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Best commercial vacuum in 2019 – The hacking guide to choose a great vac for your business

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Introduction

If you are running a business like a hotel, restaurant or gas station, you will need a commercial vacuum cleaner rather than an upright vacuum cleaner for home because the casual vacuum cleaner does not have a robust performance for such big areas.

That’s why we bring the definitive guide for finding the best commercial vacuum cleaner for your business.

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Top-Rated Commercial Vacuum Cleaner List In 2019

If you are in a hurdle, here we present the best rated commercial vacuum cleaner 2019 for your quick considerations.

We ranks over 30+ commercial vacuum cleaners by type, performance, feature, price and brand reputation to give you a short list of top rated models chosen by thousands of users.

You can view bigger photo and price in the table, or read detail reviews below.

model

Type

Recommended For

Price

Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS

Upright

hotels, restaurants cleaning where you have to clean big areas

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower Lightweight Commercial Canister Vacuum

canister

Shoulder Strap

cleaning stairs

down ways

sharp corners in hotels

restaurants

hospitals

Hoover Commercial Lightweight Backpack Vacuum, C2401

backpack

canister

large areas cleaning (gym cleaning hospital cleaning…) and janitorial services

Sanitaire SC3683A

Canister

Shoulder Strap

low price commercial canister vacuum for decent cleaning jobs.

BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry 18P03

wet dry vacuum

wall mounting

garage

gas station

Shop-Vac 5989300

wet dry vacuum

on-floor with rolling wheels

popular wet dry vacuum cleaner at low price and lightweight design for garage and office

Benefits Of A Commercial Vacuum Cleaner

When compared to a casual vacuum cleaner, a commercial model has a higher performance for cleaning big footage, therefore, it will allow you to do the cleaning job faster.

A commercial vacuum is built for workmanship with low maintenance, you do not need to spend time and money to maintain the machine for years.

It is flexible to use not only for hotels, restaurants, hospitals, garages but also for home use, car cleaning, stair cleaning and more

Quick Useful Choosing Tips

First, Think Of The Design

The design of a commercial vacuum cleaner will affect on your cleaning convenience therefore you should define what kind of the model that mostly fit to your cleaning tasks.

Backpack

best back pack commercial vacuum

backpack commercial vacuum is designed as a canister/ tank shape with a shoulder strap or an adjustable harness.

Backpack commercial vacuum cleaner is flexible for cleaning floor and above floor too. Because it is portable, a backpack unit is best for cleaning places like stairs, hall ways, tight corners and car cleaning.

When choosing backpack, you should notice the weight of the unit because you have to wear it for long hours and the ergonomic design of the harness to make you feel comfortable when using.

There are some optional values you also need to look for such as

  • Accessory bag (a backpack vac often has a lot of tools and an accessory bag is a better option)
  • Long power cord
  • Chiropractor design of the machine in overall.

Depending on your footage, you might choose a model with big dust capacity or smaller one.

Recommended option

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower Lightweight is the most common backpack model which is very lightweight, compact size, strong motor (over 13.7 amps), a lot of tools, built-in blower, cheap price and long warranty time.

Upright

upright commercial vacuum reviews

An upright commercial vacuum is very popular which is resemble to full size upright vacuum for home use.

Therefore, sometimes an upright commercial vac can be used for home cleaning, and a home use upright vacuum can also be used for commercial cleaning jobs.

The main difference between them is that, a commercial model will be optimized for cleaning bigger area and low maintenance, while the home vac is optimized for various detail cleaning tasks.

When looking for an upright commercial vacuum, you should check for the type of floors you are currently dealing with because most of commercial upright vacuum is designed for hard floor cleaning and low pile carpet cleaning jobs.

If you are looking for a vacuum cleaner for high pile shag carpet, you should read this guide instead.

Some good features of a commercial upright model are

  • Lightweight
  • Big dust capacity
  • High motor power
  • HEPA filter
  • Long power cord
  • Durability for long time with low maintenance.

Recommended option

Oreck Commercial is the famous brand with a lot of commercial vacuum models.

They are highly rated by extremely lightweight, big dust capacity, low maintenance and special easy hand handle recommended by Arthritis Foundation. One of the typical model is XL2100RHS.

Canister

best canister commercial vacuum

A canister commercial vacuum cleaner is flexible for above floor cleaning tasks.

They come in many design, such as a small tank with should strap, a mountable unit, a big tank unit with 4 wheels…

Depending on your style this design will be better than others. There will be a compromise between the maneuverability of the machine with the productivity.

A lightweight unit often has small dust capacity and a big dust tank will show limitation when moving upstairs/ downstairs.

Small Or Big

Commercial vacuum cleaner may be small, compact and light weight or very bulky. Think of your cleaning demands (the size of floor footage, the frequency of use, the type of dirt and messes you have to encounter..) to pick a small or a big unit.

Corded Or Cordless

Most of commercial vacs are corded model because a cordless model will be insufficient for cleaning long time. If you need a cordless vacuum cleaner with strongest suction power and longest using time per charge, then Dyson V7 cordless model will be a sweet spot (performance-price balance)

Wet-Dry Vacuum

Wet/ dry commercial vacuum is a good option if you need to clean spills and liquids. It is also very useful for snow cleaning on the door steps too. Most of the time, a wet dry vacuum cleaner will incorporate a blower for your variety cleaning jobs.

Recommended option

BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum 18PO3 – a compact, wall-mounting wet dry unit with strong motor, big capacity (4.0 Gallons) and a lot of hand tools organized in a pretty bag.

HEPA Filter Is Important

A commercial vacuum model with HEPA will reduce the allergens so it is good for allergy sufferers.

Top Commercial Vacuum Cleaner In 2019 Reviews

1. Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS 8 Pound Commercial Upright Vacuum

For hotels, restaurants cleaning where you have to clean big areas. Not recommended if you have stairs or high traffic carpet, shag carpet.

For hotels, restaurants cleaning where you have to clean big areas

Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS

Oreck Commercial is the most popular brand when talking about commercial grade vacuum cleaner and this XL2100RHS upright vacuum is the most popular choice among others.

Optimized for convenience and user-friendly

Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS is designed for commercial cleaning but its unique design makes it very lightweight and slim profile than most of other commercial models.

Unlike any typical upright vacuum cleaner, this model is constructed with a low profile head, a steel stick and a bag for dust and dirt storage. This design allows the machine to reach under furniture, bed, sofa easily and you do not need to use any wand for cleaning these hard-to-reach area.

Besides, this design makes the machine very lightweight (only 8 lbs.) so you can store it easier because it does not take up much space. While it is lightweight, the bag can store very much dust and dirt.

Impressively, this model uses exclusive hand handle design to eliminate the wrist pain due to squeezing and bending for long time (it is recommended by Arthritis foundation as an Ease of Use model)

Optimized for cleaning performance

The Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS uses  double helix brushes whirls at 6,500 RPM to help it removing any debris on the carpet surface. The brush head is auto-adjusted to fit a lot of surfaces such as low pile carpet, hard floor, laminate floor. While this model uses a low power motor (about 4 amps.) users generally are pleased with the suction power for its intended use.

The bag design is another strong point. This XL2100RHS upright vacuum uses an extra large dust bag that is capable to store up to 2.75 Gallons (10.4 L) and the bag is pretty cheap (less than 1 buck per bag).

This model has a long power cord of 35 ft, typical cleaning path width of 12 inches and side edge brushes for cleaning edges and corners.

Locally assembled plus affordable price

This Oreck model is assembled locally and has one year warranty time from Oreck Commercial brand. The model has a relatively low price too.

On the downside, this Oreck Commercial has a low motor power (4 amps) therefore it is best for cleaning low pile carpet and hard floors surfaces. It is not recommended when you have a lot of soiled carpets, high pile carpet where requires stronger suction power. Besides, it does not have hose/ wand therefore if you have a lot of stairs then you should choose a model with the extended hose instead.

Important specifications of Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS

Specifications of Oreck XL2100RHS

  • Dimensions: 6 x 13 x 35
  • Weight: 8.2 lbs
  • Cord length: 35 ft
  • Cleaning path width: 12’’
  • Motor power: 4 amps rating
  • Exclusive features: Helping hand handle, Frustration free certified
  • Recommended for: Carpet and hard floors
  • Accessories: 1 fresh air scent tab, 1 filtration bag, 1 replacement belt
  • Dust capacity: 2.75 Gal
  • Warranty: 1 year
  • Price range: Low to mid range

(There is a series of Oreck Commercial upright vacuums which are mostly the same with this Oreck XL2100RHS. They only have minor modifications on the belt, cord length and brush speed, namely U2000RB2L-1, U2000RB-1, U2000R-1, U2000H2-1 and all of them are very highly rated by users. You can compare Oreck Commercial upright vacuums here )

2. Hoover CH30000 PortaPower Lightweight Commercial Canister Vacuum

Strong suction and lightweight, flexible with the built-in blow

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower Lightweight Commercial Canister Vacuum

Best for cleaning stairs, down ways, sharp corners in hotels, restaurants, hospitals. Strong suction and lightweight, flexible with the built-in blow.

The Hoover CH30000 PortaPower can be a coupling companion with Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS. This is the most common choice when talking about commercial canister vac thanks to its flexibility and cheap price.

Compact, lightweight design with a side pack belt for long time use without being fatigued.

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower is very lightweight (it is only 8.3 lbs.) which is less than most of the backpack commercial vacuums on the market. The side-pack design and low weight will let you to docleaning job for a long time and do not feel tired as heavy weight models.

Optimized for cleaning corners and edges

The model uses a very high power motor ( nearly 13.7 amps -2.2 Horsepower) therefore it gives the excellent suction performance to clean stairs,  hard-to-reach places such as up draperies, upholstery and more. Besides, it has a built-in blower and it features 2 types of bag (reusable cloth bag and paper bag) so you can be more flexible

This model has a long power cord of 33 ft. and it is backed by 2-year warranty from Hoover. Last but not least, this model is quite cheap (around 100 bucks)

The downside of this Hoover CH30000 is that while it has a bunch of attachments, there is no storage bag for them and the long power cord does not have a swivel design so it can be tangled when you move around.

Important specifications of Hoover CH30000 PortaPower

Specifications of Hoover CH30000 PortaPower

  • Dimensions: 20.9 x 7.8 x 12.5’’
  • Weight: 8.3 lbs
  • Cord length: 33 ft
  • Cleaning path width: n/a
  • Motor power: 13.7 amps rating (2.2 HP)
  • Exclusive features: 7 tools for cleaning, Built-in blower, Can use cloth bag and paper bag
  • Recommended for: Cleaning tight spaces and large spaces, Stairways, down halls, vehicles…
  • Accessories: 7 tools for stair, upholstery, floor, car, tight place…
  • Dust capacity: N/a
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Price range: Low range

3. Hoover Commercial Vacuum Cleaner Shoulder Vac Pro Bagless Corded Lightweight Backpack Vacuum C2401

Designed for those who are running a janitorial service

Hoover Commercial Lightweight Backpack Vacuum, C2401

For super large areas cleaning (gym cleaning, hospital cleaning…) and janitorial services.
Hoover Commercial C2401 is a backpack vacuum cleaner with high throughput that is designed for those who are running a janitorial service because it has a powerful cleaning capacity and super mobility that you can bring around.

Optimized for using a long time

This model is very compact and lightweight. It is only about 9.2 lbs with chiropractor design so you can wear it for a long time but does not hurt your back.

Besides, the model C2401 has a very long power cord (48 ft. – one of longest on the market) so it is very useful when you have to clean a 4000 square feet area without the need of unplugging/plugging from time to time. The model has cleaning accessory pack and a lot of tools.

You will not feel messy like other models which do not have the storage bag for accessories.

Optimized for high performance

This Hoover Commercial c2401 use a motor of 1000 watt (about 8.5 amps) which is very powerful to deliver the strong suction capacity. The best thing here is that even it uses a strong motor, it is very quiet when operating.

Measured by lots of users, this model only creates about 66 dB noise level (which is one of the lowest noise machines on the market thanks to the noise insulation technology of Hoover Commercial).

This is very important for users who have to use the machine frequently because another commercial vacuum cleaner has a very high noise level.

To give you more flexibility, Hoover Commercial 2401 comes with 4 tools for various cleaning tasks: 6’’ crevice tool, 11’’ turbo floor tool, 2’’ dusting brush tool and 4’’ upholstery tool all are kept in storage bag when not in use.

Importantly, this model uses HEPA filter. HEPA filter will capture dust and allergen which is healthier for you and pets.

This model can use both cloth bag and the paper bag. If you have to use the machine on daily basis, using a cloth bag will save you a lot of money because it is reusable.

This model is backed by 2-year warranty from Hoover Commercial brand which is longer than other models (often it is one year warranty for commercial vacuum)

Important specifications of Hoover Commercial C2401

Specifications of Hoover Commercial C2401

  • Dimensions: 13.2 x 13.2 x 30’’
  • Weight: 9.2 lbs
  • Cord length: 48 ft
  • Cleaning path width: N/a
  • Motor power: 8.5 amps rating
  • Exclusive features: Chiropractor design, Clear dome lid for debris checking, Can use both cloth bag and paper bag, Huge dust capacity, HEPA filter
  • Recommended for: Large areas cleaning (gym cleaning, hospital cleaning…)
  • Accessories: 4 tools: 6’’ crevice tool, 11’’ turbo floor tool, 2’’ dusting brush tool and 4’’ upholstery tool
  • Dust capacity: 6.4 Quart
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Price range: Mid range

4. Sanitaire SC3683A Commercial Canister Vacuum

One of the cheapest commercial vacuums that you can rely on

Sanitaire SC3683A Commercial Canister Vacuum

Recommended for users who need a low price commercial canister vacuum for decent cleaning jobs.Sanitaire SC3683A Commercial Canister Vacuum is a common choice for users who are looking for a low price option because this model is one of the cheapest commercial vacuums that you can rely on.

While it is just under 100 bucks, the Sanitaire SC3683A use a high power rating motor of 12 amps to give powerful suction. Another advantage is that the model also uses sealed bag filter for air filtration (HEPA filter is also possible to be used but you need to order separately so it is very friendly to people who have asthma or breathing problems.)

Important specifications of Sanitaire SC3683A

Specifications of Sanitaire SC3683A 

  • Dimensions: 11.2 x 18 x 19’’
  • Weight: 10 lbs
  • Cord length: 20 ft
  • Cleaning path width: N/a
  • Motor power: 12 amps rating
  • Exclusive features: HEPA filter (optional)
  • Recommended for: Low pile carpet and floor
  • Accessories: 2 plastic wands, 1 dust brush crevice tool (located inside the handle of the vacuum)
  • Dust capacity: 2.6 Quart
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Price range: Low range

This model is favorable for being flexible, lightweight, powerful motor and low price.

On the other hand, it is a compromising option because it shows a short power cord, low dirt capacity of only 2.6 Quart, noisy when operating (71 Db.) and it does not have many tools for difficult cleaning tasks.

However, this commercial vacuum cleaner is a rare option when you are serious about the cost. At this price range, Sanitaire SC3683A is much better than others.

5. BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum Complete Wall-Mounting System, 18P03

Recommended for garage, gas station using

Bissell Garage Pro Wall-Mounted Wet Dry Car Vacuum

Recommended for garage, gas station using

When cleaning large areas where there is not only dust and debris but also liquid spills, ashes, snow…then you need to use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up these messes.

BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum  18PO3 is a low price wet dry vacuum cleaner for commercial use. When comparing with other wet/dry system at this price range, Bissell Pro 18PO3 shows more benefits for convenient use.

Optimized for usage

First, the Bissell Pro 18PO3 can be wall mounted so it won’t take much space for storage in your garage or gas station.

The model is can be used as a vacuum and a blower too and this specialty is one of the strongest advantages of Bissell Pro 18PO3.

Besides, its dirt tank is translucent so you will know when to empty the bin without guessing. It comes with wall mounting kit, 7 attachments and an extra long cord of 32 ft for you to handle spills and messes to keep your shop clean all the time.

Optimized for performance

The BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum Complete Wall-Mounting System, 18P03 uses a 12 amps motor for strong suction. It uses a relatively big dirt tank (capacity 4 Gallons) compared with direct rivals and it has a lot of flexible tools for dealing with messes.

On the downside, it is quite heavy (33 lbs.) therefore it is not recommended for ladies.

Important specifications of BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum 18PO3

Specifications of BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum 18PO3

  • Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 26”
  • Weight: 33lbs
  • Cord length: 32 ft
  • Cleaning path width: N/a
  • Motor power: 12 amps rating
  • Exclusive features: Built-in blower, 7 tools for various cleaning task, Wall mounting kit
  • Recommended for: Low pile carpet and floor
  • Accessories: 7 tools organized in an accessory bag
  • Dust capacity: 4 Gal
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Price range: Mid range

6. Shop-Vac 5989300 5 Gallons 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Wet Dry Vacuum

The most popular wet dry vacuum cleaner at low price and lightweight design for garage and office.

Uses ahigh power motor and big dust capacity

Shop-Vac 5989300 5 Gallons 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Wet Dry Vacuum

Shop-Vac 5989300 is very popular thanks to its robust performance and lightweight design. This model is designed as a tank dolly with roll casters. The best part about Shop-Vac wet dry model is that it uses a high power motor and big dust capacity.

Big dust tank design for more productivity

This model is designed with a 5-gallon tank standing on easy roll casters. Because the dust tank is very large, it is a great option if you perform high footage floor cleaning. To give a powerful suction, the model uses 3.1  horsepower motor (about 30 amps). It also has the rear blower, extension wands (3 units) and 1-floor nozzle for a plenty of cleaning jobs.

If you are looking for nothing else but a powerful wet-dry vacuum at the low price, this Shop-Vac 5989300 will be the matching choice.

The downside of this model is that it is a classic design, therefore, you should expect that it does not have fancy features. Plus, it has a short power cord (only 6 ft) and it is designed as a tank, therefore, it lacks maneuverability when you have to move from stairs to stairs.

Important specifications of Shop-Vac 5986300

Specifications of Shop-Vac 5986300

  • Dimensions: 13.5 x 13.5 x 19.5’’
  • Weight: 17 lbs
  • Cord length: 6 ft
  • Cleaning path width: N/a
  • Motor power: 3.1 HP (nearly 30 amps!!)
  • Exclusive features: Built-in blower
  • Recommended for: Low pile carpet and floor
  • Accessories: 7′ X 1.25″ Friction Fit Hose, 3-Extension Wands, 10 Inch Wet Dry Nozzle, Gulper, Crevice Tools, Tool Holder, Cartridge Filter, Collection Bag
  • Dust capacity: 5 Gal
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Price range: Low range

There is a series of Shop-Vac wet dry vacuum with similar benefits including Shop-Vac 5989600, Shop-Vac 5986000 (new released model).

Verdicts

Conclusion

Commercial vacuum cleaners come in various shape and performance level, we hope you could find the best suitable unit for your business. If you are still wondering, you can read again our quick buying tips to figure out what model will fit with your current situation.

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