Finding the sweet spot between concealing your vacuum cleaner and having it readily available takes a bit of fine tuning, as well as a familiarity with your home's storage options.
If you're lucky enough to have an under-stairs closet, this is generally the best bet, but there are plenty of alternatives if you don't have one. Our experts reveal their favorite spots varying by upright, handheld and cordless including utilizing space under beds and furniture, investing in strong wall mounts, or creating a new closet space.
Even with how visually appealing the best cordless vacuums and best upright vacuums are, it's natural to want to hide them from view in our daily lives so we've asked cleaning and organizing pros for their tips.
How to hide your vacuum cleaner when storing it
There are a few things to note before finding the ideal new spot in your home where your vacuum can live when not in use.
'The best place to store a vacuum cleaner is in a cool, dry, and clean space, away from direct sunlight and humidity,' says Petya Holevich from Fantastic Services, a cleaning company. 'Sunlight can cause the vacuum cleaner's plastic parts to fade and become brittle while humidity and moisture can cause rust and damage to the appliance.'
'Make sure also that the power cord is securely and neatly wrapped to prevent it from tangling and getting damaged. Always wrap the cord separately and store it next to the vacuum cleaner and avoid wrapping it around the appliance, [as this] may cause damage to both the appliance and the cord itself.'
'Ideally, store this appliance in a closet or storage room where it won't be exposed to dust or debris that could damage it or clog its filters,' he adds, but more on that below.
Cordless stick vacuums
If your vacuum cleaner is a cordless stick, you're in luck. There are so many storage options that you can easily keep yours out of sight while still leaving it accessible for quick cleaning.
'Closets are a fantastic spot for hiding your vacuum cleaner,' says Tina Priestly. 'You can place it on a shelf or hang it on a hook to maximize space, but be sure not to cram it in tightly.'
Because of their thin design, many long or narrow closets can house the vacuum. 'Consider storing them in a utility closet or inside a tall kitchen cabinet. These vacuums are generally lightweight and compact – making them easy to tuck away in narrow spaces,' says Joseph Passalacqua, CEO of Maid Sailors.
'Utility rooms or broom closets are often underutilized but make excellent places for vacuum storage,' suggests Tina. 'These compact areas can keep your vacuum safe, accessible, and free from dust.'
Many cordless sticks come with a dedicated wall mount that charges the vacuum when it's docked. If yours didn't come with one, you can find plenty of wall mount options for different vacuum cleaners at Amazon. Vacuum brands like Dyson and Shark have their own mounts for specific vacuums, but other manufacturers have jumped on the opportunity to provide more universal ones, so it's worth a browse to see if there's one that will fit your model at a budget that suits you.
'When possible, store vacuum accessories like wands, hoses and filters together,' says Francisco Romero, owner at Romero Hardwood Floors Inc. Wall mounts will typically have spaces to store the various accessories that come with these vacuums.
If you don't have a wall mount (or have access to one), a simple but strong hook will do the trick. You can find these online at Home Depot - but be sure to first check the weight of your vacuum cleaner and whether it will be able to fit onto a hook.
Tony Tran, founder of Frigg Cleaning Services, confirms this from his own experience as a cleaner: 'A hook system worked best for us. It also keeps it off the floor and makes it easy to grab and go.'
Cordless vacuums are also easy to take apart. You can use this to your advantage and remove the wand and floor head/attachments from the main vacuum component and essentially flat pack it, similar to the compact packaging it likely arrived in.
Then, you're not limited to a tall vertical storage and can instead go under beds or furniture, or perhaps in a laundry room or garage. The MixcMax Underbed Storage Container on Amazon is perfect - it's big enough to house most cordless vacs and has wheels to easily pull it out whenever you need it.
Upright vacuums
It's a bit tricker when it comes to upright vacuums. They're much larger and don't come apart as easily, so you'll instead need to find a space big enough to conceal it.
The obvious choice is under the stairs. 'If you have stairs, consider using the space underneath to store your vacuum cleaner,' Tina recommends. 'Install custom-built cabinets or create a small closet with a door to hide the vacuum away. You could even decorate the area with curtains or room dividers to add a touch of style.'
But because of upright vacuums' height, they won't always fit in cupboards and closets with built-in shelves. 'A closet with adjustable shelves can accommodate the height of an upright vacuum, and you can organize attachments and cleaning supplies on the shelves,' suggests Tony.
If your shelves aren't easily adjustable however, 'a good approach to fitting a vacuum into a linen closet is to cut out some sections of each shelf to make room,' recommends Nick Valentino, VP of Market Operations of Bellhop. This is a more permanent and time-consuming approach, but if you're confident that you're keeping your vacuum for a long time, it'll create a dedicated space that's tidy, accessible and concealed from your day-to-day life.
As with cordless vacs, you can still hang an upright vacuum from a wall, it'll just require a sturdier mount.
'For upright vacuums, steel wall mounts are ideal as they keep the vacuum off the floor, prevent damage, and make the vacuum easily accessible. I use StrongArm mounts in my own home, rated for 50 lbs,' suggests Hagan Kappler, CEO of Daisy. You can find strong mounts like these at Home Depot, but make sure you triple check the weight of your vacuum cleaner before investing in one.
Canister vacuums
'Canister vacuums, with their detachable hose and nozzle, can be stored in a dedicated cabinet or on a garage shelf where they are easily accessible but out of sight,' explains Joseph Passalacqua.
Canister vacuums are shaped more awkwardly, so hanging them in closets like a cordless or upright vac won't work. Their long hoses and separate canister and floor head parts are best kept on a strong shelf, or tucked underneath a bed or furniture like mentioned above.
'For canister vacuums, shelving units are best as wall mounts won’t properly support their shape. I recommend heavy-duty steel shelving from brands like Gladiator, rated for 30-50 lbs,' says Hagan Kappler. Gladiator shelving is available at Lowe's in various shapes and sizes.
Before finding a nice new storage space, it might be worth cleaning your vacuum cleaner to avoid bringing dirt and dust into it. There are also a few ways to extend the lifespan of your vacuum.
