Best Vacuum Cleaners for the Buck

A vacuum that kills dust mites; find out whether the Roomba really works.

ByABC News via logo

Sept. 21, 2007 — -- This year is the 100th anniversary of the first portable electric vacuum cleaner.

Good Housekeeping says we've come a long way since the original model, which was a fan motor attached to a soap box, stapled to a broom handle with a pillow case as a dust collector.

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute recently tested innovative vacuums and found five models to recommend, ranging in price from $99 to $399. The results are in the magazine's October issue.

Judy Coyne, Good Housekeeping's executive editor, shared some of the results on "Good Morning America."

Its UVC rays kill dust mites. Costs $399.

It's agile, compact and costs only $99.

It has great suction and only weighs 16 pounds. Costs $299.

You can program the Roomba to vacuum on a schedule. Costs $349.

Great for hard-to-reach places. Costs $470.

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events