What features make for the best vacuum accessories? No matter what kind of vacuum you own, the right set of vacuum attachments can enhance your vacuum cleaner’s overall performance and functionality.
Any vacuum accessory you purchase should provide excellent product quality and durability. This way, you can use it repeatedly without worrying about it breaking during or after the first use. The best vacuum accessories also come with manufacturer’s warranties to protect against defects.
In the end, the accessories you buy for your favorite vacuum cleaner should be user-friendly and easy to attach and detach from your vacuum. For example, when you’re in the middle of cleaning, you won’t want to take forever to attach a new brush tool or nozzle. Vacuum accessories made specifically for your model or brand of vacuum are best in this regard.
Keep reading to learn more about the best vacuum accessories and how they can enhance the function of the best vacuum cleaners available today.
Top Vacuum Accessories
#1 GIBTOOL SCGH0032 Vacuum Accessory
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This device multi-pack features multiple parts that target different areas of your home like corners, baseboards, and curtains. With wide compatibility, this is an excellent choice for ensuring spotless floors, carpets, and fabric furniture, especially if you have pets.
- Incredibly versitile
- Great compatabiliy
- Included size adapter
- No included storage
The GIBTOOL SCGH0032 vacuum accessory kit is an excellent pick for users that need a versatile and simple complement to their cleaning. This multifaceted kit features 5 cleaning attachments and one size adapter to ensure that your floors, furniture, and home are dust, dirt, and pet-hair-free. While there isn’t an included storage solution for this kit, the pieces are small enough that they can easily fit in a hall closet or utility shelf.
While most vacuums feature some attachments, the GIBTOOL SCGH0032 vacuum accessory kit lets you supply your own, or replace a worn-down set you already have. The thick bristles on these attachments are great for agitating dirt and dust out of your carpets. Additionally, the multiple crevice tools are ideal for pet owners that need to reach the last few tufts of loose hair. Lastly, the upholstery tool includes anti-static protection, so you can clean your furniture and blinds without encouraging more mess.
#2 ANBOO 8542019759 Vacuum Accessory
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This cleaning tool is excellent for users with a big home and solid flooring. The wide head and dense bristles are fantastic for kicking up dirt and dust, especially in homes with tile or wooden surfaces.
- Impressive bristles
- Rotating head
- Good coverage
- Bristles can hold onto pet hair
The ANBOO 8542019759 vacuum accessory is a compelling option for users with hardwood floors or tiles with deep crevices. Unlike other vacuum heads with shallow or plastic bristles, this model utilizes natural horsehair bristles to remain durable, but soft on your hardwood floors. Additionally, the bristles agitate dust and pet dander out of your floors to cut down on allergy symptoms. While the bristles sometimes get tangled with pet hair, the front slits in the brush ensure that it is easy to push obstructions into the hose.
In addition to excellent bristles, the ANBOO 8542019759 vacuum accessory offers fantastic compatibility across multiple major brands that utilize a 1.25incn inner hose diameter. Additionally, this brush features 360-degree rotation so you can use it to clean hard-to-reach areas like your basement ceiling, walls, or underneath furniture. Lastly, with an 11” width, this vacuum brush attachment covers a wide area with each swipe, saving you on time and energy costs.
#3 EnviroCare 32-1545-69 Vacuum Accessory
Award: BEST FOR SIMPLE CLEANING
WHY WE LIKE IT: This cleaning accessory is an excellent pick due to its rotating head and great suction power. The raised front ensures that your unit pulls in the dust, hair, and dirt from your floors without getting stuck in the accessory.
- Incredible airflow
- Nice bristles
- Rotating head
- Occasionally falls off
The EnviroCare 32-1545-69 is a stellar pick for users with hardwood or tile flooring that like to keep their homes free from dust and dirt. This lightweight accessory makes it simple to attach to most vacuum models and reach the often-forgotten crevices of hard flooring. The sturdy bristles agitate contaminants while remaining soft and not leaving marks. While this accessory occasionally falls off from some vacuum models, the durable plastic body won’t break down with a light drop.
In addition to durable bristles and being kind to floors, the EnviroCare 32-1545-69 vacuum brush head makes it simple to clean more than just your floors. The rotating head makes it possible to invert this attachment for cleaning under your furniture or along your baseboards. Additionally, the bristles will not mark up your walls or paint if you decide to vacuum the cobwebs from your ceilings or corners.
#4 WORKSHOP VT1215 Vacuum Accessory
Award: BEST FOR ELECTRONICS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This multifaceted product features multiple parts to ensure that you can reach small spaces and crevices. If you regularly detail your car, electronics, or furniture, this model is an excellent pick to take care of grime, dirt, and dust.
- Excellent reach
- Great for electronics
- Soft on delicate devices
- Not efficient on floors
The WORKSHOP VT1215 vacuum accessory kit is a stellar choice for users looking to use a powerful clean on electronics or while detailing a car. This multifaceted kit features three interchangeable heads, two extension wands, and a blowing adapter for when you need to loosen up dirt and grime. While these tools are too small to efficiently clean an entire floor, the small crevice tool and brushes can be an excellent help for detailing floorboards and corners.
Additionally, the WORKSHOP VT1215 vacuum accessory kit is a micro-cleaning kit that is a great addition to your car cleaning kit or computer hardware workshop. The small crevice tool lets you get between keyboard keys or car seats, and the multiple brushes can loosen dust and dirt, making it easier to achieve spotless hardware. In addition, the included straight and angled extension wands are great for getting under car seats or cleaning areas that you cannot reach with your hands.
#5 Wonlives 8542020098 Vacuum Accessory
Award: BEST FOR MULTI-SURFACE CLEANING
WHY WE LIKE IT: This multi-part kit features high compatibility and enough cleaning power to tackle many jobs. With tough bristles and a durable plastic design, this kit is a fantastic choice for cleaning cars, workshops, or the family room.
- Incredibly tough on dirt
- Great compatability
- Nice upholstery tool
- Smaller than standard attachments
The Wonlives 8542020098 vacuum accessory kit is a great pick for users looking for a versatile set of tools to upgrade their vacuuming routine. This versatile toolkit comes with a size adjustment tool that makes it compatible with all vacuum brands that feature a 32mm to 35mm hose diameter. Additionally, with five interchangeable heads, this kit will let you tackle a variety of cleaning jobs like pet hair, spills, and general dust. While the heads are a little small, they’ll let you clean hard-to-reach spots that aren’t possible with a traditional vacuum head.
In addition to high vacuum compatibility, the Wonlives 8542020098 vacuum accessory kit makes cleaning simple and effective thanks to the interchangeable heads. There are two crevice tools, with the bigger one being best for crevices in furniture and floorboards. The smaller crevice tool features a swiveling brush that lets you softly loosen dirt from surfaces before whisking it away. Lastly, the upholstery tool is fantastic for a furry home, and the anti-static strip ensures that you won’t attract more hair after vacuuming.
#6 KINW 8542019742 Vacuum Accessory
Award: BEST FOR PET OWNERS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This incredible kit comes with enough parts to tackle major cleaning jobs, or when you need to touch up the details. Users with pets will especially love the included cleaning tool that will keep tangles and dirt from sticking in the bristles.
- Frantastic cleaning tool
- Great for pet hair
- Durable design
- No included storage
The KINW 8542019742 vacuum accessory kit is an essential pick for pet lovers and users who want to cut down on allergens like pet dander and dust mites. This multi-head toolkit equips users with a size adapter to ensure wide compatibility for vacuum models that feature a 32mm to 35mm inner hose diameter. Unlike other brands that leave matted hair in vacuum bristles, this kit includes a strong cleaning tool to keep this kit in prime operating shape. While there isn’t an included storage bag or case, the attachments are small enough to store in a closet or on a workshop pegboard.
In addition to the cleaning tool and size adapter, the KINW 8542019742 vacuum accessory kit keeps users’ homes clean with a versatile set of heads. The small crevice tool comes with a swiveling brush that can loosen dirt and grim, and the anti-static upholstery head lets you clear unwanted pet hair from furniture and blinds. The larger crevice tool allows for a powerful clean along floorboards and corners, and the durable brush heads will take the work out of refreshing a welcome mat.
Beginner’s Guide to Vacuum Accessories
What Are Vacuum Accessories?
Simply put, vacuum accessories are items you can attach directly to your vacuum cleaner to enhance or adjust its base functionality. The vast majority of vacuum accessories come in the form of nozzle or brush tools, which you attach directly to your vacuum’s hose.
Ultimately, finding the right tool to work with your vacuum comes down to identifying your exact needs. For example, you won’t want to purchase an extendable hose if you always spot clean in close quarters.
Take some time to identify what your cleaning needs are and only purchase the matching accessories. This way, you won’t become overburdened with too many attachments that you never use.
Vacuum Accessories vs. Traditional Vacuum Cleaners
Vacuum accessories differ from traditional vacuum cleaners mainly because they are different products made for different purposes. While a conventional vacuum cleaner is a product that houses all the technology and parts to perform the cleaning, a vacuum accessory enhances that cleaning power.
Vacuum accessories need to be attached to household vacuums in order to function properly. On the flip side, vacuum cleaners typically include everything required to function correctly and don’t require additional accessories to fulfill their basic purpose of sucking up debris. Because of its superior cleaning abilities, there’s no need to compare a broom vs vacuum.
How Vacuum Accessories Work
The way a specific vacuum attachment works depends entirely on its design and purpose. For example, the opening size on a nozzle accessory can increase or decrease its suctioning power. Likewise, the type and amount of bristles on a brush tool create a different cleaning experience, depending on the floor type or area you’re cleaning.
Whether you use upright vacuums, canister vacuums, or cordless vacuums, accessories attach in the same general way. The bulk of vacuum accessories will connect directly to your vacuum’s standard hose or its detachable hose, if available. If you own a handheld vacuum, accessories will typically attach directly to the vacuum’s body.
Do You Really Need Vacuum Accessories?
By definition, a vacuum cleaner can function just fine without any vacuum accessories. However, the additional functionality and overall enhancement that these products provide are well worth the extra cost.
Are Vacuum Accessories Worth Buying?
- You Need to Clean a Specific Type of Mess: One of the best things about vacuum accessories is that they can help you clean all kinds of different messes. While household vacuums with no attachments are still good at cleaning up standard dry messes, adding an accessory can help you more efficiently clean up pet hair from your furry friends, dust from under couches, or dryer lint from the dryer vent.
- You Need to Reach Tight Spots: Many vacuum accessories like a crevice tool can help you clean in hard-to-reach spots with minimal effort. This way, you’ll bend, stretch, and reach less, saving you from aches and pains. A canister vacuum is particularly helpful if you want to vacuum tight spaces while having a larger dust bin capacity.
- You Need More Range: It can be a pain to clean sizable areas with your vacuum, especially if you don’t have a handheld vacuum. Vacuum accessories like extension wands and flexible hoses give you more overall range, so you don’t have to lug your heavy vacuum around all the time.
- You Own a Cleaning Business: The added versatility that vacuum accessories provide is essential for anyone who owns a cleaning business. There’s no telling what messes or scenarios you’ll run into during professional cleaning, but with an array of vacuum attachments, you’ll be as prepared as possible.
Why Vacuum Accessories May Not Be For You
- You Are on a Tight Budget: If you’re looking to save money, then purchasing a bunch of vacuum accessories may not be the best option for you. Fortunately, most individual accessories reside in a low price range, making them easier on your wallet. Comprehensive accessory kits are more expensive overall.
- You Only Need Your Vacuum’s Base Functionality: There are many instances where your vacuum cleaner functions perfectly fine for your needs out of the box. If this is the case for you, purchasing a variety of attachments won’t be worth it.
How Long Will Vacuum Accessories Last?
Your vacuum cleaner should last you an average of five to seven years before it wears out, according to expert cleaning companies like Classic Cleaners. In general, expect this same lifespan out of your vacuum accessories, but only if you’ve purchased high-quality options.
While vacuum accessories wear out faster the more you use them, it’s more important to consider the company from which you are buying. If you purchase a cheaply made attachment, you are less likely to get a lot of use out of it before it breaks or wears out.
To avoid purchasing cheap vacuum accessories, we recommend reading customer reviews. Most consumers will leave a review that the product they’ve purchased isn’t manufactured to high standards.
Also, if you’re purchasing an off-brand vacuum accessory, compare its price to that of a well-known brand. While there’s bound to be a price difference between the two, if the price of the off-brand accessory is significantly lower, then you might get a poorly made option.
How to Choose the Best Vacuum Accessories
One of the best ways to identify which vacuum accessories you need the most is simply by using your vacuum cleaner as you normally would. As you clean around your home or office, think about the functions you wish your vacuum would perform. In all likelihood, there is an attachment that you can purchase to help with that function.
Take a look at some of the most popular vacuum accessories to see if any of them interest you:
Vacuum Accessories Key Features
1. Crevice Tool
The crevice tool is one of the most common vacuum accessories you can purchase today, especially if you have the best vacuum for apartments. This tool attaches directly to your vacuum’s hose and features a thin body with an angled tip. When you use your crevice tool, you’ll be able to clean tight spots like corners, baseboards, in between couch cushions, and behind furniture more easily.
You can also purchase a flexible crevice tool, which features a bendable nozzle that you can adjust specifically for the job. A flexible crevice tool can help you reach spots that are impossible to reach in any other way.
2. Brush Tool
A brush tool refers to any nozzle attachment that features soft bristles around the opening. These vacuum dust attachments are perfect for delicate jobs where you don’t want to scratch or scuff the area or item you’re cleaning. Common attachments in this category include a floor brush for hardwood floor cleaning and a dusting brush for cleaning delicate home decor items. Although, you may be better off with the best robot vacuum for hardwood floors if these attachments don’t work for you.
3. Upholstery Tool
An upholstery tool features a wide head with powerful suction to get dust and other debris out of upholstered furniture. These vacuum attachments are also useful for cleaning mattresses. Depending on the model you purchase, your upholstery tool may also feature a thin fabric strip that catches lint as you pull it across the furniture.
If you want to deep-clean your upholstery, consider the best upholstery steam cleaner.
4. Floor Nozzle
A floor nozzle tool is a valuable attachment for canister vacuums. It features a wide head and a swivel neck that mirrors your movements. In addition, floor cleaning nozzles often include a switch that allows you to transition between bare and carpeted floors. Simply flip the switch to extend or retract the bristles, which are used for vacuuming carpets.
5. Nozzle Combination Tool
Any vacuum accessory labeled as a nozzle combination tool is a nozzle attachment that features multi-function capabilities. For example, you may get a crevice tool and brush tool in a single attachment. Or a floor nozzle tool that allows you to switch between bare surface and carpeted surface cleaning.
6. Extension Wand
An extension wand is a helpful vacuum accessory that extends the overall reach of your vacuum’s hose. Manufacturers typically make extension wands from hard plastic, unlike the flexible plastic of the hose. They attach to the end of the hose and even allow you to connect an additional nozzle or brush tool to the end of the vacuum wand.
7. Dryer Vent Cleaner Kit
Dryer vent cleaner kits provide nozzle attachments with extra-long, flexible hoses. You place the hose into your dryer’s vent or the external dryer vent in your house. The small, long hose allows you to clean the small space of the vent more easily. Plus, the small diameter of the dryer vent vacuum hose allows for greater suction power.
Moreover, this type of vacuum can also be a great vacuum for concrete floors, as concrete floors require vacuums with strong suction power to be beneficial.
8. Stair Vacuum
A stair vacuum attachment is typically a motorized tool for upright vacuums and handheld vacuums or self-propelled vacuums, allow you to clean the steps on your staircase more easily. Attach the tool to your vacuum’s extendable hose, and the force of the suction from your vacuum will power the motor that spins the internal brush.
9. Universal Vacuum Adapter Kit
Most brands offer a different vacuum hose diameter, which means you may not be able to use just any attachment on your specific vacuum cleaner. In this case, a universal vacuum adapter kit provides a variety of different attachments to fit the most common vacuum hose diameters.
10. Extra Battery
Cordless vacuums run on battery power, which is why they’re so versatile and portable. However, what happens when you run out of battery and don’t want to wait for it to charge? Many cordless and handheld vacuums feature removable batteries, which means you won’t be stuck with a single charge if you bring an extra battery along with you.
11. Wet-Dry Vacuum Attachments
If you own a wet-dry vacuum, there are several additional attachments to consider. Since a wet-dry vacuum can handle wet spills, consider an attachment with a built-in squeegee or a blower nozzle that can easily move water away from your working space.
12. Accessory Storage
Depending on the number of vacuum accessories you use, it may be a good idea to find something in which to store them. Accessory storage options are typically bags, but there are hard cases and storage racks available on the market, as well.
