We try before you buy: The stick vacuums that rival Dyson quality
There's no doubt stick vacuums are the best on the market when compared to robot vacuums or those hefty bagged ones our mums used to roll around.
Not only are they lighter and quieter, they take up less space, and they're simple to operate. Most of them get battery life from a wall charger, meaning they're usually tucked away neatly when not in use. With a stick vacuum, vacuuming doesn't become an event of assembling parts, finding a socket, and pulling a retractable cord to its full length before the cleaning even begins, making them the real heroes of housework.
But which is the best one? And which is the best when it comes to value for money? We put two different Tineco models to the test.
NOTE: Prices area accurate at time of publishing.
Tineco Pure ONE S12 PRO Smart Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Tineco iFloor 2 Plus Cordless Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner
The Tineco vs Dyson debate
Tineco vacuums are often compared to the Dyson range, and at first glance, they have similar sleek outlooks. The Tineco PURE ONE S12 is comparable in price to the Dyson V15 Detect, while the Tineco iFloor 2 is more similar to the Dyson V7 in price, but with very different features.
While Dyson is often the go-to brand for those who want a great vacuum, Tineco has a range of extra features that Dyson doesn't, which makes it a genuine rival. The S12 has an LED light on its vacuum head, which illuminates the dirt as you vacuum it so you can check on your progress. It also has a trigger lock, which keeps the vacuum on until you decide to turn it off, and a detachable battery. These three features really set it apart as a vacuum.
All of the attachments…
Another thing that sets it apart is how many attachments come with the Tineco. The S12 came with a seemingly endless list of attachments, all for different types of vacuuming. On top of the standard vacuum head, it also comes with a soft-roller power brush, which also has LED lights along its front. Beyond that, there's a mini power brush, a dusting brush, a soft dusting brush, a hair cleaning tool, two crevice tools and a multi-angle folding tube. It seems there won't be a single thing this vacuum cleaner won't be able to pick up.
The test
Tineco PURE ONE S12
I was very impressed with the S12 when I used it over a few weeks in my apartment, resolving by the end to never go back to my dinosaur of a vacuum and its complicated assembly. It took seconds to clean up small spills and messes, and just minutes to vacuum entire carpeted rooms.
Across the apartment, I was dealing with bedroom carpet, floorboards throughout the halls and kitchen, a tiled bathroom and a big shagpile rug. The S12 has a touchscreen feature for controlling suction power, which can be adjusted depending on your preference and the surface you're cleaning. This level of power meant it didn't miss a beat, sucking up everything in its path rather than pushing any of the dirt away, the way some older vacuum models do.
I especially liked the LED lights on the front of the vacuum. Given my dark floorboards, it's easy for dust to hide, so having it illuminated was pretty eye-opening. I quickly figured out how dirty the apartment had been getting in between vacuums, and resolved to clean more often now that it was such an easy task.
The vacuum weighs about three kilograms and is super easy to manoeuvre around. The only thing I didn't like is how small the storage container is for dirt and dust collection, but it's an easy trade-off for keeping the vacuum light.
The S12 comes at a pretty high price point, going for $1,206 on Amazon. However, if you're looking for something simple to use, with excellent run time and amazing suction power, it's worth the money.
Tineco iFloor 2 Plus Cordless Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner
The design behind the iFloor 2 is ingenious, and as a household that recently got floorboards, it was a really helpful device in learning how best to clean them.
It eliminated any need for arduous mopping, and given Tineco provides its own cleaning solution, I wasn't left stumped in the grocery store aisles, looking for the best product to clean the floors with.
Tineco iFloor 2 Plus Cordless Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner
I was able to mop and vacuum simultaneously, removing dust and dirt and cleaning as I went. Best of all, the vacuum function of the iFloor 2 dries the floor it mops, so you're not left with sopping floors when you finish cleaning – although it is worth noting they do remain a touch wet.
My only problem with the iFloor 2 was how long the brush head took to dry. Given the construction of the vacuum, air can barely get to the brush roll head, meaning it was wet for a few days, and therefore pretty useless as a standalone vacuum head until it had dried. The iFloor also doesn't have the bevy of attachments the S12 has, so it can't offer much help cleaning those hard-to-reach spots.
While I would recommend this instantly to a house with entirely hard flooring, places with carpet might get a bit less use out of it. It can be used as a vacuum cleaner before you add any water to it, but if you're going to be getting the head constantly wet, it might be best to have a single-function vacuum on hand to give you a hand.
The iFloor is also much more affordable than the S12, currently going for $499 on Amazon.
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