleaners which is designed to clean all types of surfaces including wood, laminate, carpet and tile while also being lightweight and compact enough to fit under furniture and cabinets. The upright design of this vacuum cleaner is unique to heavy duty vacuum cleaners but can be a great option for everyone looking for a lightweight (only 9 pounds) and easy to manoeuver around vacuum for their business.
Oreck’s Upright Vacuum Cleaner maintains its maximum power even with a partially filled inner bag as it gets filled toward the top. It’s also equipped with wall bumpers to protect furniture and walls around it and side edge brushes which are useful when cleaning corners and around baseboards. The cord’s length is 35 ft.
3. Craftsman CMXEVBE17595
Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 is a heavy duty vacuum best for home projects and renovations. But it can also work well in the jobsite and as a tool to clean around shops. With the capacity of 60 liters and the horsepower peak of 6,5, it’s ready to tackle all kinds of stubborn messes. It’s a wet/dry vacuum cleaner with a built-in oversized drain that allows for convenient and easy emptying of liquids. On top of that, it comes with a 20 ft power cord, 7 ft dual-flex hose (with the diameter of 2,5 inches) and accessories stored right on board (including extension wands, a car nozzle, a wet nozzle and a utility nozzle). What does the dual-flex hose do and what’s the deal with that? The dual-flex hose basically means that the large and wide hose is resistant to crushing and kinking after bending. The filtration system of the Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 is composed of a cartridge filter and a dustbag.
Like with the previous heavy duty canister vacuum cleaners, the Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 has a blowing port that enables turning this vacuum into a leaf blower whenever needed. And it’s also worth mentioning that in comparison with other Craftsman wet/dry vacuum cleaners it’s among the strongest ones.
4. Hoover Commercial CH53010 TaskVac
Back from the canister vacuum cleaners to the upright ones with this model from Hoover Commercial. It’s not only upright but also bagless which makes maintenance a lot easier and definitely decreases the costs of it. For a commercial industry vacuum cleaner it’s also very lightweight (only 15 pounds) so it’s easy to carry around, up and down the stairs and from one room to another. Additionally, it’s equipped with a 3-wire high visibility cord which is 35 ft long. Last but not least, even changing the belt and accessing the brushroll is easy and effortless – everything you need to do is flip two levers.
Another great feature of this upright vacuum cleaner is the filtration system. It includes a HEPA filter which is able to filter out 99,97% of dust, debris and dirt that’s as small as 0.3 microns which minimizes the secondary pollution (often a big issue with bagless vacuum cleaners).
Taking all of that in consideration, Hoover Commercial CH53010 TaskVac is a good choice for everyone looking for a good quality vacuum cleaner that’s suitable for harder tasks and at the same time remains an upright vacuum with all its advantages (lightness, maneuverability and versatility).
5. BISSELL 2254 CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner
You could definitely say that cleaning some pet hair and messes counts as heavy duty cleaning. BISSELL comes forward with a great offer for pet owners, vet clinic owners and groomers. Their 2254 CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner is equipped with a triple action brush roll and uses a scatter-free technology so it can tackle even deep-embedded pet hair. Triple action means loosening, lifting and removing. And to ensure that no pet hair or mess is left behind, the brush roll picks up debris from one edge to the other with no exceptions. The dirt cup is also easy to empty without getting your hands dirty and has the capacity of one liter.
Bissell 2254 CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet Vacuum Cleaner is a vacuum that’s designed to clean multiple surfaces, from carpets and rugs to hard and bare floors. It’s also easy to deduct from the name that it’s als equipped with swivel steering which makes it great for maneuvering around corners and furniture. Another feature that makes cleaning effortless is a 27 ft cord that’s able to automatically rewind.
What makes this upright vacuum cleaner great for pet owners? It comes with various special pet tools such as the pet hair corner tool and pet turbo eraser tool.
6. Shark Navigator Light Upright Vacuum (NV105)
Another vacuum cleaner on our list is also an upright corded vacuum cleaner, this time from Shark which is a brand that’s known for their upright and stick vacuums. This particular model is a simple vacuum cleaner with a lightweight design (10,8 pounds) that’s easy to maneuver around furniture, small corners and tight spaces.
Shark NV105 is effective on all types of surfaces: the included brushroll is great for a thorough, deep-clean of carpets and after being shut off you can easily clean hard floors without worrying about scuffing or wearing out the surface.
The great thing about Shark Navigator Light Upright Vacuum is the variety of extra tools offered by the manufacturer. The duster crevice tool makes it a good candidate for the best vacuum for construction dust as the crevice tool combined with a soft brush make it easy to dust even the most delicate surfaces. The upholstery tool on the other hand is great for picking up pet hair from furniture and fabrics. Last but not least, the detachable extra-long wand and hose allow for easy access to all hard-to-reach areas which makes cleaning them a breeze.
7. Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet
Once again, an upright vacuum cleaner that’s designed to tackle deep-embedded dirt, pet hair and other stubborn messes. The special feature of this machine is the WindTunnel 3 Technology – the vacuum cleaner has 3 channels of suction. Together they create air flow that’s efficient enough to transport dirt from the extra-wide nozzle to the dirt cup. The dirt’s cup capacity is 1.42 liters which makes it stand out from most upright vacuum cleaners. It has 4 floor height adjustments and a cord that’s 40 ft long.
Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet is equipped with extra accessories that make cleaning even more efficient and effective: a crevice tool (for reaching all tight corners and spaces), a pivoting dusting brush (for flexible dusting on top of furniture) and a turbo tool (for picking up pet hair). Just like with the previous model, the brushroll in this model can be turned off which makes transition from carpets to bare floors easy and quick.
The filtration system in Hoover WindTunnel 3 Max Performance Pet includes a HEPA filter which is able to filter out most debris and pollen, as well as trap pet odors.
8. Dyson 216041-01 Ball Animal Upright Vacuum
A heavy duty vacuum cleaner ranking cannot be ended without a model from Dyson – a true classic among upright vacuum cleaners, especially those for picking up pet hair. This incredibly strong vacuum (1400 Watts) is designed to tackle even the most stubborn messes and has one of the strongest suction of vacuums out there in the market. And with the washable HEPA filter, it expels clean air and avoids secondary pollution.
Dyson Ball Animal is a corded vacuum cleaner that comes with a rich set of accessories for multiple surfaces such as stair tool, combination tool and a tangle-free turbine tool. It’s also equipped with a self-adjusting cleaning head ball technology that makes steering easy and effortless.
What you should consider before buying a vacuum cleaner for your needs?
The best industrial hoover is one that works well for you, your home or your business. Before starting the research assess your budget because this will be the main limiting factor for you. Once you’ve done that, you’re good to dive into depths of internet and vacuum cleaner rankings.
The settings of different environments vary which is why it’s so important to consider the following factors when choosing the heavy duty vacuum cleaner for you:
Type
There are two general types of vacuum cleaners out there: upright and canister vacuum cleaners. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The canister vacuum cleaners usually come with a stronger power and a much bigger capacity. On the other hand, the upright vacuum cleaners have a much more user-friendly design: they’re lighter and easier to maneuver.
Capacity and cleaning reach
Depending on what type of space you’re going to clean and what messes you’re going to be dealing with, you’re going to need different dustbin capacities. It’s an important factor to consider and the range in available industrial vacuum cleaners is very big. Some canister vacuums have the capacity of over 50 liters, while most upright vacuum cleaners oscile around the capacity of 1-2 liters. As you can see, the difference is huge.
Similarly, you should take into account what surface you’re going to clean. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a too short cord and being forced to unplug and plug the vacuum cleaner again in each room.
Filtration system
Filtration system is an important thing to consider even when choosing a regular vacuum cleaner. Potential allergies, breathing problems or simply wanting to avoid secondary pollution are good reasons to search for good filtration options. Generally speaking, one of the best filters to choose is the true HEPA filter. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air and the HEPA filter is able to filter out debris, dirt and pollen that are as small as 0.3 microns.
Special needs?
Do you need a vacuum cleaner that can also clean liquid spills? Would you like a vacuum cleaner that not only vacuum but also mops? Will a vacuum cleaner that can turn into a leaf blower be beneficial to your settings? All these questions should be answered by you before you start your vacuum research. Knowing what extra functions you need apart from simple vacuum cleaning is important because, truly, the options out there are unlimited.