The good news is there are a number of excellent vacuums that are designed to make stair cleaning easier. Some of these are handheld (see our list of the best handheld vacuum cleaners) or cord-free vacuums, while others are corded vacuums that have innovative designs.​

Upright vacuums pose more of a problem for cleaning stairs, as they’re often heavy and bulky. The hoses aren’t always long enough to cover a whole flight of stairs, so you have to balance them on the steps. Selecting the appropriate Shark vacuum attachment for your stairs depends on several factors such as carpet type, level of dirt accumulation, and personal preference. Here are some tips to help you choose the right attachment: It’s not the most powerful vacuum on this list, but we found it performs well on most flooring types. We did find that it struggles on deep pile carpet though, which is something to keep in mind if you have a lot of this flooring in your home. Cordless vacuums are definitely easier to use on stairs,” advises Whitney White, Airbnb cleaning specialist, adding that “as long as you have one with good suction power, cordless is the way to go!”

Where can I buy Shark accessories?

The crevice tool is a long thin attachment and is great for getting right into edges. Mini motorised tools have rotating brushes and often come included with pet vacuum models. You can buy them separately if not.

Shark HZ3002 Stratos can be stored by detaching the handheld vacuum and placing it at the base of the wand - the unit can be stored vertically, requiring very little storage area. Shark HZ3002 Stratos Cleaning Tools and Attachments When cleaning stairs, White says she prefers to vacuum using a cordless vacuum or cordless attachment. “With a cordless vacuum, you’re able to take the middle tube out and attach the top and bottom pieces to create a ‘mini’ vacuum that is perfect for stairs,” she explains. That way, you can ensure that every part of the stairs is able to be reached by the vacuum so that the whole area will be left looking spotless.Shark HZ3002 Stratos weighs 8.68 pounds, while Shark HZ2002 Vertex weighs 9.05 pounds - a very small difference, Dust loves to gather in corners, so start in these sections and give them a thorough clean with the crevice tool. Get into all the nooks and crannies before working along each edge. The cylinder of the vacuum can be lifted away from the floor head and carried separately. When used as a stair vacuum, this means you don’t need to balance a bulky floor head on each step. No upright is going to be as portable as a handheld vacuum, but the Air Lift is much easier to use on stairs. It is an awkward area though, so we won’t blame you for not doing these every time you vacuum! How to Use Different Types of Vacuum on Staircases

Got an upright vacuum cleaner with Lift-Away? If you don’t want to carry the canister in portable mode, this wheeled floor caddy lets you pull your vacuum along like a cylinder. It’s easier to do all the corners and edges first, rather than swapping attachments over with each step. It saves time, which is crucial if you’re working with a cordless vacuum with limited battery life. A larger dustbin is always a desirable quality for a vacuum because you won’t have to empty it as often. However, a vacuum’s performance tends to lag as the dustbin fills up, so you’ll want to empty it regularly regardless of size. Aside from capacity, you’ll want to make sure the dustbin is easy to open and empty so you don’t have a larger mess on your hands—or the floor—than when you started. There's a bit of a learning curve with emptying the debris container, but we didn't get our hands dirty once. It has a self-cleaning function, though you can wash it out with soap and a sponge in the sink rather easily, too. It comes with an app, but we found it difficult to connect. We used the audio feature instead and liked how it “talked” us through any troubleshooting during cleaning. Use proper technique: When using your Shark vacuum on stairs, it’s important to maintain good posture and stability. Hold the handle firmly with one hand while guiding the attachment along each step with your other hand.

The dusting brush: Useful for gently removing dust from delicate surfaces such as wooden banisters.