Are you looking for a way to keep your concrete floors clean? If so, you’re not alone. Whether they’re installed in a garage, office building, or home, concrete floors are notorious for being a bit grimy. This is especially true for unsealed floors, which are prone to dusting. What if I told you that a vacuum for concrete floors was the solution you’re looking for?
Before you scoff in disbelief, hear me out. Vacuums are a great tool for picking up everything from hair to dust. While they’re typically associated with carpets, vacuums can do wonders to keep your concrete floors pristine. They can pick up loose debris and dust with ease.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about kicking up dust like you would with an old broom. The best vacuums for concrete floors are equipped with filters and sealed dust containers to keep the air clean. They do all of that work while helping you get the job done in only a fraction of the time it would take you to use a broom.
Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Check out our list of the best concrete floor vacuums below. We’ve done the hard work for you. Later on in this guide, we’ll also go over some of the most important things to look for when you’re shopping. But before that, here are some great vacuum cleaners that deserve your attention.
Reviewing the Best Vacuums for Concrete Floors
Product | Power Cord | Weight | Price |
---|---|---|---|
1. Bissell 1785A (Editor’s Choice) | 25 ft. | 11 lbs | Check Price |
2. Bissell 1161 | 16 ft. | 9.1 lbs | Check Price |
3. Oreck U2000RB1 | 40 ft. | 8.0 lbs | Check Price |
4. iRobot Roomba 960 | Wi-fi | 8.6 lbs | Check Price |
5. Bissell Spinwave 2039A | 22 ft. | 11 lbs | Check Price |
6. Kenmore Elite 31150 | 35 ft. | 20 lbs | Check Price |
7. Miele Grey Classic C1 | 29.5 ft. | 10 lbs | Check Price |
1. Bissell CrossWave Wet Dry Vacuum 1785A
This vacuum from Bissell is a truly multi-functional machine. Not only does it vacuum up dirt and debris, but it can also mop your concrete floors clean.
Technology:
The two-in-one vacuum features a mopping function. You can use the dry vacuum feature to remove loose dirt and debris. Then, fill the water tank and scrub the floor clean. The soft brush is safe for concrete and acts as a mop to remove grime.
Performance:
Across the board, this vacuum does a great job. Suction power is surprisingly strong. When you consider the fact that this product also has to suck up dirty water, it makes sense. It doesn’t use traditional cyclone technology like other vacuums, but it manages to perform well nonetheless.
Specs:
- Upright vacuum
- Washing function
- Multi-surface brush roll
- Wet and dry tank
- 25-foot cord
- Weighs less than 12 pounds
- Can be used on carpeted and bare floors
- Intuitive controls
- Brush spins at 3,500 RPM
- Strong suction power
- Versatile operation
- Sometimes leaves streaks
- Not great for grout lines or transitions
Final Verdict:
The Bissell CrossWave is one of the best vacuums for concrete floors. It’s an all-in-one unit that you can use to keep your floors pristine. It beats paying for separate cleaners.
Check out the latest vacuum mop combos and steam cleaners for most effective and lasting cleaning experience.
2. Bissell Canister Vacuum 1161
- Dirt cup capacity - 1.0 liter. Powerful, Yet Cleans Delicately To Protect Your Floor Surfaces
Another option from Bissell is this canister vacuum. It’s purposely built to work with smooth floors, so it has some handy features that work great with concrete.
Technology:
While this machine can be used to clean everything from carpets to drapes, it comes with a special hard floor tool. It looks like a standard vacuum head, but it utilizes a soft-bristle brush. The brush can polish your concrete floors while removing stubborn grime.
Performance:
The cool thing about this vacuum is that it has an adjustable power system. You can choose from five different power settings, making it easy to adjust performance based on the particular job you’re doing.
Specs:
- Canister vacuum
- Retractable cord
- Bagless
- Non-skid wheels
- Adjustable power settings
- 1-liter capacity
- Soft-bristle brush is safe for bare floors
- No-mess dust bin
- Fingertip controls
- Weighs less than 10 pounds
- Comes with attachments
- Hose only compatible with Bissell attachments
- Uses disposable filters
Final Verdict:
All in all, this vacuum fits the bill. It’s tough enough to pick up debris but gentle enough not to harm your floors. What’s not to like?
3. Oreck Commercial U2000RB1
- LIGHTWEIGHT: Easy to use at 9 pounds for transportation from room to room and up stairways
If you’re looking for a simple vacuum cleaner, this model may be for you. It’s a traditional upright that only has one function. While it doesn’t have any accessories, the vacuum does a fine job at cleaning any type of surface.
Technology:
The most notable feature of this vacuum is its ability to automatically adjust to the floor you’re cleaning on. You can effortlessly move from carpeted floors to concrete without having to make any adjustments. The head will move closer to the floor on its own to maximize suction.
Performance:
Don’t let the simple looks of this vacuum fool you. It’s more than capable of finishing up big cleaning projects. Not only is it powerful, but the double-helix brush spins at 6,500 times per minute! Luckily, the bristles are not stiff enough to do damage to hard floors.
Specs:
- Upright vacuum
- Bagged vacuum
- Double-helix brush
- 40-foot cord
- Automatic height adjustments
- Great maneuverability
- Simple operation
- Weighs 9 pounds
- Top fill bag
- Assembly required
- Doesn’t come with attachments
- No accessory hose
Final Verdict:
Despite its no-frills design, the Oreck vacuum checks off all the boxes. It’s a commercial-grade machine that offers powerful performance regardless of the type of floor you’re cleaning.
4. iRobot Roomba 960
- Capacity volume - .82 liter. Power-Lifting Suction delivers 5X the air power for improved pick-up performance
Bring your cleaning efforts into the 21st century! The iRobot vacuum can take of daily cleaning tasks on its own, letting you enjoy your clean home.
Technology:
A series of sensors work to help this little machine make its way around your house. It can dodge furniture, enter multiple rooms, and avoid any obstacles it may encounter. Thanks to the intuitive mobile app, you can schedule cleanings to work around your life. It’ll automatically dock at the end of every session for charging.
Performance:
Below the vacuum, you’ll find two rubber brushes. They’re designed to help direct dirt into the suction head. Because they’re flexible, you don’t have to worry about any damage to your concrete floors. The rubber actually helps to improve suction significantly, making it easy for this vacuum to pick up debris in one pass.
Specs:
- Robot vacuum
- Power-lift suction
- Bagless
- Efficient filtering system
- Connects to smartphone app
- Rubber brushes
- Easy to control with app or voice commands
- Brushes safe for concrete
- Proximity sensors
- Sweeping brush
- Small dust bin capacity
- Doesn’t do well with corners
Final Verdict:
There’s a lot to love about this compact machine. It’s a must-have tool for anyone who likes to keep their home clean but doesn’t enjoy doing any of the work.
5. Bissell Spinwave 2039A
- Powered hard floor mop scrubs your floors so you don't have to
Say goodbye to mud stains and stubborn grime. The Bissel Spinwave can take care of caked-on messes in only a few seconds. It’s a convenient tool that you can use to provide a deep clean for your concrete floors.
Technology:
Unlike other products we recommended, this one isn’t like a normal suction vacuum. It’s a powered mop that can scrub away dirt. After you fill the large reservoir with water or cleaning solution, you can spray your floor and scrub away. The included pads absorb the mess.
Performance:
When it comes to performance, this product beats out traditional mops by a mile. The rotating pads spin in opposite directions. Not only is this efficient for tough messes, but it also helps you keep water contained as you clean.
Specs:
- Powered mop
- Comes with washable cleaning pads
- Works with water or cleaning solution
- 22-foot cord
- Swivel system
- Easy to move around
- Pads are safe on sealed concrete
- Quiet operation
- Spray trigger
- Weighs less than 12 pounds
- Doesn’t suck up debris
- May leave streaks
Final Verdict:
While it’s not a vacuum in the traditional sense, this is a great machine to have in your arsenal. It can be used periodically to restore your floors’ shine.
6. Kenmore Elite 31150
- BAGGED UPRIGHT VACUUM: Remove pet hair, dust and more with this multifloor, multi-surface designed vacuum for use in your home, den, or kitchen with a wide sweeper path
From Kenmore is this beast of a vacuum. It uses a very powerful motor to deliver some impressive suction power.
Technology:
There’s some unique technology within this machine. Beyond the high-tech motor, the vacuum is sporting an infrared dirt sensor. It scans the ground as your work. When it senses an area that needs some special attention, a light on the vacuum will let you know.
Performance:
Inside this unit, there’s a 3D Inducer motor. Basically, it’s three separate motors that work together to produce very strong airflow. Kenmore takes advantage of all that air with the beater brush. Rather than using a traditional belt-driven system, it’s powered by a wind turbine.
Specs:
- Upright vacuum
- Bagged
- Comes with HEPA filter
- 3D Inducer Motor
- 35-foot cord
- 5 height adjustments
- Comes with accessory hose and attachments
- Infrared dirt sensor
- Good for pet hair
- Built-in LED lights
- Can be hard to maneuver
- Can’t turn off brush
- Heavy
Final Verdict:
Kenmore has a solid reputation for producing some great home products. This vacuum takes the cake. With its high-performance motor, it’ll serve you well on carpets, concrete floors, and anywhere else you want to use it.
7. Miele Grey Classic C1
- This powerful but quiet German-engineered bagged canister vacuum has a combination floor head that is ideal for cleaning hard floors. High suction power – 1,200 W
You might not have heard of Miele before, but this vacuum is certainly deserving of your attention. It’s a canister vacuum that works great on smooth surfaces like concrete.
Technology:
There isn’t a traditional rolling beater brush on this unit. Instead, it has a combination suction head. Rubberized wheels help it glide over concrete without causing any hard. It’s placed quite close to the ground, making it easy to suck up debris.
Performance:
The vacuum is powered by a German-engineered Vortex motor. With 1,200 watts of power, it’s more than capable of handling any cleaning job. Plus, the suction level is adjustable. Just turn the knob to choose between gentle suction or maximum power.
Specs:
- Canister vacuum
- Multiple performance settings
- AirClean filtration
- 1,200 watts of power
- 29.5-foot retractable cord
- Bagged
- Comes with several attachments
- Lightweight
- Cleans the air as you work
- High-capacity bag
- Can be used on bare floors
- Doesn’t have any wheels
- Requires proprietary bags
Final Verdict:
The Miele vacuum has a lot to offer. Thanks to its versatile performance, it’s one of the best vacuums for concrete floors.
A Complete Buying Guide for Concrete Floor Vacuums
When it comes to maintaining your concrete floors, a standard vacuum just won’t do. Concrete floors have a lot of unique needs that you must address. While concrete is much more durable than hardwood or tile, they’re not immune to damage. Not only that, but you need to make sure that the vacuum you choose will work on the bare surface of the concrete. We’ve created this buying guide to help you find the best concrete floor vacuum sweeper that money can buy.
Features to Consider When Investing in a Vacuum for Concrete Floors
-
Type
There are a few different kinds of vacuum cleaners out there. While most of us are familiar with that iconic upright design, a lot has changed in the last few decades. Choosing the right one for you comes down to personal preference. However, each kind of vacuum has a unique design that could sway your decision.
Traditional uprights tend to be the bulkiest option on the market. They have huge dust canisters and are usually more powerful, too.
If you need something a bit more portable and lightweight, you can go with a stick vacuum. With a stick model, the motor and dust bin are located on the handle. A long suction tube is used to take care of debris. Despite the compact size, modern stick vacuums have plenty of power to get the job done.
Next up, we have canister vacuums. They’re a nice balance between upright and stick vacuums. The core components that make the machine work are located in one central unit with wheels. A lengthy hose lets you clean up your home from top to bottom.
Robot vacuums are the newest craze to hit the cleaning world. They pretty much take care of the entire job for you. Equipped with sensors and advanced artificial intelligence, robot vacuums can be set to clean on a schedule to keep your space clean at all times.
Any of these vacuums will work great on concrete floors. However, you do need some special features. Which brings us to our next point…
-
Cleaning Job to Perform
Like we mentioned earlier, your average old vacuum isn’t going to cut it on concrete floors. With a traditional vacuum, the goal is to pick up dirt from between carpet fibers for removal. Of course, concrete doesn’t have fibers to deal with. So, the fundamental design of the vacuum needs to accommodate bare floors.
Believe it or not, many vacuums are capable of taking care of smooth floors. The trick is to get a machine that can perform different types of cleaning jobs. Models that allow you to turn off the beater brush are ideal. Firm bristles are fully capable of marring up the finish of your floors. If you don’t have the option to turn off the brush, at least make sure that it’s soft enough to not do damage.
Adjustable vacuum heights are important too. Having the ability to lower the suction head closer to the ground makes it easier for the machine to suck up debris. You see, carpets have a bit of give to them. This allows the vacuum cleaner to get closer to the carpet pad where all the dust is. Concrete doesn’t have that luxury, so you need to be able to move is closer to the floor.
-
Suction Power
The point of a vacuum cleaner is to suck up dirt, so strong suction power is a must! There are several specifications that indicate the strength of a vacuum. Generally, a higher watt or air watt rating is a good measurement to go by.
It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the type of technology used. Cyclone technology is all the rage these days and pretty much guarantees you that the vacuum is powerful.
-
Bagged or Bagless
When you’re shopping for that perfect vacuum for concrete floors, you’ll find models that utilize bags and some that don’t. Bagless varieties are quite popular these days because of their simplicity. You don’t have to worry about buying bags, which can help to reduce the overall cost of your machine in the long run. Usually, you can simply empty out the contents of the dust bin with one press of a button.
Bagged vacuums have their merits, too. They can hold much more debris than bagless models. Plus, if you have allergies, the bag can keep stray dust contained a bit better. Unlike bagless vacuums, you won’t even have to see the dirt.
Generally speaking, the type of dust repository system a vacuum has won’t affect its performance. As long as it has a good filtration system, you shouldn’t have to worry about dust flying everywhere.
-
Corded or Cordless
In our wireless world, it’s no surprise that battery-powered vacuum cleaners are popular. Cordless models let you clean your home untethered. But you have to consider the downsides. Cordless vacuums have limited runtimes. Not only that, but batteries can degrade over time.
With corded stick vacuum cleaners, you don’t have to worry about any of that. They can provide consistent suction power for as long as you need it. But, short cord lengths can make your cleaning duties a bit more frustrating. These machines can also prevent you from getting into hard-to-reach spots.
-
Capacity
A vacuum cleaner’s capacity will affect how much surface area you can clean before you need to empty it out. Generally, upright and canister vacuums offer the most capacity on the market. Stick vacuums usually have a much smaller canister to improve portability. The same goes for robot vacuums, which have very small repositories that you need to empty out regularly.
Ultimately, you need to think about which feature is more important to you. If portability is your top priority, you will have to sacrifice capacity. Keep this in mind when you’re shopping.
-
Attachments
Attachments can turn a standard vacuum into a multipurpose cleaning machine! The vacuum industry has come up with a wide range of tools. It’s common to see a couple thrown in when you buy a vacuum. Though, you could always purchase some separately.
Powered upholstery brushes are great for cleaning furniture. Meanwhile crevice tools and long extension poles make cleaning those hard-to-reach spots a cinch. Separate hard floor tools are a must-have if you buy a traditional vacuum that you can use on many different flooring types.
Some other available tools include wedge cleaners for your car, ceiling fan sweepers, heavy-duty brushes for scrubbing, and more.
-
Size
We’ve touched on size a bit earlier, but it’s important to consider how your vacuum’s footprint will affect usability. Large vacuums can be cumbersome to maneuver around your space. While swivel systems have improved maneuverability quite a bit, you may still encounter some problems getting around furniture.
In the same token, smaller vacuums are going to take much longer to clean a large space. It’s a tradeoff that you need to think about before you commit to a product.
-
Weight
Similar to size, weight plays a role in the user vacuuming experience. Some of the heaviest uprights can weigh more than 20 pounds. It might not seem like a whole lot, but that extra bulk can weigh you down significantly. This is especially true if you need to lug your vacuum up and down a staircase. Luckily, there are plenty of great lightweight vacs for stairs that don’t sacrifice on performance.
Wrap Up
Just because you have concrete floors doesn’t mean that you can’t use a vacuum! With one of our recommended picks, you can finally ditch the broom and dustpan. Take advantage of powerful suction technology to keep your concrete floors looking their best.