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Dyson stick vac sweeps away competition--for a price

Stick vacuums come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter what it looks or feels like, you want it to clean well.

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Stick vacuums come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter what it looks or feels like, you want it to clean well.

Stick vacs can be handy for a quick pick up if company is dropping by. But they don't all work the same.

Consumer Reports says the $220 Electrolux Ergorapido just pushed around their test mixture of Cheerios, rice, and sand, and it was among the worst on the edge test—it left behind lots of sand after two passes.

The Dyson V6 Absolute impressed, though.

"The Dyson V6 is lightweight, weighing just five pounds, but it's pricey (at) $600," said Consumer Reports' Dan DiClerico. "It was excellent at surface cleaning a carpet and picked up imbedded pet hair easily."

It has a rechargeable battery but only runs for about 14 minutes.

Another recommended vacuum: the $230 Shark Rocket DeluxePro TruePet. It has a cord so you don't have to worry about running out of power. It weighs about nine pounds and does an excellent job picking up pet hair. The Shark Rocket's light helps you see hard-to-reach spots, such as under furniture.

Another option is the Bissell Trilogy Superlight for $130. It does a great job getting pet hair and is quieter than a lot of the machines tested. On bare floors, the Trilogy is even better at picking up little bits of debris.

Because they're easier to handle, some of these new stick vacs can be a big help around the house. But they still don't approach the deep-cleaning power of a regular vacuum. So, Consumer Reports says don't consider them a replacement.

Another recommended cordless stick vac is the Dirt Devil Accucharge. It costs just $70, but it's not as good as some others at picking up pet hair. It delivered 21 minutes of cleaning before it needs a recharge.

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