The BEST Vacuums for Hand Knotted Rugs

As any hand-knotted rug owner will tell you, there is nothing quite like having one! They add an added touch of luxury to your home and even make your home feel more stylish. No matter what room you are displaying your rug in, you will need a vacuum for hand-knotted rugs at some point.

Dust and dirt will get into the fabric and can lead to odors or even ruining your rug. Many people who have purchased Moroccan rugs when they visit email me asking how to take care of it. Keeping these rugs looking their best is tricky if you don’t know how to do it. This is why I’ve reviewed four of the best vacuums for hand-knotted rugs!

These are delicate enough to handle these rugs but have enough power behind them to remove any dust or dirt from the fabric. If possible it’s always a good idea to pull out your rugs and manually beat them whenever possible.

Here are my top choices for the best vacuums for hand-knotted rugs.

Oreck Commercial XL2100 Vacuum Cleaner

If you are looking for a vacuum that can clean your floors and do it for a great bargain, this is a great vacuum option! This vacuum is a commercial grade, and at under $200 you can’t beat this deal! The high-speed brush roll makes this vacuum pick up anything it’s path, but with an upholstery attachment, you can easily use this vacuum to handle delicate rugs and get into small spaces.

Oreck Commercial Pros

• This vacuum is extremely lightweight.
• It adjusts to floors automatically.
• It’s cheaper than most vacuums but still gets the job done.

Cons of the Oreck Commercial

• This vacuum is very loud!

Tips for cleaning hand-knotted rugs with this vacuum

This vacuum comes with an upholstery attachment that you can use to clean items like oriental rugs. This feature can help avoid damaging the rug, clean below furniture, and even use it on the stairs! This attachment reduces the power from the vacuum to make sure it gets the job done without damaging your rugs.

Shark Rotator Lift Away Vacuum

If you’re looking for an option that is on the more affordable side this is a good model to consider. This vacuum has a powered lift-away feature for extended reach to use on your stairs, and the canister detaches for those hard to reach and deep cleaning jobs.

There is a HEPA filter trap, and it comes complete with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology to help keep dust and allergens inside the vacuum. The swivel technology makes it easy to navigate around furniture or anything else that stands in your way.

What makes this vacuum such a good choice for hand-knotted rugs is the fingertip controls to switch from Hard Floor to Carpet mode.

Pros of the Shark Vacuum

• This vacuum has a high suction capacity.
• It’s equipped with different modes for versatile cleaning.
• It’s an affordable option.

Cons for the Shark Vacuum

• This is a bulky vacuum (and it’s heavy).

Tips for cleaning hand-knotted rugs with this vacuum

What makes this vacuum so perfect for your rugs is the upholstery attachment! While this is meant for going into small spaces like your car, you can also clean your rugs! The power is reduced, making it enough to handle your rugs but not enough to damage the rug itself!

Kenmore Elite 21814 Cross Over

This vacuum is a little bit on the pricey side, but it delivers performance and style for the price! If you are on a tight budget, I’m not sure splurging on a vacuum is the best thing to do, but for those with some extra wiggle room in the budget, this is a great option to consider

The best feature of this vacuum is the adjustable wand that can reach up to 11 inches ahead. This makes for cleaning in between the nooks and crannies of your home a breeze.

My favorite feature is its size and shape. It’s slimmer than most vacuums making it easy to store and easy to get underneath your furniture. Just as the previous vacuum, this one also has allergy filters and additional accessories.

Pros of the Kenmore Elite

• This vacuum has an LED lighting alert to let you know when the bag is full.
• There is an adjustable wand for easy cleaning
• This vacuum works well as a multipurpose vacuum.

Cons of the Kenmore Elite

• The retractable cord is pretty weak, so you will likely need to do this part manually.
• It’s on the more expensive side.

Tips for cleaning hand-knotted rugs with this vacuum

The variable speed settings make going from hardwood to carpet easy, but it also allows you to clean more delicate rugs easily. This vacuum comes with a lot of accessories that are perfect for cleaning hand-knotted rugs such as the dusting brush or crevice tool. Depending on the style of your rug, you are more likely to find options with this vacuum to avoid damaging the fringe or any other part of your rug.

Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum Cleaner

If you are looking for a vacuum that can only be described as top of the line, then the Miele C3 is going to be the vacuum for you. The suction power on this vacuum can be easily adjusted using a six setting dial for optimal cleaning from carpet to rug. This vacuum also has a HEPA air clean filter and optimum carpet care options for the nooks and crannies.

Pros of this model

• This vacuum is one of the most gentle for specialty rugs.
• It has different suction features to help work across multiple types of flooring
• The suction is seriously incredible!

Cons to this model

• This is an EXPENSIVE vacuum.
• It does not have pet or allergen features.

Tips for cleaning hand-knotted rugs with this vacuum

This is one of the best vacuums for all floor types, as well as multiple types of rugs. The suction of this vacuum is outstanding, but you can easily tone it down for your more delicate hand-knotted rugs. You want to make sure that you use a lower setting when cleaning your rugs to ensure that you don’t damage them.

I would also suggest that whichever vacuum you choose to start by using a small section on an edge of the rug before you attempt the whole rug. Pay close attention to any fringes or fraying. If you have a rug that is fraying do not vacuum the fray. It will most likely rip out. For tips on cleaning your rug my hand you may want to read my post specifically on hand cleaning rugs.

If you have just purchased your very first hand-knotted rug, or have been stumped trying to clean it, hopefully, this list will help you choose the best vacuum for the job. While there are always new vacuums hitting the shelves every year, these four have been tried and true to handle your delicate rugs.

Best Vacuum for Wool Carpet

We have the Shark Rotator Lift Away Vacuum, Kenmore Elite 21814 Cross Over, and Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum Cleaner if you’re looking for the best vacuum for wool carpets.

All of these vacuum cleaners have received a lot of great feedback and are quite popular among customers.

It’s worth noting that not all vacuum cleaners are capable of cleaning both types of carpets. However, if you want to get the best value out for your money, then one of these three models will be perfect for you.

Best Vacuum for Area Rugs

The Shark Rotator Lift Away Vacuum, Kenmore Elite 21814 Cross Over, Miele Complete C3 Marin Canister Vacuum Cleaner, and Oreck Commercial XL2100 Vacuum Cleaner are all great options to consider. They all have their own distinct traits and advantages.

These are some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market right now. They were all created to work on both area rugs and other types of carpets.

So make sure you pick one of these to ensure a stress-free cleaning experience!

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