We’ve spent over 40 years helping people find their perfect vacuum, and let us tell you—spec sheets can be more confusing than helpful. What looks impressive on paper doesn’t always mean clean floors in real life. That’s why we’re cutting through the noise and showing you the three specs that actually impact your home’s cleanliness.
Airflow (CFM) is your vacuum’s real workhorse—it determines how efficiently debris is sucked from your floors into the dust bin or bag. Look for 100+ CFM in canister vacuums like the Miele Complete C3 for top-tier cleaning. Water lift (inches) shows how well your vacuum maintains suction, even as the bag fills or when lifting heavier particles like sand. Top models like the Miele Blizzard CX1 deliver both. And then there’s filtration—if you're not using a HEPA-certified system, those microscopic allergens could be blowing right back into your air.
One thing that doesn't matter? Amperage. It simply tells you how much electricity the vacuum draws—not how well it cleans. Some of the best-performing machines run on lower amps thanks to efficient German engineering. So instead of chasing numbers, explore the BestVacuum buying guide and shop smarter.
Feeling confident now? Explore our premium vacuums in our BVA Collection!