Top 6 Best Vacuums for Berber Carpet for 2021

Berber carpets make all the difference in how any room looks. But, are you having trouble with maintenance? These are tricky to keep clean without a good vacuum.

Take a moment to check the article below as we review some of the best vacuums for Berber carpets.

We’ve also included a buyer’s guide to help you choose the best model.

And if you’re short on time, here are our favorite picks:

Top 6 Berber Carpet Vacuums

Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352

(Best Option Overall)

The NV352 canister vacuum cleaner is one of the best vacuum choices from Shark’s Navigator collection. It’s a Lift-Away model, allowing you to lift the canister for easier cleaning of hard-to-reach areas.

This bagless canister vacuum is powerful and versatile, weighing only 12.5 pounds in total. It’s an upright, so it might seem a bit bulky, but its weight helps with maneuverability. On top of that, the vac features swivel steering, allowing you to clean around furniture and other obstacles.

This upright vacuum for Berber carpet features Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology combined with HEPA. This helps trap up to 99% of allergens, dust particles, and pollen.

The bagless canister vacuum includes the Wide Pet Upholstery tool, which is ideal if your pets often shred. Also, there’s an option to turn off its motorized brush when you clean Berber carpet, hardwood floors, and bare floors.

The NV352 bagless canister vacuum cleaner is corded, featuring some 25 ft of power cable.

Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352

Specifications

  • Cord: 25 ft
  • Filtration: HEPA 
  • Weight: 12.5 lbs

Pros

  • Suitable for allergy-prone people
  • Brush roll shut off option
  • Converts into a handheld

Cons

  • Power cord might be short for some

Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2

(Best Multi-Surface Choice)

Multi Floor 2 upright vacuum could be the best vacuum for Berber carpet due to its radial root cyclone technology. It’s an upright vacuum, measuring 41.93×15.95×13.39 inches and weighing some 15 pounds.

Though it’s not the most lightweight vacuum out there, Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 upright vacuum is quite easy to work with across different floor surfaces. It’s the Ball technology which allows you to swivel and move the cleaner head with a simple twist of your wrist.

With its capacity of .42 gallon, the vacuum should be enough for your entire house, depending on how frequently you clean. It features a self-adjusting cleaner head that seals in and adjusts to different carpets and hard floors such as tile, wood, and vinyl.

Another thing worth mentioning is its hygienically-designed dust bin. It empties with a push of a button, so you don’t have to touch the dirty contents you’ve collected.

Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2

Specifications

  • Cord: 31 ft
  • Weight: 15lbs
  • Dust Cup Capacity: .42 GAL

Pros

  • 31 ft power cable
  • Instant-release wand
  • Works on nearly all types of flooring

Cons

  • Not for high-pile carpets

Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister

(Best Canister for Berber Carpet)

If you’re looking for a more traditional vacuum for Berber carpet, you might want to check the Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister. As the name indicates, it’s a canister, but it’s a bit more than old-school, traditional models.

This vacuum for Berber carpet features a six-stage variable speed motor that provides continuous power and powerful suction. You can control its suction via +/- footswitch pedals adding even more to its overall convenience.

Another thing that comes in handy with Berber carpet is the vac’s height-adjustable electrobrush and automatic speed setting. The brush features LEDs, making it easier to clean highly-concentrated areas.

Miele C3 Marin Canister vacuum cleaner features a HEPA AirClean filtration system, ensuring that all the collected dust remains in the vacuum cleaner. This way, the expelled air is clean and free of allergens.

The C3 Marin Canister vacuum comes with an integrated dusting brush, and a crevice tool for hard-to-reach areas.

Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister

Specifications

  • Cleaning Radius: 36 ft
  • Weight: 19.4 lbs
  • Filter Bag Volume: 4.5 l

Pros

  • Automatic cord rewind
  • HEPA AirClean filtration system
  • Telescopic, stainless steel wand included

Cons

  • Small bag size

Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum

(Best Stick Vacuum for Berber)

Dyson V8 stick vacuum cleaner is among the best vacuum options if you’re looking for a compact vacuum suitable for Berber carpet and other types of floors. It’s cordless and bagless, so it’s easy to use and store away.

This vacuum for Berber is battery-operated, offering some 40 minutes of runtime with a non-motorized tool in Standard mode. In Max mode, you get about 8 minutes of runtime. However, Max mode isn’t recommended for Berber because the brush drives stiff nylon bristles deep into carpets.

Instead, you can use its Soft Roller Head, which is a more gentle tool. The battery will last you some 30 minutes with this tool in Standard mode.

Still, it’s a versatile vacuum for Berber, featuring an instant-release trigger helping you to make the most of its battery life. This vacuum cleaner takes some four hours to recharge, and we recommend you do this after each use.

Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum

Specifications

  • Run Time: 40 mins max
  • Weight: 5.75 lbs
  • Suction Power: 115 AW max

Pros

  • HEPA filtration
  • Transforms into a handheld
  • Increased airflow thanks to its 15 cyclones

Cons

  • Small dust cup capacity

Soniclean Galaxy 1150 Canister Vacuum Cleaner

(Powerful yet Adjustable Suction)

If you’re interested in a canister vacuum cleaner, you should give the Soniclean Galaxy 1150 a chance. It’s a powerful but quiet vacuum for Berber carpet and other types of floor surfaces.

Its 1150 Watt German motor provides powerful suction and precise suction control, allowing you to transition from one floor to another with ease.

The vacuum cleaner weighs only 12 pounds, and because it’s a canister, you probably won’t have any issues pulling it around. It’s equally as convenient to carry up and down the stairs, for example.

It comes with a telescopic stainless steel wand, turbo carpet brush, dusting tool, natural bristle floor tool, crevice tool, HEPA filter, and 31 ft of power cable.

Although it’s a canister vacuum cleaner, it’s easy to maneuver with thanks to 360° hose rotation and lightweight body. You can also use it on the hardwood as its rubber wheels won’t damage the surface.

Soniclean Galaxy 1150 Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Specifications

  • Cord: 31 ft
  • Weight: 12 lbs
  • Motor: 1150 W

Pros

  • HEPA filtration
  • Quiet operation
  • Suction control

Cons

  • Small dust bag capacity

Hoover T-Series WindTunnel UH70210

Hoover is another big name with WindTunnel UH70210 being one of its best vacuum cleaners. Although it’s not the most lightweight unit, it’s relatively easy to use on different floor surfaces and Berber carpet.

It weighs a little less than 19 pounds and has a wide cleaning head, making cleaning Berber much easier. The vacuum cleaner has five height adjustment settings, making it easier to transition to and from Berber carpet.

It’s corded, featuring 25 ft of cable, and a pedal for automatic cord rewind. This, combined with its folding handle, makes it easier to store the vacuum cleaner despite its overall size.

This upright vacuum cleaner has a system check indicator, indicating a possible clog or filter maintenance. It comes with an Air-Powered Pet Hand tool for pet hair, crevice and pet upholstery tools, and a 12-inch extension wand.

Hoover T-Series WindTunnel UH70210

Specifications

  • Extension Wand Length: 12 in
  • Weight: 19 lbs
  • Cord: 25 ft

Pros

  • HEPA filtration
  • Five height adjustment settings
  • Air-Powered Pet Hand tool for pet hair

Cons

  • Lots of flimsy plastic

All You Need to Know about Berber Carpet

Berber carpet is an investment, but its maintenance may be confusing for some people. Berber carpeting doesn’t look much different than other low-pile carpets, which is why people often don’t maintain it properly.

Identifying a Berber carpet isn’t all that complicated if you know a few details about its construction. And although Berber carpeting maintenance is quite specific, it’s not as challenging with the right vacuum cleaner for cleaning Berber.

In the guide below, you’ll find all about Berber carpeting and how to maintain it.

What is Berber?

Although the term Berber used to refer to color, it now refers to the loop pile style of weaving. Berber carpeting used to be light in color, featuring flecks of darker colors like brown or grey. It’s the typical style of the Berber tribes in North Africa.

In most cases, this fleck was often found in loop pile carpeting. With time, the color choices also expanded as the looped style became more popular. So, instead of being only flecked, Berber carpet is made in solid colors, too.

Advantages

Berber carpet is among the most affordable rugs in the market. Compared to other carpeting options, Berber carpeting is relatively affordable, although that tends to depend on the color and size of the carpet you choose.

The most affordable Berber is factory-made from synthetic materials. Berber carpeting made by hand and from natural materials is typically more expensive.

Downsides

Although a Berber carpet is quite durable, damaging it will create a disaster. In other words, if you accidentally snag the loop of your Berber carpeting, you’ll probably unravel the entire raw of loops. Sadly, there’s no repair for this.

For this reason, Berber carpeting isn’t recommended for people with children or pets. Surely, if your pet’s claws are trimmed and your kids are somewhat older, you might not have a problem.

Material

As we mentioned, Berber carpeting is made from different natural and synthetic materials. The difference between types of carpeting is in quality, durability, and ease of maintenance.

Keep in mind that there’s some difference in the price as well since some materials of Berber carpeting are more expensive than others.

Nylon

Nylon Berber carpet is probably the most popular choice. The material offers a balance between versatility, durability, and affordability as a whole. The trick is in the fact that the carpet fibers are quite impossible to crush, which makes Berber carpeting ideal for high-traffic areas.

Wool

Wool is quite possibly the best choice, although it’s the most expensive one as well. It is considered high end because these natural carpet fibers are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and very soft. This kind of Berber carpeting is super-comfortable and has a great ability to retain its shape.

This Berber carpeting is relatively easy to maintain with the right vacuum cleaner for wool rugs. However, the biggest drawback is probably the price since this Berber carpeting can cost you anything from $6 to $10 per square foot.

Olefin

Olefin and polyester fibers are cheap Berber carpeting options meant to deliver a Berber feeling at a lower price. Although it’s affordable at only $1 to $2 per square foot, this type of Berber carpeting has a significant drawback.

Both olefin and polyester are easy to crush, so this Berber carpeting isn’t quite as durable and resistant to everyday wear and tear. You’ll notice that its flattened fibers are impossible to fix, which might make your Berber carpeting reflect light weirdly.

Triexta

This carpet is made out of a chemical compound fiber that performs like nylon. Although it looks much like polyester, this one is more durable and has a better stain resistance.

This Berber carpeting doesn’t absorb moisture and is made of renewable resources. It usually costs somewhere between $3 to $4 per square foot.

Combination

Some manufacturers use a combination of nylon and wool to make Berber carpeting. In this case, you usually get the best of both worlds. Other combinations of Berber carpeting are also available, although not as popular as the one of nylon and wool.

Berber Carpet Vacuum Buying Considerations

Choosing the best vacuum for Berber carpet is sometimes a bit tricky due to as many models in the market.

The information in the guide below can help you choose your Berber carpets more accordingly, so consider it as you decide among the vacuum cleaners we reviewed.

You can also check out our main vacuums for carpet guide if you’re looking for more options as well.

Powerful Suction

You’ll need powerful suction to keep this carpet clean. It’s an essential factor, but you should also make sure that it’s not too strong. In other words, your best bet is to go for adjustable suction so that you can find the best level that works for your rug.

Strong suction can actually damage your carpet, so you want to be able to adjust it to the desired level. Adjustable suction is that much more useful if you have other floors as well.

Avoid / Remove Beater Bar

As we mentioned, these carpets are durable, but some things can cause severe damaging. Beater bar and some other motorized tools are quite dangerous to use on this type of carpet.

These carpets have loops that a beater bar can snag and rip off. As a result, you’ll probably have to throw away your carpet or place a piece of furniture on the tearing.

To prevent this from happening, you should avoid using a beater bar on your Berber carpet. Now, if you need a beater bar for other floors, you should look for a vacuum cleaner which has an option to shut the bar off.

Bag or Bagless

Choosing between bagless and bagged vacuum cleaner comes down to your preference and needs. The best way to choose is to consider other floors in your house as well. Also, you might want to think about how frequently you’ll use your vacuum cleaner.

Bagless models usually don’t have as much capacity, but they’re far more eco-friendly than those that use replaceable bags. They’re also more cost-efficient since you won’t have to buy dust bags all the time.

Cord or Cordless

In many cases, the choice between corded or cordless vacuums for Berber carpet also depends on your preferences and needs. Both types have several pros and cons, so it’s up to you to choose what would work the best in your case.

Corded vacuums for Berber carpet are usually more powerful than battery-operated ones. This type of vacuum has unlimited runtime, although you’ll have to consider the cord length and whether you have enough sockets.

Filter

You need a reliable filter to keep suction at its peak. In most cases, vacuums for Berber carpet have HEPA and other washable filters.

HEPA is a good choice if you or someone in your family is prone to allergies. However, you should consider other filters as well and whether they’re washable or not.

Accessories

In most cases, if you have powerful suction, you won’t need much more than that. Still, several tools come in handy depending on the particular place where your carpeting is.

Consider a vacuum that comes with crevice and dusting tools, as well as an upholstery tool.

Berber Carpet Maintenance

Maintaining a Berber carpet isn’t necessarily difficult, but some things can help you along the way. Probably the most important thing to pay attention to is the vacuum you choose. In addition to getting the best vacuum for Berber carpet, there are a few other things that can help maintain your Berber.

Be consistent

The key to keeping Berber carpet looking good is consistent maintenance. You must vacuum this type of carpeting regularly so that there’s no dirt and grime buildup.

If you allow any dirt to build up between these loops of fibers, you’ll find it that much more challenging to renew its looks. Berber carpets are generally easy to maintain only if cleaned regularly with a suitable vacuum cleaner.

What to avoid

While these carpets are generally durable, you should still avoid certain things in order to preserve their good looks. As we mentioned, pets and young children should be kept away from Berbers due to the higher possibility of spills and stains.

Don’t pull or push anything across your Berber carpet regardless of the material that it’s made from. Avoid dragging furniture and walking over the carpet in high heels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:

Will a vacuum ruin my Berber carpet?

A: The best vacuum for Berber carpet is the one that’s efficient and safe to use. A vacuum like that is unlikely to cause any damage to your carpet. Just by opting for strong suction and avoiding a beater bar, you reduce the chance of any damage.

If you’re going for a canister, make sure that it has rubber wheels, like the Miele we reviewed, so that it doesn’t tear the loops.

Q:

How to get old stains out of Berber carpet?

A: The first thing you should remember is not to use soap or detergents on Berber carpet. These will leave residue and will make the stain even more difficult to remove.

Most store-bought carpet stain removals would work great, but make sure to have a careful approach nonetheless. In other words, always follow specific instructions that you can find on the back of each product. Make sure to also test the solution on a discreet part of your carpeting.

Q:

How to clean Berber carpet on stairs?

A: If you have stairs, you should opt for a vacuum that comes with a crevice attachment or another similarly small tool. Stairs are generally small and narrow, so a wide cleaner head might not be as convenient to use.

Another option to think about is a convertible vacuum that goes from upright vacuum to handheld with ease.

Q:

Should I install a Berber carpet in high-traffic areas of my home?

A: Generally, these carpets work well in high-traffic areas as long as you follow the maintenance tips we shared in the guide above. Berber carpet is durable enough for the purpose, but keep in mind that some materials are more resistant than others.

Q:

Does the loop size of my Berber carpet make a difference?

A: Yes. Larger loops are easier to crush, so that kind of carpet is best installed in a low-traffic area of your house. If you’re looking for a long-lasting carpet to install in a high-traffic area, you should opt for a smaller loop size.

Conclusion

As we mentioned, this type of carpeting is quite an investment, so you should pay special attention to its maintenance and care.

For this reason, it’s important to have the best vacuum for Berber with powerful suction and speed settings. Make sure that it’s an efficient unit that will perform gently on your flooring.

Choosing the best vacuum for Berber carpet shouldn’t be too difficult if you use the information from our buyer’s guide.

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I’ve been a dedicated writer for Clean That Floor for approximately 3 years. I’ve written about various topics, mostly focusing on cleaning products, vacuum cleaners, mops, and simple cleaning solutions for homeowners. I enjoy testing tips and tricks on house maintenance, reviewing both the process and results.

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