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A reliable, effective, and space-conscious vacuum cleaner is an essential appliance for keeping an apartment sparkling clean. I recently tested 10 of the top-ranked products from a variety of brands and at a wide range of price points to discover the best vacuums for apartments on the market today. One lightweight yet powerful vacuum rose to the top: the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum.
I tested this vacuum in my New York City apartment by having it tackle spilled flour, candies such as M&Ms and Skittles, and everyday debris on hard floor surfaces and several different rugs and carpets. This well-designed vacuum repeatedly passed each test with flying colors.
The Levoit LVAC-200 includes two attachments for specific jobs such as cleaning corners and removing pet hair from upholstery. This appliance emits less noise than most vacuums in the same price range and, best of all, it won’t break the bank.
Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum: At a Glance
Rating: 5/5
SPECS
- Runtime: 50 minutes
- Dustbin capacity: 0.75 liters (or just over 3 cups)
- Weight: 3.2 pounds
PROS
- Cordless, lightweight model makes it easy to maneuver around small spaces
- Large dustbin doesn’t require constant emptying
- Emits slightly less noise than similar models
- No-tangle roller brush doesn’t become jammed easily
CONS
- Can take up to 5 hours to reach a full charge
- Does not contain a HEPA filter for super-fine particles
Get the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum at:
What is the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum?
The LVAC-200 cordless vacuum from Levoit, a trusted brand name in the home appliance category, is a compact, lightweight stick vacuum designed for small spaces. It packs 180 watts of power and includes two handy attachments that allow users to clean hardwood and tile floors, low- and high-pile carpets and rugs, upholstered furniture, and even walls and ceilings.
This vacuum also converts to a handheld model that will suck up large debris, fine particles, and even pet hair from furniture and countertops. I tested this vacuum alongside similar models at lower and higher price points and was wholly impressed by its performance and value.
The Levoit LVAC-200 is battery-powered, so I didn’t get tangled in an annoying cord during my tests, nor did I need to switch outlets as I moved from room to room. It boasts a solid 50-minute runtime on the lowest setting, which is often more than enough time to clean an entire apartment.
Simple Assembly
The Levoit vacuum required minimal assembly. I followed the simple graphic on the box to easily click together the parts. It also includes a mount that a user can affix to any wall to hang the vacuum when not in use. However, I could stand the vacuum up on its own in the closet without using the wall anchor, and it didn’t tip over.
Switching between attachments is as easy as pressing a button, removing the attachment, and swapping it out for the other one. To convert the vacuum from fully extended to handheld, simply contract the wand inward like you would for an umbrella.
Easy to Use
The Levoit LVAC-200 vacuum stood out in my tests of the best vacuums for apartments for its ease of use, largely due to its lightweight design. I could easily move the vacuum from room to room and up and down stairs with minimal effort. It was also nimble enough for me to flip upside down to reach ceiling corners, and the handheld functionality was ideal for reaching deep into couch creases.
The dustbin has a spacious 0.75-liter capacity, so it doesn’t require frequent emptying. When it is time to empty the bin, all it takes is a quick push of a button over a trash can. For long-term maintenance, the vacuum filter and roller brush are both easy to remove and clean by hand in the sink. The roller brush resists tangles, so if you’re vacuuming up long hair, you won’t end up with a jammed vacuum brush that requires scissors to set it free.
I also measured the noise level of the Levoit LVAC-200, as apartment dwellers are often concerned about sparing their neighbors from sound pollution. It generates about 77 decibels on the lower setting and up to 83 decibels on high, which is on par with or slightly lower than most of the vacuums I tested. Cheaper cleaners were a bit louder, and higher-end models tended to be quieter, but not by more than 10 decibels or so. Plus, this vacuum is so efficient that it only needs to run for a few minutes to get the job done, which should hardly bother the neighbors.
Powerful Suction
This model packs 180 watts of power; this is a measure of the amount of energy the appliance requires to run and doesn’t necessarily indicate the total suction ability. However, in my tests, the Levoit LVAC-200 outperformed more expensive models in its ability to pick up large debris (such as M&Ms and Skittles) and fine debris like flour from hard surfaces, carpets, and upholstered furniture. This vacuum was one of the only stick vacuums able to pick up the candies from hardwood floors using the regular brush attachment. Most of the other models required the direct attention of a crevice or hose tool. The Levoit LVAC-200 also easily cleaned up the flour in a single pass.
The vacuum has two power levels. During my tests, I could accomplish my standard kitchen floor cleaning with ease using the lower power level, but the higher level came in handy on carpets. Of course, using more suction power will drain the battery faster, so if you’re worried about the battery dying before your cleaning is complete, stick to the lower setting.
The Levoit LVAC-200 has a removable foam filter that traps large particles. Though you can replace the filter, regularly rinsing it with water and letting it air-dry can extend the lifespan. This will also prevent clogging and keep the vacuum running efficiently.
Is the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum worth the money?
If you’re on the hunt for a compact, highly functional vacuum for a small living space like an apartment or condo, the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum is an excellent option. It is available at a budget-friendly price and offers performance, features, and accessories comparable to much more expensive vacuums that are also intended for apartments.
The Levoit LVAC-200 vacuum takes up minimal space and even comes with a wall mount for out-of-the-way storage. It features two handy attachments designed for upholstery and small crevices, and you can convert it into a handheld vacuum in seconds. Because of its 50-minute runtime, most apartment dwellers can clean their entire space on a single charge.
Where to Buy the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum
Get the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum at:
Meet the Tester
Lizzy Briskin is a freelance home and kitchen writer and product tester for BobVila.com and other outlets. She has covered food and home products for over 5 years and takes a standard approach with all products by applying the same tests to each product for a fair side-by-side comparison. She takes detailed qualitative and quantitative notes along the way to help guide her writing. Briskin’s goal is to help shoppers cut through the noise and find the very best-performing products for every use case.
