Topic
Carpets and stairs
Carpet cleaning depends on a stiff-bristled motorised head and enough suction to pull dust from the pile. Stairs need a light handheld with a small motorised tool.
- Carpet head
- Stiff bristles, motorised
- Stairs
- Handheld plus mini tool
Deep pile and rugs need a motorised head with stiff bristles; a soft roller glides over the top. Some machines raise suction automatically when they sense carpet, which shortens the runtime.
For stairs, take the wand off and use the handheld with a mini motorised tool. Check the handheld weight in kg: lighter units are easier on a full flight.
Guides on this topic
- How to vacuum stairs with a cordless vacuumStep by step: handheld mode, the right tool for treads and risers, which power mode to use and how to make one battery cover a full flight of carpeted stairs.How-to
- Which Dyson head for carpet, hard floor or sofa?Every common Dyson cleaner head and tool explained, the floor or surface each one suits, and which heads come with the V8, V12, V15 and Gen5 models.Guide
- Are stick vacuums good for carpet?Stick vacuums handle most UK carpets well with a motorised head. Learn the limits on deep pile, how boost drains the battery and when a corded machine helps.Guide
Buying guides on this topic
- Best cordless vacuums for carpetSix cordless sticks compared for carpet on motorised head design, automatic power control, runtime, bin size and weight, from Dyson, Samsung and more.Buying guide
- Best cordless vacuums for stairsSeven cordless sticks that convert to handhelds compared for stairs on mini tool, listed weight, runtime, bin size and handheld conversion.Buying guide