Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 Review

Decades ago, upright vacuums used disposable bags, so today's Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 is a bit of a throwback to earlier designs. Still, we must admit that we could all appreciate how easy and dust-free it was to use this machine's “No Touch” bag design, which simply involved throwing away a full disposable paper bag rather than dumping a dustbin over a garbage can and hoping the debris wouldn't spill out. For those with severe dust or pet dander allergies, a bag-based system might be a good way to reduce exposure to tiny airborne particles.

Carpet Performance

This affordable mid-range vacuum proves you don't have to spend premium money to get premium results. It collected a chart-topping 97% of debris on low-pile carpet, collecting the same amount as top performers that cost more than twice as much.

The Kenmore Intuition backplowed a bit of rice and Cheerios, but we can't complain because it sucked nearly everything up in its path. This model is surprisingly effective and easy to use on low-pile carpet.

Before Testing After Testing

The Intuition collected an outstanding 73% average on high pile carpet. Better yet, it felt easy to push, and it never bogged down. This is one of the few vacuums where we feel confident it could get nearly all the material with just a few more passes.

What can we say? This machine is just a boss on carpet. Additionally, in some ways, we prefer running this machine over the fancy products because it's easier to push, allowing us to take it wherever we want to go.

Hardwood Performance

Unfortunately, the Intuition isn't nearly as effective on hardwood as it is on carpet. It collected just 84% of our test debris, which is above average but not close to stellar.

OK, there's a lot to unpack here. First, as the manufacturer recommends, we ran this machine on hardwood in the bare floor mode with the brush roller turned off. The first test run dragged debris along with it rather than sucking it up, but the second run did considerably better. Why? We suspect that the brush roller's position in the first test was less than optimal for suction, as the bristles adversely affected airflow. However, the bristles were in a better position in the second test.

If you're willing to spin this aggressive bristled brush roller on your hard floors, you might be able to tease out better collection. Still, the best option would likely be for Kenmore to upgrade a future version of this machine with a lower brush roll speed to improve its performance on hard floors.

We're a fan of any vacuum that can ace this test with a head-on pass because it means we can nab crumbs that accumulate under our kitchen counters. The Intuition works for us head-on, but we weren't quite able to nail perfection in a parallel pass.

Before Test After Test

Considering this comparison chart, it's unfair to say this model is bad on hard floors. However, when we compare it to vacuums that also excel on hard floors, such as the premium Shark PowerDetect or the more affordable Eureka QuickShift, it becomes immediately clear that this machine isn't designed for outstanding hard floor performance. If you primarily care about vacuuming carpets with the occasional hard floor pass, it's doable. If you want the best of both worlds, others offer a more compelling blend of surface success.

Pet Hair

After the epic sand, rice, and Cheerios success on carpet, we were hoping for better results with pet hair than our tests revealed.

It pulled up a fair amount of fur and hair, but failed to get it all into the disposable bag, which we like emptying more than typical dustbins. The problem is that the bristled brush roller collected a lot of fur and wrapped most of the long hair, which was very difficult to cut away.

Before Testing After Testing

Filtration

This vacuum is unlikely to trigger sensitivities to pet dander, pollen, or dust, making it a reassuring option for individuals with allergies. According to the Dylos Air Quality chart, readings below a 75 particle count are considered excellent, offering one of the best chances for maintaining a healthier home environment.

Ease of Use

This model cruised over surfaces and turned more easily than most. It rose onto the bamboo slats without a stutter and glided onto the carpet from the hardwood, although you have to press a button to turn the brush roller on. It even glided around the cones and was easy to push and turn where we wanted it to go. This surprised us, given the vacuum's bulky body design. However, its size had limitations in other areas, like vacuuming under a coffee table or sofa.

The canister weighs only 8 pounds when empty, but its massive 3-liter capacity can increase its weight over time.

The biggest issue with this machine is that the brush roller is hard to clean. It's not removable, forcing us to pick at and cut away pet hair and human hair that has become wrapped around it. It is not easy and thoroughly annoys us.

On the other hand, installing and removing the HEPA-filtered waste bags is a breeze. The bags are not expensive, but you will need to purchase them for the lifetime of this vacuum, as it won't function correctly without them.

Should You Buy the Kenmore Intuition?

If you're looking for a midrange vacuum that excels on carpets and rugs, the Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 is an outstanding choice. The dust-free waste bag design makes dirt disposal a breeze, and the machine is easy to push on all surfaces. Its hard floor and pet hair capabilities are closer to average, so it's not the most versatile option available today.

What Other Upright Vacuums Should You Consider?