I recently purchased the Ryobi Stick Vacuum as I needed a convenient, lightweight vacuum to quickly clean-up messes around my small apartment.
Coming from a large, heavy, corded upright vacuum that I constantly had to lug from room to room and plug and unplug, I hoped this more portable vacuum would make my cleaning routine simpler.
Below I’ll discuss key features and specifications in this ryobi stick vacuum review, walk through my experience using it so far, and provide some pros and cons from my own testing.
Key Features and Specs
Cordless:
The cordless design that runs off a Ryobi stick vacuum lithium-ion battery is seriously a game changer for me. I can easily lift and maneuver this vacuum all over my small apartment without having to stop to unplug, replug, and wrangle a cord every few feet.
The freedom to continuously clean from room to room with no tether makes a formerly tedious task much more seamless.
Lightweight:
I also love how extremely lightweight this stick vac is at under 5 pounds. I have chronic back issues that often flare up if I’m using heavier upright vacuums. But even after vacuuming my entire space, my back feels great with the Ryobi.
I can carry it comfortably in one hand to clean ceilings, ceiling fans, drapes and more. The easy manueverability paired with the long pole on the cleaning wand makes accessing hard-to-reach places a breeze.
Removable Hand Vac:
The removable hand vac wand is brilliant for switching quickly from floor cleaning to detailed spot cleaning. I use the hand vac daily to vacuum cobwebs from my tall ceilings and clean my window blinds and sills. Removing the pole takes just a few seconds.
The powerful suction on the handheld unit makes sucking up dirt, dust and crumbs from curtains, furniture and corners extremely satisfying. However, operating the hand vac while holding the stick body can be awkward.
I sometimes have to contort myself into odd postures to angle the hose effectively while keeping the body secure. So, using this versatility does involve a small learning curve.
2-in-1 Crevice Tool:
The removable hand vac wand is brilliant for switching quickly from floor cleaning to detailed spot cleaning. I use the hand vac daily to vacuum cobwebs from my tall ceilings and clean my window blinds and sills.
Removing the pole takes just a few seconds. The powerful suction on the handheld unit makes sucking up dirt, dust and crumbs from curtains, furniture and corners extremely satisfying.
However, operating the hand vac while holding the stick body can be awkward. I sometimes have to contort myself into odd postures to angle the hose effectively while keeping the body secure. So, using this versatility does involve a small learning curve.
Multiple Accessories Included:
Among the multiple accessories this vacuum comes with, I get the most use from the simple brush roll cleaner attachment. My area rugs seem to constantly attract lint, threads, pet hair, and other debris that gets wound up in the fibers.
Rather than painstakingly picking this stuff out by hand, I can just run the rubber brush attachment over the surface. The bristles help pull up and disentangle all the built-up gunk so the vacuum whisks it away with ease. It makes refreshing my rugs so much faster.
· Battery life:
Among the multiple accessories this vacuum comes with, I get the most use from the simple brush roll cleaner attachment. My area rugs seem to constantly attract lint, threads, pet hair, and other debris that gets wound up in the fibers.
Rather than painstakingly picking this stuff out by hand, I can just run the rubber brush attachment over the surface. The bristles help pull up and disentangle all the built-up gunk so the vacuum whisks it away with ease. It makes refreshing my rugs so much faster.
· Charging time:
A full recharge does take 3-5 hours which can be inconvenient if you suddenly realize your battery is empty just as unexpected mess or guests arrive. I try to build the habit of charging overnight so it’s ready to go the next day.
But when I do forget, I have to temporarily rely on the old upright corded vacuum in the closet for any sudden cleaning emergencies during the lengthy charging time.
· Dust bin capacity:
A full recharge does take 3-5 hours which can be inconvenient if you suddenly realize your battery is empty just as unexpected mess or guests arrive.
I try to build the habit of charging overnight so it’s ready to go the next day. But when I do forget, I have to temporarily rely on the old upright corded vacuum in the closet for any sudden cleaning emergencies during the lengthy charging time.
So, on paper, it offers versatile cleaning capabilities in a lightweight cordless design perfect for quick clean ups. But how does it actually perform?
My Experience Using the Ryobi Stick Vacuum
I’ve now used my Ryobi stick vac for about 6 weeks to clean my studio apartment. Here’s an overview of my key learnings and experiences:
Easy to Maneuver and Store
As hoped, the lightweight body and stick design make this super simple to move around furniture to vacuum open floors, under beds, on stairs, etc. I can even clean one-handed by grabbing the middle handle if needed. Plus, the wall mount makes storage a cinch in my small space.
Surprisingly Strong Suction Power
While battery life suffers a bit on the highest setting, this little vacuum packs more suction than I expected. It effortlessly picks up dust, debris, pet hair and more from both hard flooring and area rugs. I don’t have carpet to test, but reviews suggest it works decently there too.
Hand Vac is Versatile but Tricky
I love using the removable hand vac wand for cleaning furniture, window sills, cobwebs and more. But it can be awkward maneuvering it in hand vac mode while holding the body. I have to bend in weird positions or fumble juggling the pieces. So this feature is useful but takes some finesse.
Battery Life Better Than Expected
I can vacuum my entire 500 sq ft apartment at least once on a full charge. By strategically switching between suction modes, I stretch it to cover my space twice before needing to recharge. It takes 3-5 hours to fully recharge which is lengthy but I just plug it in overnight.
Easy to Empty Dust Bin
The dirt and dust all collect conveniently in the removable bin near the hand grip. I can dump debris out without getting my hands dirty since the bottom pops open with the push of a button. Just watch for dust clouds! The bin may look small but fits quite a bit of debris.
Let’s recap the pros and cons I’ve encountered using the Ryobi vacuum so far.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and portable | Battery takes a while to recharge |
| Strong suction power | Wall mounting mechanism seems flimsy |
| Easy maneuverability for whole home cleaning | Hand vac mode is tricky to maneuver |
| Several useful attachments | Can tip over easily during use |
| Good battery life | |
| Easy to empty dust bin |
FAQ
How Long Does The Battery Last On The Ryobi Stick Vacuum?
The battery life is up to 35 minutes on lower suction settings. In my 500 sq ft apartment, I can vacuum the entire space at least once fully before needing to recharge. By adjusting between the suction modes, I can stretch a full charge to cover my apartment twice.
How Long Does It Take To Recharge The Battery?
It takes between 3-5 hours to fully recharge the Ryobi vacuum’s battery from empty. This is quite lengthy, so I try to charge it overnight to ensure it’s ready for the next day.
Is The Ryobi Stick Vacuum Good For Carpets?
While I only have hard floors and area rugs in my apartment, reviews suggest it works decently well on low-to-medium pile carpeting. The brush roll helps pull up debris from within carpet fibers. But high pile or very thick carpeting may pose a challenge.
What Accessories Are Included With The Vacuum?
It comes with several useful attachments including a crevice tool for tight spaces, brush roll cleaner for pulling debris out of rugs and fabric, and a wall mount for storage. My favorite accessory is the 2-in-1 crevice tool.
Is The Handheld Mode Difficult To Use?
The removable hand vac is brilliant for cleaning furniture etc., but maneuvering the hose while stabilizing the vacuum body can be tricky. I sometimes have to bend in awkward positions or juggle the pieces while operating in hand vac mode. It is useful but involves some finesse.
So, in summary, I’m very satisfied so far with my Ryobi stick vacuum! For my small space and needs, it tackles all my daily and weekly vacuuming with ease. I love how quick and simple it makes tidying up dust and messes. The pros far outweigh the minor cons I’ve experienced.
If you have a similar living situation and vacuum needs – convenient, versatile cleaning of smaller spaces and spot clean-ups – I definitely recommend considering Ryobi’s affordable and effective stick vac option.
