In this article
We’ve written about vacuum cleaners a lot. Take a peek at our archives and you’ll find buying guides for just about every type of vacuum — from the general to the granular, like robot vacuums and vacuums for pet hair — where we’ve painstakingly spoken to cleaning experts, researched and tested dozens of models, and crowdsourced from our own team to figure out which ones are worth your coins. It’s a household staple you kind of have to buy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a high-quality, Strategist-approved vacuum for less than retail price.
Vacuums are one of those products that go on sale all the time, and though the discount can vary greatly, you can usually find some good options for at least 20 percent off. The best time to buy a vacuum doesn’t have to be during Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday sales (though that is when you’ll get the most options). As the Strategist’s deals editor, I spend hours combing the internet’s sales bins and can tell you that I find great deals on vacuums all year round — and I’ve rounded up the best ones that are on sale right now below. This month, I found more handheld vacuums and mops on sale than usual, which makes sense given that summer is prime time for road-trip crumbs and swimsuit drips.
To do find these deals, I went through all of our best-in-class vacuum guides, as well as our home-organization and cleaning-specific posts from last year’s Prime Day, so you can trust that everything here has been vetted by our team. To make it even easier to find what you want, I’ve also broken the deals out into categories: upright and stick vacuums, robot vacuums, handheld vacuums, and carpet cleaners and steam mops.
Upright and Stick Vacuum Deals
Gone are the days of the clunky canister vacuum being the only option to clean your floors. These days, upright and stick vacuums are more high-tech than ever, from countless cordless vacuums to HEPA-filter-equipped models to doubly destroy dust and dander. It’s the most prevalent shape in our best-in-class guides by far, and you can usually find a good deal on some of our favorites at Amazon, Best Buy, or Target at any given time.
This already affordable vacuum is somehow even cheaper right now. “Even though it’s extremely light, this vacuum has a powerful suction that makes picking up pet hair on carpet, rugs, and hard floors a breeze,” says Twila McGee, CEO and founder of pet-care company Nola’s Finest Pets.
Cleaning blogger Sarah McAlister likes the Bissell Zing, which we named our best pick for hard floors. “It’s lightweight, so you can carry it around to get in tight or high-up spaces,” she says.
The Bissell CleanView is our top pick for thoroughly cleaning carpets and rugs.
Weighing in at less than nine pounds, the bagless Shark Rocket easily converts into a hand vacuum complete with three different nozzles.
Robot Vacuum Deals
If you like the idea of a vacuum that does most of the work for you, consider getting a robot vacuum. When these first arrived on the scene, most were pretty pricey — but today, you can find plenty of excellent options for just a few hundred dollars.
The vacuum Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo uses to “maintain a sense of dust-free calm” in her home is $100 off with the on-site coupon.
Handheld Vacuum Deals
I’ve found that handheld vacuums don’t go on sale too often — and when they do, the best deals are during Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. They’re usually on the inexpensive side to begin with, so a difference of 20 percent off versus 30 percent off won’t be more than a couple of dollars.
If you don’t mind that it isn’t cordless, this Dirt Devil vacuum is very inexpensive.
The Black + Decker Dustbuster was one of the original handheld vacuums when it debuted in 1979, and it still holds up. It’s $10 off right now.
This version has a slim nozzle that can reach nooks and crannies underneath a sofa or behind a fridge; it even swivels to let you clean sideways.
This has a slim nozzle that can reach nooks and crannies underneath a sofa or behind a fridge; it even swivels to let you clean sideways.
Carpet Cleaner and Steam Mop Deals
These exist within the same family as vacuum cleaners, so we thought they’d make a helpful addition to this list — especially if you have high-tread areas in your home that need a little extra oomph to get sparkling clean.
Our pick for the best portable carpet cleaner, Bissell’s Little Green comes recommended by cleaning experts, pet owners, and vintage-furniture flippers. “It pushes the water through the fabric and then sucks it back up again, taking all the particles the fabric might have absorbed, like cat hair balls,” says Justin Renard, a marketing consultant and cat dad.
For something heavy-duty, this Hoover uses 360-degree brushes to scrub away dried-on stains from carpets and upholstery.
If you have hardwood floors, your best bet is a vacuum that can tackle both wet and dry messes. This one from Tineco is $60 off (with the on-site coupon) and comes with two roller brushes and two bottles of cleaning solution.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
