Cordless Hoover Accessories Explained
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Most cordless hoovers ship with a floor head plus two to six smaller tools, and the bundle you choose can change the price by £50–£150. Three tools do most of the work in a typical UK home: a crevice tool, a combination dusting brush and a mini motorised tool. The rest are useful for specific jobs but rarely worth paying a big premium for.
Quick answer: Prioritise the right main floor head for your floors, then make sure you get a crevice tool, a combination/dusting brush and a mini motorised tool (essential with pets or carpeted stairs). Extras such as light pipes, flexible hoses, mattress tools and grout tools are nice-to-haves; buy them separately later if you miss them.
On this page
Floor heads
| Head | How it works | Best for | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorised brush bar (direct drive) | A motor in the head spins stiff nylon bristles to agitate carpet pile | Carpets and rugs | Can scatter debris on hard floors; hair wraps unless anti-tangle |
| Anti-tangle brush head | Comb strip, bristle guard or conical roller moves hair off the bar | Long hair, pets | Not totally tangle-free with very long hair or thread |
| Soft roller ("fluffy") head | Large roller of soft nylon and carbon fibre traps fine dust and big debris | Hard floors, laminate, wood, tiles | Weak on carpet; roller needs washing |
| Twin-roller hybrid head | Soft front roller plus bristle brush bar | Mixed floors | Heavier; two rollers to clean |
| Wet mop / wash head | Damp pad or powered roller with water tank | Hard floors light spills | Not a replacement for a proper mop on sticky floors |
The floor head often matters more than motor power; see suction power explained. For specific recommendations, see best for carpets and best for hard floors.
Floor head features worth knowing
- Headlights / green or laser light: low-angle light shows fine dust on hard floors. Genuinely helpful in dim rooms; no effect on carpet.
- Auto-adjusting suction: pressure sensors detect floor type and adjust power, saving battery.
- Bendable wand (e.g. Shark Flexology): folds to reach under furniture without kneeling and lets the hoover stand when paused.
- Edge cleaning: brush bars that reach close to the edge of the head clean skirting boards better.
Small tools
Crevice tool
A long, narrow nozzle that concentrates airflow into a small opening for maximum speed at the tip. Use it for skirting boards, sofa seams, car footwells, radiator gaps and stair edges. Every hoover should have one. Some brands add a light or a slide-out brush on the end.
Combination / dusting brush
A small nozzle with a slide or flip-down ring of soft bristles. Bristles down for dusting shelves, lampshades and keyboards; bristles up for upholstery and curtains. This tool replaces two older separate tools.
Upholstery tool
A wide, flat nozzle (sometimes with a lint strip) for sofas, mattresses and car seats. Often merged into the combination tool on cordless sticks.
Mini motorised tool
A palm-sized powered brush bar. The best tool for carpeted stairs, sofas, dog beds and car mats because it scrubs fibres the way the main head does. Anti-tangle versions (such as Dyson's Hair Screw tool with a conical brush bar) push hair off the end into the airflow. See how to vacuum stairs and how to vacuum pet hair.
Soft dusting brush
Long, very soft bristles for delicate surfaces: picture frames, blinds, electronics and antiques. Gentler than the combination brush.
Stubborn dirt brush
Stiff bristles to loosen dried mud from doormats, car mats and outdoor furniture cushions.
Reach and specialist tools
| Tool | What it's for | Worth paying extra? |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible / extension hose | Reaches behind appliances and into car interiors without lifting the whole hoover | Yes for car owners; otherwise optional |
| Up-top adaptor / angled adaptor | Angles the wand for tops of wardrobes, curtain poles, ceilings | Optional |
| Low-reach adaptor | Lets the wand bend under beds and sofas | Useful with low furniture |
| Flexi crevice tool | Bends to clean behind radiators and between appliances | Optional; cheap to buy later |
| Light pipe crevice tool (Dyson) | Crevice tool with built-in LEDs | Nice, rarely essential |
| Mattress tool | Wide, often motorised, for mattresses | Optional; allergy households may value it |
| Grout tool | Stiff narrow brush for tile grout lines | Rarely |
| Pet grooming tool | Brushes loose hair from dogs straight into the hoover | Only if your pet tolerates it |
Storage and charging accessories
- Wall dock: holds the hoover and charges it; usually screwed to a wall near a socket. Renters can use freestanding stands instead; see how to store a cordless hoover.
- Freestanding floor dock: no drilling, holds tools, sometimes includes a charger.
- Tool clip or tool bag: keeps two tools on the wand for stairs.
- Spare battery and charger: doubles runtime for big homes; only possible with click-out batteries.
- Self-emptying station: empties the bin into a sealed bag or container; see self-emptying models.
If your hoover came without a dock that suits your home, a freestanding stand made for your model can help: Check freestanding stands on Amazon
Do third-party tools work?
Many brands use proprietary fittings: Dyson's quick-release fitting changed between the V6 and V7 generations, and Shark fittings differ across its ranges. Third-party adaptors and tool kits exist for popular models and are often fine for simple tools like crevice and brush heads. Avoid cheap motorised heads, which may draw too much current or fit poorly. Always check compatibility by your exact model number.
How to choose the right bundle
- Pick the floor head first (carpet, hard floor or hybrid).
- Add a mini motorised tool if you have pets or carpeted stairs.
- Add a flexible hose if you'll clean the car.
- Skip bundles whose only extras are light pipes, grout or mattress tools unless you'll use them weekly.
- Compare the bundle price against buying the extra tool separately later.
Our full buying checklist puts tools in context with runtime and weight, and the glossary defines the rest of the jargon.
FAQs
Which cordless hoover tool is best for stairs?
A mini motorised tool for the treads and a crevice tool for the corners where tread meets riser. Use the hoover in handheld mode so you aren't carrying the long wand.
Can I use Dyson tools on a Shark?
Not directly; the fittings are different. Third-party adaptors exist but fit and seal can vary, so check reviews for your exact models.
Do I need a hard floor head if I have a carpet head?
Not essential. Most carpet heads work on hard floors, especially on a lower setting, but a soft roller picks up fine dust and larger debris better and is less likely to scatter crumbs.
How do I clean hoover tools?
Pull hair from bristles, wash non-electrical tools in warm soapy water and dry them fully. Never wet motorised tools; wipe them and cut hair from the brush bar.