Reviews You Can Rely On

Dirt Devil Simpli-Stik Review

This lightweight vacuum may be super cheap, but don't expect much in terms of performance
gearlab tested logo
Dirt Devil Simpli-Stik Review
Price:  $35 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Dirt Devil
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Jan 12, 2022
39
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#12 of 12
  • Convenience - 35% 3.1
  • Hard Surface Cleaning - 30% 4.0
  • Ease of Use - 20% 5.8
  • Carpet Cleaning - 15% 2.7

Our Verdict

The Dirt Devil SimpliStik is impressively cheap, but it was also the lowest-performing option in our review of the best stick vacuums. It scored average or below in all of our rating metrics, failing to earn any accolades from our testing team. This performance wasn't enough to really justify its cost, no matter how appealingly low. If you need the cheapest option and only have hard surfaces to clean, this might be fine, but there are much better options in our review for a relatively small increase in price.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor carpet cleaning ability
Harder to use
Less convenient

Unsure if you need a stick vacuum or another type of suction device? See more in our review of the best vacuum cleaners.

Editor's Note: This Dirt Devil review was updated on January 11, 2022, with details to help you make the best buying decision.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Top Pick Award
Best Premium Stick Vacuum
Best Buy Award
Best Budget Stick Vacuum
  
Price $35 List
$34.99 at Amazon
$500 List
$328.50 at Amazon
$170 List
$128.99 at Amazon
$150 List
$99.00 at Amazon
$34 List
$33.00 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
39
87
66
62
39
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line This vacuum definitely wasn't our favorite, with its main merit being its exceptionally low price and not much elseThe cleaning performance and convenience of this stick vacuum impressed our testers, and made them want one for their own homesThis inexpensive vacuum is convenient and well-priced but only average overallThe advantages of this vacuum are numerous, but the drawbacks of subpar cleaning performance on typical surfaces outweigh those benefitsA budget vacuum with distinct limitations across all metrics
Rating Categories Dirt Devil Simpli-Stik Shark Stratos Cordless Eureka RapidClean Pro Black+Decker Powers... Bissell Featherweight
Convenience (35%)
3.1
8.8
7.5
6.4
3.0
Hard Surface Cleaning (30%)
4.0
9.8
6.5
4.5
4.8
Ease of Use (20%)
5.8
6.8
6.4
8.0
4.0
Carpet Cleaning (15%)
2.7
9.1
4.9
6.5
4.0
Specs Dirt Devil Simpli-Stik Shark Stratos Cordless Eureka RapidClean Pro Black+Decker Powers... Bissell Featherweight
Weight 3.4 lbs 8.9 lbs 5.1 lbs 5.8 lbs 2.9 lbs
Cordless Battery Life n/a Boost: 10 min 28 sec
Eco: 49 min 6 sec
23 min 12 sec Boost: 16 min 36 sec
Auto: 24 min 50 sec
n/a
Measured Charge Time n/a 2 hours 55 min 4 hours 30 min 4 hours 45 min n/a
Noise Level 74 dBa 78 dBa 65 dBa 80 dBa 78 dBa
Model Number SD20000RED IZ862H NEC180 BHFEA520J 2033
Measured Head Width 9" 10.25 9.75" 9.88" 8"
Variable Suction Control No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Brush On/Off Switch? n/a Reduced Speed No No Yes
Storage Stands up; falls over easily Freestanding in MultiFLEX storage mode Wall mount only Stands up; wall mount Stands up
Swivel Head? No Yes Yes Yes No
Soft Bumper? No Yes Yes No No
Cordless? No Yes Yes Yes No
Maximum Corded Reach 17.5 ft n/a n/a n/a 15 ft

Our Analysis and Test Results

The SimpliStick did a decent job cleaning hard floors, earning an average score in that metric. However, this was the only component of our test where this model gave an acceptable showing. This vacuum earned the lowest score in our best stick vacuum review in the rest of our metrics, as it was the hardest to use, the least convenient to clean with, and the worst in our tests when it came to collecting debris from the carpet.

Performance Comparison


dirt devil simpli-stik - the dirt devil simplistik failed to impress us.
The Dirt Devil SimpliStik failed to impress us.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Convenience


Ranking at the top in significance, convenience comprised 35% of the overall score for each stick vacuum. We compared the ability of each model to clean areas other than the floor, how much each weighed, battery life, or how far the cord reached, whether it was corded or cordless, as well as how the vacuum can be stored — whether it was stable enough to be freestanding or if it needed a wall mount. The SimpliStick delivered a below-average performance.

This vacuum transforms into a handheld vacuum with an edging tool for the non-floor parts of your home. We found it a little challenging to remove or attach the brush head while standing, requiring picking up the vacuum and fiddling with it to transform the setup. This model did earn some points back for being one of the lightest models of the group, weighing in at a paltry 3.4 pounds. However, this model has a cord, and it's one of the shortest of all our tested models, only able to clean about 16 feet from where it is plugged in. And, while the SimpliSitck can be freestanding, it is relatively unstable and prone to being knocked over inadvertently.

dirt devil simpli-stik - while this model could clean non-floor areas, it still wasn't the...
While this model could clean non-floor areas, it still wasn't the most convenient.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Hard Surface Cleaning


Next up in our testing process was evaluating the ability of the SimpliStick to clean up debris from hard surfaces. We used flour, rice, oats, pet hair, and Cheerios as our sample messes on a section of hardwood floor, rating each model on how much debris it collected and how long it took. This vacuum didn't do particularly well.

dirt devil simpli-stik - the performance of the dirt devil was mediocre on hard floors.
The performance of the Dirt Devil was mediocre on hard floors.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The SimpliStick started the test with an alright performance in our rice collection test, doing a decent job and collecting all the rice in a single pass. It also did a solid job picking up pet hair. However, it leaks when the collection bin is full and delivers an abysmal performance in the flour test, taking over 20 passes in each section to clean up the flour satisfactorily. It did better when tasked with picking up Cheerios but still became clogged after a while, and with oats, it tended to pile them up before sucking them up.

dirt devil simpli-stik - the dirt devil left behind plenty of residual flour.
The Dirt Devil left behind plenty of residual flour.
Credit: Austin Palmer

Ease of Use


Our next set of tests surrounding ease of use made up 20% of the total score. We based this on how many cleaning modes and options each model had, how well it cleaned in close to edges and under furniture, and the level of noise emitted by each vacuum. The SimpliStick wasn't the easiest to use and had a below-average performance.

dirt devil simpli-stik - we didn't find the dirt devil to be that easy to use.
We didn't find the Dirt Devil to be that easy to use.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

This model doesn't have any different cleaning modes available and lacks a rotating brush. It also doesn't do well at cleaning close to edges and left a decently sized strip of rice behind during edge-testing.

dirt devil simpli-stik - the dirt devil left behind plenty of residual rice.
The Dirt Devil left behind plenty of residual rice.
Credit: Austin Palmer

The SimpliStick was average when cleaning under furniture, reaching about 15 inches under our simulated sofa. Other models in our lineup can reach much farther. And while this is one of the quietest stick vacuums we tested, it lacks swivel steering, making it a bit more challenging to maneuver.

dirt devil simpli-stik - this model reached about half the distance of the top models.
This model reached about half the distance of the top models.
Credit: Austin Palmer

Carpet Cleaning


For the remaining 15% of the total score, carpet cleaning was our final evaluation metric for rating these products. We used the same sample messes from our hard floor evaluation — oats, flour, cereal, pet hair, and rice — conducting tests on both flat, low-pile carpet and fluffy, medium-pile carpet. The SimpliStick delivered a poor performance.

dirt devil simpli-stik - this vacuum performed poorly on carpets.
This vacuum performed poorly on carpets.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

This vacuum did an okay job picking up rice from flat carpet, though it took multiple passes and left behind plenty of residual rice dust. It did much, much worse on fluffy carpet, barely picking anything up and leaving a fair amount of residual debris behind. It didn't do any better at picking up flour, leaving plenty of leftover mess behind.

dirt devil simpli-stik - the dirt devil didn't do particularly well at collecting flour.
The Dirt Devil didn't do particularly well at collecting flour.
Credit: Austin Palmer

This model did about average at collecting Cheerios on both flat and fluffy carpets. However, it took some maneuvering to get the vacuum actually to collect them rather than just push them around. From there, the SimpliStick did an absolutely awful job at collecting pet hair and oats. It took a multitude of passes to collect the oats, with tons of debris left behind, and it barely picked up any of the pet hair.

Should You Buy the Dirt Devil SimpliStick?


As one of the lowest-scoring products in the review, it is hard to recommend this Dirt Devil, no matter your goals. It struggled in metrics like the convenience and the ability to clean surfaces, making it somewhat useless compared to the competition. We can see why some folks on a budget would be drawn to this vacuum, but we think the frustration wouldn't be worth the savings.

What Other Stick Vacuum Should You Consider?


If budget is a concern, we prefer the Eureka RapidClean. It offers average hard surface and carpet cleaning ability, so it can help keep things cleaner if your expectations are reasonable.

David Wise and Austin Palmer