One truth is that having a multi-surface canister vacuum cleaner keeps your home clean and organized. You wouldn’t have to buy separate vacuums for different areas all you’d need would be one super vacuum cleaner that would handle each cleaning task efficiently.

Best Multi-Surface Canister Vacuum Cleaner (Buyer’s Guide)

Do you know why such cleaners are named "Multi-surface"? Yes! You guessed it right. They have the ability to vacuum different types of surfaces with the same suction power. These vacuum cleaners come with a set of tools that you may not find in normal vacuum cleaners.

Having the best multi-surface canister vacuum cleaners would help clean your area rugs, carpets, hard floors, ceiling fans, window sills, car rugs, couch, blinds, upholstery and beneath your furniture.

This post would guide you on choosing the best multi-surface canister vacuum cleaner for your home.

But wait!

In my mission to identify the best multi-surface canister vacuum cleaners, I considered listing features that top quality multi-surface canister vacuum cleaners should have, like, the weight, power in relation to the motor, suction power and how all this impact the performance overall.

Features to Consider

Listed below are features you should consider when selecting a canister vacuum cleaner for multi-surface cleaning. Each feature has a role, so knowing why the features listed below are important.

The Size

Vacuum cleaners range in different sizes, from heavy and bulky to compact and light. When choosing, it's good you consider if you'd have to be carrying it around your house, or car or out into your garage often is this is the case then you should consider, light and compact vacuum.

If that isn’t the case, then you can opt for a heavy and bulky vacuum. Another factor is the storage space; do you have ample space for the brand you're looking to pick? A small vacuum can fit in the corner of any storage space; big vacuums can’t be tucked. You’d have to consider looking for space this if you choose the bulky and heavy vacuum.

Power

The more current is drawn from the power outlet, the more powerful the vacuum cleaner. The most power amperage that can be drawn from your home outlets is 12 amp, it’s advisable you choose a vacuum cleaner that as close to this amp as possible.

When looking, also consider the air watts, because the higher the air watts of the vacuum the more powerful the vacuum.

Tip: you can aim for at least 200 air watts Miele C1 fulfill this criterion.

The Filter

Can you replace the filter or is it reusable? This is something you should check, if you prefer reusable filters then a model with a reusable filter would do. Otherwise, you can pick one with a replaceable filter.

There are manufacturers that build their filters that can last years, but most of these kinds of filters are reusable and washable.

Tip: using a model that need filter replacement would require you to change the filter about every six months when you notice the holes are filled with dust.

The Brushes

Does the vacuum use a revolving brush, or non-revolving brush? Some vacuums use both while others use either of the two brushes. A non-revolving brush is tough when it comes to cleaning certain surfaces, but one with a revolving brush has more flexibility and versatility in most surfaces. This is one of the major factors you should look out for in a multi-surface vacuum.

It’s also vital to check if the brush can be turned off, so it can be turned off when cleaning delicate surfaces that can be damaged by the brush rolls, like a hardwood floor.

Bagged or Bagless

Bagged vacuum cleaners are normally heavier than bagless vacuums. And they are suitable for large areas. But if you want a vacuum that is compact, and portable you can opt for a bagless vacuum as it is easy to carry around while cleaning.

Tip: One advantage of bagless is that it can easily reach edges and corners (hard-to-reach places)

HEPA filter

If anyone in your household is allergic to dust particles, pet hair, pollen, or smoke choose a vacuum with HEPA filtration. HEPA filters help in destroying allergens and bacteria in your home. The best HEPA filters eliminate over 99% allergens.

Also, it helps keep your house clean and healthy; you won't have to worry about allergens or other germs loitering around your home.

Warranty

All vacuum cleaners come with warranties, especially multi-surface vacuum cleaners. Some give a 5-year warranty, while some ranging from 1 to 3 years warranty.

Ensure you check the manual thoroughly to know what’s included, whether it’s just labor, parts only, or motor only

With the features listed above, we tailored down multi-surface canister vacuum cleaners that meet all the requirements below

Our Top Recommendations

1. Kenmore 81614 Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Kenmore 81614 Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Provided by Amazon.com

Cleaning with Kenmore’s products never disappoints, and the Kenmore 81614 bagged is not an exception. The Kenmore 81614 is a dual motor system with a rating of 12 Amps.

Its power flow technology ensures your vacuum loses no suction and still picks up dirt effectively. The pop floor brush is an amazing feature that helps you while cleaning on carpets.

This vacuum was built for your convenience; you don’t have to bend to change tools again! The necessary tool, like the nozzle, is located in the front case. This vacuum also comes with a pet hair removal tool (Pet Power Mate) that helps you in capturing stubborn pet hair, dander, dust and other particles from your rug, carpets, furniture, and many more.

This multi-surface vacuum operates on a very wide range, being able to work perfectly on all floor types, and surfaces. Also, the telescopic wand and the 28-foot power cable ensure you cover hard-to-reach places when cleaning.

After cleaning, the automatic retractable cord rewinds itself. You don’t have to bother on where you’d store the accessories of your vacuum because it comes with internal storage where you can store all the accessories

​2. Electrolux Silent Performer EL4021A Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Electrolux Silent Performer EL4021A Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Provided by Amazon.com

The Electrolux Silent Performer as the name suggests has a silent pro mechanism incorporated into the vacuum, which ensures little to no noise levels

This vacuum brags a powerful suction power able to handle all types of surfaces. The control switch enables you to switch from the surface to surface with much ease.

This vacuum comes with a HEPA filter that traps up to 99.8% of pollens, dust particles, and airborne irritants. It comes with a hard floor nozzle, turbo nozzle, and a 3-in-1 tool which works as a dusting brush, crevice tool, and an upholstery tool.

If you use a medium to low-pile carpets, then you can switch to the turbo tool. For hard floors or tiled floors, you can switch to the hard floor nozzle.
Cleaning has never been easier with this brand.

​3. Dyson Animal DC39 Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Dyson Animal DC39 Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Provided by Amazon.com

When listing top multi-surface canister vacuum cleaner, we shouldn’t forget listing the Dyson DC39 Animal Canister Vacuum Cleaner. It comes with both Dyson cyclone and ball technology, along with the radial root cyclone feature

The cyclone feature helps the suction power capture dirt and dust particles effectively. So you don't have to bother about the loss of suction and clogged dirt because of the excellent suction power.

The ball technology helps you when carrying the vacuum around, it ensures you have a smooth cleaning experience with no awkward maneuverability movements that occur in most vacuums.

Being a bagless vacuum, it offers easy clean bin emptying.

​4. Dyson Multi-Floor DC39 Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Dyson Multi-Floor DC39 Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Provided by Amazon.com

The Dyson Multi-floor DC39 and the DC39 Animal canister may look like they’re alike, although they are different slightly.

Unlike the Animal DC39, the Dyson Multi-floor is less expensive and doesn’t come with any additional turbine tool.

The Dyson technology multi-floor DC39 has a strong suction which never loses its suction power.

It comes with a radial root invention which stops the flow of air; this technology prevents potential clogging on your vacuum.

Also the ball technology help in moving the vacuum without hassle, whereby promoting stability.

What makes this a really great multi-surface is the handy fingertip control. That lets you switch from one tool the other, it also comes with integrated tools like the (DC39 Animal); a combo tool, stair tool, and a dusting brush.

Note: you can easily control the handle with the newly built trigger-head tool

​5. Electrolux Ultra Flex Corded EL4335B Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Electrolux Ultra Flex Corded EL4335B Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Provided by Amazon.com

The Electrolux Ultra Flex was designed for excellent performance on all surfaces, including carpets, bare floors, and rugs.

It comes with an on/off switch feature, that enables your device transition from one floor to another.

It also gives you up to three height adjustment levels, so you don’t damage your carpeting. It also comes with the Ultra Flex cutting-edge motion control system.

The rear wheels combine with the law of gravity helps you move the vacuum easily around the furniture.

It has excellent power suction, courtesy of its cyclonic technology.

​6. Miele C2 Compact Electro+ Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Miele C2 Compact Electro+ Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Provided by Amazon.com

This Miele Electro+ is also a standard multi-surface canister vacuum cleaner. It has an integrated Air clean mechanism and HEPA filtration that traps stubborn dust and dirt particles from your floor

The power consumption of this vacuum is at 1100W, although it has a six-stage speed and silence control. These two combinations make it fit for every household with different kinds of flooring.

Miele Electro+ has an electro brush that was specifically built to clean your carpets and rugs thoroughly. And it also has a soft parquet brush that is suitable for hard floors and hardwood floor types. When cleaning your ceiling, upholstery, you can use the upholstery/crevice tools that were integrated into the vacuum for reaching harder places.

One important feature that comes with the Miele Electro+ is the (SBB-3) suction floor head. This tool helps the brush glide easily without scratching the surface. It can also help in sucking up hair, and other related particles on your floor.

​In Conclusion

Did you enjoy this post? By now you have all the necessary information needed to pick a multi-surface canister vacuum cleaner for your home, but before doing that…

For any of the vacuums listed above to perform efficiently, it depends on features listed earlier also; you have to be sure the vacuum meets all the criteria mentioned.

Luckily, the model that outperforms the rest regarding versatility, capability, and raw power is the Kenmore 81614 Canister Vacuum Cleaner, it is the most reliable vacuum on the list for any surface and also one of the best canister vacuum overall.

It doesn’t matter what type of surface, the Kenmore 81614, and all the others listed will serve you well. It all comes down to a matter of preference.

Do you have any questions on choosing the best multi-surface cleaner for your home? Or do you have any suggestions on other models? Please let us know in the comments! And if you enjoyed this post, please share! Cheers!!