WE TEST… handheld vacuums
Beldray wet and dry handheld vacuum cleaner, £30, Wilko Weighing less than 1kg, this cordless vacuum makes light work of cleaning up dust and debris around your home. Great on skirting, coving and shelves, it will return them to sparkling condition with the crevice and brush attachments, which you can use on wet spills as well. On a full charge, the vacuum lasted for about 20 minutes and was quiet too, though the suction could have been stronger as it took a few attempts to pick up dirt from a woollen rug.
Shark cordless HandVac CH950UKT handheld vacuum £59, AO.com
Lightweight and stylish, this vacuum earns its price tag. The motorised turbo tool is great at picking up pet hair off the carpet and sofa. However, some longer hair got stuck in the bristles and was a little tricky to pull out. It has a run time of 10 minutes on a fourhour charge, so remember to plug it in after use. We would have liked this vacuum to have a dock for neat storage and charging, but it performs well and is worth the spend.
Handheld vacuum, £15, Dunelm Although this vacuum is the cheapest, it’s surprisingly good. It’s great at sucking up crumbs from tables and chairs, but isn’t quite powerful enough to tackle pet hair on carpets. With a run time of 10 minutes, it’s best for short bursts around the house. It takes seven hours to power up, so don’t forget to charge it after use. It feels fairly lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. It’s an excellent choice and good value if you need something small for a quick pick up.
Gtech Multi MK2 handheld vacuum cleaner, £149.99, Gtech/Amazon
As the most expensive vacuum on test, did this sleek, green, cleaning machine live up to expectations? It comes with a crevice tool, dusting brush and power head, which is great on carpets and wood. After a four-hour charge the Gtech powers up and, boy, it means business!
The suction is impressive, and runs for 20 minutes. There’s a handy light, too, so you can rummage around in your darkest corners. An investment, but worth it.