The 5 Best Vacuums for Oriental Rugs [Canister, Stick, & Upright Vacuum Cleaners]

When shopping for a vacuum cleaner, the first thing people typically do is chase the numbers. In other words, they go after the one that offers the highest suction power.

While there’s nothing wrong with this, you should make an exception when it comes to delicate surfaces such as oriental rugs. That’s because high suction power will ruin the rug’s fibers over time.

Choosing the right vacuum cleaner can quickly get overwhelming, especially with the number of options available out there. And to help you narrow down your selections, I’ve brought you the 5 best vacuums for oriental rugs that I believe are worth your money.

Model
Best Canister
Miele C1 Pure Suction
Best Budget
Bissell Featherweight
Best Upright
Kenmore BU4022
Best Value
Shark NV360
Best Stick
Eureka RapidClean Pro
Design
Miele Classic C1 Vacuum Cleaner, Graphite Grey
Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum With Crevice Tool, 2033, One Size Fits All, Blue
Kenmore Intuition Bagged Upright Vacuum Lift-Up Carpet Cleaner 2-Motor Power Suction with HEPA Filter, 3-in-1 Combination Tool, HandiMate for Floor, Pet Hair, 14pounds, Green
Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue
Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro Cordless Stick and Handheld Vacuum Cleaner for Hard Floors, Battery-Operated Portable Vacuum Cleaner with Maximum Efficiency Powerful Suction White
Type
Canister Vacuum
Stick Vacuum/Handheld
Upright Vacuum/Semi-Handheld
Upright Vacuum/Semi-Handheld
Stick Vacuum/Handheld
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Cordless
Corded
Corded
Corded
Corded
Yes
Battery Life
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Up to 40 Min
Recharge Time
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
270 Min
Cord Length
17.88 ft
15.09 ft
30.02 ft
25.00 ft
N/A
Bagless
Bagged
Yes
Bagged
Yes
Yes
Bin/Bag Size
0,66 gal (2.5 L)
0,12 gal (0.45 L)
0.92 gal (3.50 L)
0.29 gal (1.10 L)
0,08 gal (0.3 L)
Noise Level
81 dBA
73.6 dBA
78.5 dBA
77.3 dBa
64.5 dBa
Dimensions
18.2 x 11 x 8.7 inches
8.3 x 9.5 x 44.25 inches
13 x 12 x 34 inches
14.37 x 11.61 x 26.77 inches
9.8 x 6.3 x 43.3 inches
Weight
11.4 lbs
3lbs
14.95 lbs
14.33 lbs
5.26 lbs
Color
Graphite Grey
Blue
Green
Blue
White & Blue
Best Canister
Model
Miele C1 Pure Suction
Design
Miele Classic C1 Vacuum Cleaner, Graphite Grey
Type
Canister Vacuum
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Cordless
Corded
Battery Life
N/A
Recharge Time
N/A
Cord Length
17.88 ft
Bagless
Bagged
Bin/Bag Size
0,66 gal (2.5 L)
Noise Level
81 dBA
Dimensions
18.2 x 11 x 8.7 inches
Weight
11.4 lbs
Color
Graphite Grey
Best Budget
Model
Bissell Featherweight
Design
Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum With Crevice Tool, 2033, One Size Fits All, Blue
Type
Stick Vacuum/Handheld
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
No
Cordless
Corded
Battery Life
N/A
Recharge Time
N/A
Cord Length
15.09 ft
Bagless
Yes
Bin/Bag Size
0,12 gal (0.45 L)
Noise Level
73.6 dBA
Dimensions
8.3 x 9.5 x 44.25 inches
Weight
3lbs
Color
Blue
Best Upright
Model
Kenmore BU4022
Design
Kenmore Intuition Bagged Upright Vacuum Lift-Up Carpet Cleaner 2-Motor Power Suction with HEPA Filter, 3-in-1 Combination Tool, HandiMate for Floor, Pet Hair, 14pounds, Green
Type
Upright Vacuum/Semi-Handheld
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Cordless
Corded
Battery Life
N/A
Recharge Time
N/A
Cord Length
30.02 ft
Bagless
Bagged
Bin/Bag Size
0.92 gal (3.50 L)
Noise Level
78.5 dBA
Dimensions
13 x 12 x 34 inches
Weight
14.95 lbs
Color
Green
Best Value
Model
Shark NV360
Design
Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue
Type
Upright Vacuum/Semi-Handheld
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Cordless
Corded
Battery Life
N/A
Recharge Time
N/A
Cord Length
25.00 ft
Bagless
Yes
Bin/Bag Size
0.29 gal (1.10 L)
Noise Level
77.3 dBa
Dimensions
14.37 x 11.61 x 26.77 inches
Weight
14.33 lbs
Color
Blue
Best Stick
Model
Eureka RapidClean Pro
Design
Eureka NEC180 RapidClean Pro Cordless Stick and Handheld Vacuum Cleaner for Hard Floors, Battery-Operated Portable Vacuum Cleaner with Maximum Efficiency Powerful Suction White
Type
Stick Vacuum/Handheld
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
No
Cordless
Yes
Battery Life
Up to 40 Min
Recharge Time
270 Min
Cord Length
N/A
Bagless
Yes
Bin/Bag Size
0,08 gal (0.3 L)
Noise Level
64.5 dBa
Dimensions
9.8 x 6.3 x 43.3 inches
Weight
5.26 lbs
Color
White & Blue

Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Miele C1 Pure Suction (Best Canister Vacuum)

Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Bagged Canister Vacuum, Graphite Grey - Portable, Household

Having one vacuum that can handle all of your daily cleaning needs is a huge time saver. And that’s exactly the reason we’ve chosen the Miele C1 Pure Suction. It’s the least expensive vacuum in the Miele canister series, yet it comes with some impressive features.

What’s remarkable about the Miele C1 Pure Suction is its cleaning performance. Powered by a 1,200-W Miele-Made Vortex Motor, this vacuum didn’t have any issues cleaning up the everyday mess. In fact, the C1 Pure Suction performed almost as well as the Miele Complete C3 Alize.

We can’t talk about C1 Pure Suction’s cleaning performance without mentioning its floorhead, the SBD 365-3. The latter did an excellent job of picking up dirt, debris, pet hair, and so on.

What I like about the C1 Pure Suction is the fact that it allows you to adjust the suction power according to your needs. On the rear side of the canister, there’s a dial with six suction power levels. And that’s the secret behind its wonderful cleaning performance on various surfaces, including oriental rugs.

In addition, you can extend the floorhead’s bristles for better carpet agitation. The floorhead also got rubberized rollers to keep it from scratching delicate surfaces such as marble flooring.

What could have been better?

In my opinion, the main drawback of the Miele C1 is the annual maintenance. You’ve got the pre-motor filter, post-motor filter, and bags to change frequently. These three can quickly add up to a decent amount of cash.

Also, when compared to the competition, I find the Miele C1 Pure Suction bag quite small.

Bissell Featherweight (Best Budget Vacuum)

Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum With Crevice Tool, 2033, One Size Fits All, Blue

I get it. Spending a significant amount of cash on a vacuum cleaner isn’t something everyone can afford. And to help you get a quality vacuum cleaner without breaking the bank, we’d like to introduce you to the Bissell Featherweight.

The Bissell Featherweight’s weight is the first thing you’ll notice when you get your hands on it. With a total weight of 3lbs and around 1lb on hand, this vacuum will make your daily cleaning a snap.

In addition to that, it has a simple design and can be used as a handheld vacuum.

Moreover, the Bissell Featherweight had no trouble cleaning small debris, cereal, pet hair, and so on. Just make sure to empty the dust bin frequently to keep the vacuum’s performance at its peak.

It’s worth noting that these remarkable results are mostly due to the vacuum’s suction power, which is easily on par with many expensive machines from other brands.

This vacuum cleaner is made entirely of plastic, which may seem cheap to some of you. However, if you take good care of it, it can easily last for several years.

What could have been better?

The power cable is the biggest downside of the Bissell Featherweight. With a length of 15.1 ft (4.6m), cleaning large rooms will be a nuisance.

Kenmore BU4022 (Best Upright Vacuum)

Kenmore Intuition Bagged Upright Vacuum Lift-Up Carpet Cleaner 2-Motor Power Suction with HEPA Filter, 3-in-1 Combination Tool, HandiMate for Floor, Pet Hair, Green

A good vacuum cleaner not only provides excellent cleaning performance but also helps improve indoor air quality. And that’s just a portion of what the Kenmore BU4022 has to offer. Stick with us to learn more about this amazing vacuum.

The Kenmore BU4022 is an upright vacuum cleaner with an outstanding filtration system. It’s equipped with disposable HEPA dirtbags along with a HEPA post-motor filter.

For those unfamiliar with these sorts of filters, in short, they provide high-quality purification. They can trap microscopic particles and prevent them from leaking back into the air, which is something a standard filter can’t do.

Furthermore, the HEPA filters included with the Kenmore BU4022 are washable and reusable. This is wonderful since it will help reduce the recurrent costs that would accumulate due to the use of disposable bags.

In terms of cleaning performance, the Kenmore BU4022 did a great job on oriental rugs, medium pile carpets, and hard floors. It easily picked up all sorts of dirt, debris, cereals, and pet hair.

The Kenmore BU4022 is entirely made of plastic, with just the wand made of metal. However, unlike the Bissell Featherweight, the plastic on this vacuum feels sturdy.

Another feature that you may find helpful is the Lift-Up function. The latter enables you to detach the floorhead from the main body to use the vacuum as a semi-handheld. It will mostly come in handy for cleaning hard-to-reach corners as well as spiderwebs.

What could have been better?

The Kenmore BU4022 has an above-average noise level of roughly 78 dBa on bare floors and around 77 dBa on oriental rugs.

Also, the bulky design of this vacuum makes cleaning beneath furniture difficult.

Shark NV360 (Best Value Vacuum)

Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue

Shark is one of the most reliable brands in the vacuum industry. Let’s take their Shark Navigators series as an example. Even though it was released in the autumn of 2010, it continues to outperform numerous newer vacuums from other manufacturers. And the perfect example is the Shark NV360.

The Shark NV360 is an upright bagless vacuum cleaner with a low price tag but a slew of impressive features.

It’s built similarly to the Kenmore BU4022, with sturdy plastic construction and a metal wand.

In addition to that, this vacuum also shares the same Lift-Away feature as the Kenmore BU4022. The latter allows you to detach the floorhead from the main unit so you can easily clean above-floor surfaces.

What I like about the Shark NV360 is that it has virtually no recurring costs. Not only because it’s a bagless vacuum cleaner but also because of the fact that its HEPA filter is washable.

In terms of cleaning performance, the Shark NV360 suction power was exceptional across the board, even on oriental rugs. Also, I was surprised that the NV360 outperformed the Shark Professional NV356e, which is listed at a higher price tag.

What could have been better?

The main drawback of the NV360, in my opinion, is the lack of attachment tools. Unlike other Shark Navigator vacuum cleaners, this one comes with only a crevice tool and an upholstery tool.

Eureka RapidClean Pro (Best Stick Vacuum)

Eureka RapidClean Pro Lightweight Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, High Efficiency Powerful Digital Motor LED Headlights, Convenient Stick and Handheld Vac, Essential, White

The Eureka RapidClean Pro is one of my favorite cordless stick vacuums. It has sufficient suction power to clean oriental rugs, hard floors, and low-pile carpets. It can also be used as a handheld to vacuum above the floor surfaces.

Another area where the Eureka RapidClean Pro stands out is in terms of maneuverability. It excelled in cleaning under low-lying furniture, such as sofas and tables, as well as odd angles.

Furthermore, with a weight of 5.26 lbs, it’s an excellent choice for cleaning hard-to-reach areas, such as cobwebs on ceilings. It’s also ideal for the elderly since it puts no pressure on the wrist.

Now, let’s talk about this vacuum cleaner’s battery. The Eureka RapidClean Pro’s typical runtime was roughly 10 minutes when set to high power.

When using the low-power mode, though, you should expect the battery to run out of energy after around 20 minutes.

The advertised 40-minute battery life is only possible if the vacuum is used handheld and in low-power mode.

What could have been better?

The design was the area where the Eureka RapidClean Pro fell short. It is not entirely sealed. In other words, there’s a chance for dust and fine debris you vacuum to escape back into the air. Also, the filter on this stick vacuum is not a HEPA filter but rather a standard one.

The last one is largely there to assist you in making a good decision and isn’t actually a disadvantage. Although the Eureka RapidClean Pro is an excellent bargain vacuum cleaner, I would not rely on it for intensive cleaning.

Despite the fact that it is marketed as a multi-floor vacuum, it performs best on oriental rugs, low-pile carpets, and hard floors. You won’t get the same performance on mid and high-pile carpets.

Conclusion

Have you made up your mind about a vacuum cleaner yet? If yes, please let us know which one you chose in the comment section below.

On the other hand, if you’re still confused, simply tell us what surface you want to clean other than oriental rugs, and we will do our best to direct you toward the most suitable vacuum cleaner.

What kind of vacuum do you use on an Oriental rug?

It is best to use a vacuum cleaner with a suction-only setting and avoid using beater bars or brushes on an Oriental rug. The suction-only setting will help to remove dirt and debris without damaging the delicate fibers of the rug. Using a beater bar or brush can cause the fibers to become tangled and can cause fraying or damage to the rug.

Can Oriental rugs be vacuumed?

Yes, Oriental rugs can be vacuumed, but it is important to use a vacuum cleaner with a suction-only setting and avoid using beater bars or brushes that can damage the delicate fibers of the rug. Using a beater bar or brush can cause the fibers to become tangled and can cause fraying or damage to the rug.

How do you vacuum an oriental carpet?

Vacuum an Oriental carpet with the beater bar or brush roll turned off and use the crevice tool or upholstery attachment. Vacuum in the direction of the pile, including the edges and corners, and avoid vacuuming the fringes. For stubborn stains, consult a professional rug cleaner.

What is the best way to clean Oriental rugs?

The best way to clean Oriental rugs depends on the type of rug, its condition, and the level of soiling. In general, professional cleaning is recommended every three to five years to remove deeply embedded dirt and stains. Regular vacuuming and spot cleaning can help to maintain the rug between professional cleanings.

How do you vacuum a rug without ruining it?

To vacuum a rug without ruining it, turn off the beater bar or brush roll, use the suction-only setting or a low-power setting, and vacuum in the direction of the pile. Be sure to vacuum the entire rug, including the edges and corners, and avoid vacuuming the fringes. If the rug has stubborn stains, consult with a professional rug cleaner. Regular vacuuming can help to maintain the rug’s appearance.

How do you vacuum a wool area rug?

To vacuum a wool area rug, turn off the beater bar or brush roll, use the suction-only setting or a low-power setting, and vacuum in the direction of the pile. Be sure to vacuum the entire rug, including the edges and corners, and avoid vacuuming the fringes. If the rug has stubborn stains, consult with a professional rug cleaner.

How do you vacuum a natural fiber rug?

To vacuum a natural fiber rug, turn off the beater bar or brush roll, use the suction-only setting or a low-power setting, and vacuum in the direction of the weave. Be sure to vacuum the entire rug, including the edges and corners, and avoid vacuuming the fringes. If the rug has stubborn stains, consult with a professional rug cleaner. Regular vacuuming can help to maintain the rug’s appearance.

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