Amazon quietly slashed stick vacuum prices: Get a Black & Decker for $74, plus Dyson, Shark and more

Been dyin' to try a Dyson? Not all deals from this splurge-tastic brand get my attention, but this 36% markdown — a near-all-time low — sure did. This highly rated model is down to its best price in months and features a Max cleaning mode to spot-treat areas that need more attention. Got pets? The included hair-screw tool sucks up fur without getting tangled.

Yahoo Home & Garden Writer Kristin Granero tested this vac, saying it's "among Dyson's more compact and budget-conscious Dyson models ... The vacuum maneuvers effortlessly over and around rugs and hardwood floors, and the hair screw tool worked miracles when it came to tight corners and detailing pet-loved couch interiors. ... We suggest it for smaller spaces with hardwood floors or shallow carpets and quicker jobs."

Don't want your new vac to suck a ton of cash from your wallet? This stick's a mere $74, which, let me tell you, is a stellar price for a name-brand model. Its 40 minutes of runtime per charge is sufficient for cleaning small- to medium-sized homes; plus, it has LED lights to help you see in darker spaces, and its cyclonic filtration system traps airborne particles. 

It's only dipped lower than this once, and some shoppers say it's "just as good" as a Dyson. 

While I'd typically urge you to steer clear of sharks, this is one I'd recommend getting up close and personal with. Its super-strong suction targets pet hair and other debris hiding within the depths of your carpets, and it can run for up to 40 minutes before needing a recharge. Need to dust off furniture, countertops or the inside of your car? Just pop out the built-in handvac. You'll save over 40% with this deal — it's close to as low as it's been since October. 

Granero also put this golden child — which rarely dips lower than its current price — to the test, dubbing it "best value cordless stick vacuum" of the many she tried. She says it "performed at the peak of our lowest price category, with a shiny frame and a brush cleaner head that has four light bulbs for added visibility. In testing, we referred to it as 'Tinker Bell' because it moved swiftly, yet gently and glowed like a fairy."

She adds, "It was easy to set up — three main parts, three clicks — and can be charged in the wall mount dock or plugged right into an outlet. It contains a HEPA filter for capturing 99.97% of pixie (er, dust) particles and features an LCD display that illuminates different colors to indicate charge level and motor speed. ... The Kenmore Elite offers 40 minutes of run time, which we found accurate and sufficient for tackling several rooms at a time ... For being so lightweight — only 6 pounds, with the handheld portion only 3 — the Kenmore Elite has the second biggest dust cup of the vacuums we tested, with a sophisticated release functionality similar to Dyson."

How stylish is this sleek, 7.5-pound stick vac? I think it looks far more high-end than its $140 price tag — which happens to be close to an all-time low — would imply. LED headlights and 180° steering make for easier maneuvering, and you'll get up to 48 minutes of use per charge. 

"This vacuum saves my sanity when it comes to dog hair," praised a pet parent. "This one has a headlight so you can see what you are doing. Our six-month-old lab started shedding his puppy coat, and I had been sweeping several times a day. When my new vacuum arrived, I did the whole main floor, which is all hardwood and several area rugs. So easy to use and empty. More than enough power as well."

I've waxed poetic about the hand vacuum from this brand's V20 line (currently a record-low $59) many times, so I have no doubts that this stick model is a beast. Unlike similar vacuums, it comes with a removable battery that you can charge instead of plugging in the whole unit itself, and that battery is compatible with all other V20 tools. Plus, it's self-standing, has built-in lights and boasts an LED screen that lets you know how much juice is left. As far as this discount is concerned, it's within $2 of its lowest price on record.

"A workhorse!" exclaimed a fellow Craftsman convert. "[I] intended to use it as a secondary to my upright vacuum. I have since used this one as my primary vacuum. Excellent suction, great lighting, easy to empty [the] dustbin. Did my entire house on one battery."

Last, but certainly not least, let's give it up for the lightest vac on this list! Clocking in at a mere — wait for it — 5.3 pounds, this little lint-lifter will do just as much for your back as it will for your floors. Oh, and if you're tired of hearing the crash your vacuum makes every time you lean it against the counter, this small wonder has an "Easy Rest Nook" to keep it propped up. It's also down to one of its best prices all year courtesy of an on-page coupon. 

"I love this vacuum!" raved a fan. "I can hold my baby in one arm and this vacuum in the other because it is so lightweight. We have hardwood/tile throughout our home, so I can’t speak for the suction power on carpet, but it does great on the couple of rugs we have. It has no trouble picking up our dog's hair, and he has very fine fur."