How We Research
Every guide on SleekSill starts with one question: will this product work for the person who is shopping for it? For our upright vacuums guides, that means your floors, your pets and how much vacuum you want to push and lift.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with your floors and your home
Thick carpet, hardwood and homes with pets each need something different. A vacuum that suits a stairwell may be too heavy for a small apartment.
We check the height settings, the brush roll controls and the weight the maker lists. When your floors limit the choice, we say what to look for.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at weight, cord length, bin or bag, filter type, hose and attachments, swivel steering and whether the body lifts away.
Shark, Bissell, Hoover, Eureka and Dyson describe their motors, brush rolls and filters in their own words, so we name the brand for every claim. We also note the warranty terms the maker lists.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using an upright. We look for patterns, like hair wrapping the brush roll, clogged hoses, loud motors, short cords or parts that crack.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A vacuum that's great for pet hair may score lower in a guide written for hardwood.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Shark Navigator, Bissell CleanView and Dyson Ball each come in several versions with similar names, so we check each model name and code, and we only link new units.
When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have used every vacuum we cover.
Vacuums run on mains power and have a spinning brush roll. Unplug a vacuum before you clear a clog or change a part, and follow the maker's manual for care and repairs.
We make no health claims about filters, allergies or air quality, and when a maker makes a claim, we label it as the maker's claim.