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The best vacuums for bare floors, ranked by Consumer Reports

A rough vacuum can scratch and dull a hardwood finish over time. Consumer Reports tested vacuums for bare-floor cleaning across every type

YoonJae Baik / Unsplash

A vacuum built for carpet can scatter dust and debris across hardwood instead of picking it up, and a rough brush roll can dull a finish over years of use. The right vacuum type varies by home too, since a canister, upright, stick and robot each handle bare floors differently.

Consumer Reports tested canister, upright, stick, robotic and handheld vacuums for bare-floor cleaning, so shoppers can find the right type for their home.

Miele Complete C3 Marin

The Miele Complete C3 Marin sits at the premium end of this lineup as a bagged canister vacuum, and Consumer Reports found canisters like it tend to outperform uprights and sticks on bare floors since they're less likely to scatter dust and debris while cleaning. CR rated it excellent at picking up sand and fine debris in testing, and highlighted a brush on/off switch that cuts down on dust dispersal while protecting a hardwood finish. The vacuum also earned a top-notch score for removing pet hair from carpet, rounding out its performance beyond bare floors. That gentle handling paired with strong pickup places it among CR's top picks in this lineup.

Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog

The Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog sits at the premium end of this lineup as a bagless canister vacuum,........

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