Vacuums that are still working in five years

The vacuum market splits into machines you replace every three years and machines you repair. The second group costs more up front and much less over a decade. Here is one pick per job, chosen for the one that lasts, with today's prices across the stores we read.

The cordless stick

The Dyson V8 is older than the flashy models and that is the point. It is the one Dyson still sells parts for at sane prices, the battery is replaceable, and it is light enough to do stairs one-handed. Buy the V8, not the newest number. Watch the rows: it is discounted heavily and unevenly across stores.

The budget cordless that isn't a toy

If the Dyson is too much, Tineco's Pure One S11 is the cordless I'd buy instead. It adjusts suction to the floor on its own, which sounds like a gimmick and turns out to save the battery on every run. Attachments are plentiful. Build is good, not Dyson.

The upright that will outlive you

Shark's Navigator Lift-Away has been the same vacuum for a decade because there is nothing to fix. It is corded, which means it never runs out, it lifts off the base to do stairs, and the whole thing costs less than a Dyson battery. If you have carpet and pets, this is the one.

The spot cleaner everyone should own

The Little Green is the most useful cleaning tool in the house for anyone with a pet, a child, or a couch. It pulls stains out of upholstery and car seats, it is small enough to keep in a closet, and it is cheap. Its price barely moves, so buy it wherever is nearest.

What I'd skip

Robot vacuums under $400, which mostly redistribute dust; any stick vacuum with a non-replaceable battery; and bagless uprights with a filter you cannot buy separately.

When to buy

Vacuums discount around Black Friday and in the spring cleaning window in March and April. The Dyson lines are the exception: they are on sale somewhere nearly every week, and the store that is cheapest rotates, which is what the rows above are for.