Best leaf blowers and vacuums to make yardwork a cinch
Tired of leaves clogging up your garden? These blowers and vacuums will remove them in seconds.
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When maintaining a tidy lawn, a rake might be your go-to tool – but it isn’t particularly effective for large-scale cleaning.
And frankly, who has the time or energy to painstakingly sweep up every last fallen leaf or petal when there's far more convenient methods on offer?
A leaf blower doesn’t come as cheap as a rake, but your back will thank you for making yard cleaning a speedier and easier task. There’s plenty of options on the market, so if you’re not sure where to start, we’ve rounded up our picks of the best-rated models.
BEST LEAF BLOWER GUIDE
BLACK+DECKER 18V Lithium-ion Cordless POWERCOMMAND Boost Leaf Blower, $149, Amazon Australia
Ideal for clearing driveways, paths, decks and garages of leaves, grass clippings and any other debris, this versatile tool is powered with an 18V lithium-ion battery for cordless manoeuvrability.
It weighs just 1.7kg, so you can use it comfortably without hurting your back, arms, or shoulders, and is compact for easy storage.
The Power Boost function delivers a maximum speed of 209 kilometres per hour, suitable for stubborn debris.
It has a four-star average rating, with one five-star reviewer calling it a “great little blower” and another writing “Does all that I need and meets with my expectations. I have two electric mulcher blowers but this unit is a lot lighter and easier to manage around the home blowing away gum tree leaves”.
Giantz Lightweight Cordless Leaf Blower, $91.95, Myer
Powered by a powerful 20V lithium-ion battery, the Giantz Cordless Blower has a durable yet lightweight body that allows you to work longer without tiring. The rubber grip throttle control handle is comfortable to hold, and the narrow nozzle allows for targeted leaf blowing. There’s two speeds to choose from to suit lightweight or heavy duty cleaning tasks, too.
Topex 20V Max Lithium Cordless Leaf Blower, $69, Amazon Australia
With an air speed of up to 120 kilometres per hour, the Topex Cordless Leaf Blower is ideal for clearing light debris from your lawn or other outdoor surfaces. It’s easy and comfortable to use due to its lightweight construction, and has a low noise design so your neighbours won’t be too annoyed with you. It features a lithium battery for extended cleaning times.
One five-star rating Amazon customer said it’s “light and powerful”, with another noting it works “good for tidying up the front and back off the house.”
BEST LEAF SWEEPER
Kärcher S4 Twin Push Sweeper, $329, Tools Warehouse
If you’ve got artificial grass or large outdoor paved areas, the Kärcher S4 Twin Push Sweeper makes cleaning easy, whether you’re dealing with petals in spring or leaves in autumn. It has a powerful roller brush, two side brushes and a 680mm sweeping width that can handle areas of up to 2400 square metres per hour. Waste is swept away into the 20-litre hopper, which can be easily removed and emptied. The push handle is adjustable so it suits everyone’s height, and the whole unit can be collapsed for space-saving storage.
It has a 4.4-star average rating, with one five-star reviewer saying, “it’s a rare find these days when you buy something that just works perfectly. This is that example. It is robust, the revolving brush’s adapt to the terrain and drag every piece dirt, leaves, grit, twigs, sawdust etc in toward the central rolling brush. It has a large capacity and is easy to empty. It can be stored upright and so has a small footprint”.
ARE LEAF BLOWERS WORTH IT?
If you’re a fan of a tidy-looking lawn but you want to clear it of debris with minimal effort, a leaf blower is absolutely worth it. It performs more quickly and effectively than a rake, and can cause less strain upon your body – and is particularly useful if you have larger areas to clean.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A LEAF BLOWER?
Wondering what features you should be on the look out for when purchasing a leaf blower? Here’s what you should consider:
• Weight: A lightweight blower is ideal, as it won’t tire you as much even if you’re doing some heavy-duty cleaning.
• Power source: You can buy corded, cordless, or petrol-powered blowers. Cordless is ideal for its convenience and increased manoeuvrability.
• Variable speeds: Blowers with variable speed control mean you can tailor the level of power and battery usage to the task at hand.
• Maximum speed: If you have a large yard or outdoor area, a higher maximum speed can help you power through the job more efficiently. With a smaller yard, you can likely get away with a less powerful, cheaper blower.
• Blower, vacuum or sweeper: Are you just after a blower to blast away leaves? Or would you prefer one that can also vacuum up the heaps you collect? Alternatively, if you have a terraced outdoor area, a sweeper might be better suited to your needs.
HOW DO YOU USE A LEAF BLOWER VACUUM?
There are a number of methods for correct blower and blower vacuum usage. If you’re dealing with a leaf blower and a large amount of debris, you can place a tarp in the corner of the yard to direct the leaves onto. When you’re done, you can easily dump the contents of the tarp into your compost or greens waste.
If using a leaf blower vacuum, you can use the vacuum function to suction up mess in between bigger cleaning jobs. If you’re planning on vacuuming large amounts of yard debris, you might have to frequently empty the catcher, depending on its capacity.
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