What This Site Is
Yes, that’s me looking at one of the robot vacuums I’m reviewing, the Switchbot K10+.
Cordless Vacuum Guide is an independent vacuum testing resource run by one person: Garrick Dee.
Every vacuum reviewed on this site has been physically tested by Garrick using a structured methodology built over eight years of hands-on work. There is no editorial team, no content farm, no AI-generated reviews. Every result, every data point, every recommendation comes from direct testing.
The site exists because most vacuum reviews online are not trustworthy. Specs get repackaged as analysis. Weaknesses get buried. Affiliate revenue influences recommendations. Garrick built this site to be the opposite of that — a place where test data leads the conclusion, not the other way around.
Why Cordless Vacuum Guide Exists
Real testing, not spec repackaging
Every vacuum goes through the same battery of tests regardless of brand, price, or whether it was purchased or provided for review. The testing covers:
- Airflow at the wand and nozzle (CFM)
- Suction, both sealed and working (inches of water lift)
- Hard floor debris pickup across four debris types
- Embedded dirt extraction from medium-pile carpet
- Hair pickup across five strand lengths (5–12 inches)
- Filtration seal verification via fog test
- Real-world runtime using the main cleaning head on real flooring
- Noise at 1 meter in each power mode
- Ergonomics, bin emptying, and maintenance assessment
Strengths and weaknesses both get reported
A vacuum that scores 100% on hard floors but struggles with embedded carpet cleaning gets exactly that review — strong on hard floors, weak on carpet. There is no incentive to soften negatives.
If a $700 vacuum underperforms a $250 one on a specific test, that result is published.
Purchased products, not just press samples
Many vacuums reviewed on this site were bought at retail price with Garrick’s own money. When a product is provided for review by a brand, that is disclosed in the review. Either way, the testing process is identical.
No payment for coverage
Brands cannot pay for positive reviews, preferred placement, or editorial mentions. Affiliate commissions are earned after a reader decides to purchase — they do not influence what gets recommended or how results are framed.
→ Read the full editorial guidelines
About Garrick Dee
Garrick Dee is the founder and sole tester at Cordless Vacuum Guide. He has been testing vacuums since 2017, has personally tested over 30 cordless vacuum models, and has logged more than 500 hours of hands-on testing time.
His testing background started with robot vacuums, where the absence of reliable comparative data first became obvious to him. He developed his own protocols — equipment selection, debris standardization, surface preparation — which he has continuously refined since then.
→ Full credentials and testing history
How Revenue Works
Cordless Vacuum Guide earns revenue through two sources:
Display advertising via Mediavine, shown on all pages.
Affiliate commissions from Amazon and other retailers, earned when readers purchase products through links on the site. These commissions are paid by the retailer, not the manufacturer, and are the same regardless of which product a reader chooses.
Neither revenue source influences review conclusions. A vacuum that fails a key test will not receive a recommendation regardless of its commission rate.
Several of the highest-commission products in the cordless vacuum category have received critical reviews on this site because the test data did not support recommending them.
Site History
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Cordless Vacuum Guide founded by Garrick Dee |
| 2017 | YouTube channel launched — first video reviews |
| 2018 | First airflow testing protocol developed using anemometer |
| 2019 | Expanded focus from robot vacuums to cordless stick vacuums |
| 2020 | Embedded sand carpet deep-clean test introduced |
| 2021 | Fog test filtration verification added to all reviews |
| 2022 | YouTube testing video series expanded |
| 2023 | Amazon Influencer program joined |
| 2024 | Hair pickup test expanded to 5 strand lengths (5–12 inches) |
| 2025 | 30+ cordless vacuums tested milestone; 500+ hours of lab time |
| 2026 | Data visualization added to major reviews |
Follow the Testing Work
- YouTube: @CordlessVacuumGuide — video versions of every major test
- Amazon Storefront: CVG Amazon Influencer Page — review videos alongside product listings
- Pinterest: cordlessvacuumguide
Where to Start
If you’re new to the site, these are the most useful starting points:
- Best Cordless Vacuums — top picks across all use cases
- Best for Carpet — strongest embedded-dirt performers
- Best for Hardwood Floors — optimized for hard floor performance
- Best for Pet Hair — lowest hair wrap scores and strongest pickup
- Testing Methodology — how every test works
- Contact — questions about specific products or test results
Cordless Vacuum Guide is independently owned and operated. No brand has editorial influence over this site’s content.