LG CordZero A9 stick vacuum review

Anyone else out there fighting the good fight against pet hair and kid-crumbs? Ah yes, I didn't think I was alone. Well, let me introduce you to the LG CordZero A9 Kompressor — supposedly the brand's best cordless vacuum yet, and an introduction designed to rival Dyson. I decided to give it a shot. If you vacuum as much as I do (that would be daily, at a bare minimum), convenience is a huge part of how much this chore feels like a, well, chore. And a cordless is certainly easier to wield than my corded upright.

In my quest to find the best vacuum for pet hair and save my white sofas from my black lab's constant shedding, I've tried robot vacuums, canisters, floor washers, upholstery cleaners, and corded uprights, but I've largely steered clear of cordless vacuums, worrying that they wouldn't be powerful enough for the fur-bunnies rolling around my floors. Spoiler alert: I was wrong.

Another thing that caught my attention about this vacuum is that it can also be converted into a mop. If you've never used a wet vacuum, trust me when I say you'll want to give the CordZero mop kit a whirl. Using a mop with suction not only makes mopping easier, but you'll be floored by how much grime gets sucked up. I jumped on the wet vacuum/floor washer train last fall with a model from a different manufacturer, and I haven't used a regular mop since. 

Want to know more? Here's my impression of the vacuum after using it at home for a month. 

Who will the LG CordZero A9 suit?

The LG Cordzero A9 stick vacuum is best suited for two types of households. It makes a great main vacuum if you live in a small space with hardwood floors, live alone, and/or don't have pets. That's because even the best cordless vacuum isn't quite as powerful as a good corded vacuum. Plus, this vacuum is designed for hardwood floors, a challenge if you live in a large space with multiple flooring types.

However, the CordZero A9 is an excellent secondary vacuum for those that live in multi-story homes and don't want to lug their larger vacuum up and down the stairs, or for those who find themselves vacuuming up small messes or tufts of pet hair multiple times a day and don't want to drag out a corded vacuum each time. I keep mine right off the kitchen, and can zap up a pile of spilled Rice Krispies in a matter of seconds, which is incredibly satisfying.

It's also a good buy if you've wanted to try the new floor washer / wet vacuum category, since this vacuum offers both wet and dry functionalities.

Unboxing the LG CordZero A9

The LG vacuum comes with everything you need to get set up quickly, including:

• Vacuum
• Charging station
• Extension pipe
• Floor stand dock
• Combination tool
• Crevice tool
• Cleaning brush
• Total Care kit with multi-angle tool, mattress tool, flexible crevice tool, flexible hose extension, and hard dirt tool

If you purchase the LG A9 with a mop kit (all but the base models include it), you'll also get everything you need to covert the vacuum into a mop, including:

• Mop nozzle
• Mop pads
• Water tank filler 

Features and functions of the LG CordZero A9

Kompressor technology

The technical name is the LG CordZero A9 Stick Vacuum is LG CordZero A9 Stick Vacuum with Kompressor technology. 

This is important to note, because the Kompressor technology is one of the most handy features of the vacuum. It basically compresses dirt, hair, and crumbs down inside the dirt canister, which means you can go longer periods of time without needing to empty it. A great innovation if one of your grievances toward cordless vacuums is the frequency with which they need to be emptied.

Extra battery

The CordZero comes with an extra battery, a genius addition which solves another common drawback to cordless vacuums, run time. Each battery lasts up to 60 minutes on regular power, allowing you to tackle big jobs in one go. 

HEPA Filter & Allergy friendly 

If you're an allergy sufferer (or someone in your home is), you'll take heart in the fact that this vacuum comes with a built-in HEPA filter. Plus, it's Certified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and Allergy Standards Limited.

Mop kit

With a few quick changes, this vacuum is ready to mop. Simply add the power mop attachment, and fill the water reservoir, and you're ready to go. The mop attachments are also handily stored on the docking station. 

Adjustable wand length

The length of the vacuum wand can easily be extended or contracted based on your needs. Extend the telescoping wand if you're vacuuming drapery or tough to reach spots, or remove it to essentially turn the vacuum into a handheld.

ThinQ-Compatible

The vacuum is compatible with LG's ThinQ app, which is convenient for troubleshooting product malfunctions.  

What I love about the LG CordZero A9

From the minute I took the LG CordZero out of the box, it's been an integral part of our household. It's actually almost replaced out robot vacuum cleaner, since we tend to spot-clean messes and dog hair with the CordZero, and use our corded vacuum for more thorough deep-cleans.

Because we use it mostly for messes, it's rare that I've run into a dead battery, even though I tend to use it on Turbo mode, because that makes for quicker cleaning and I notice some debris tends to get left behind if I use the vacuum on normal mode. 

Still, the second battery is incredibly handy, and since it's stored on the charging stand, it's always ready to rock. 

Speaking of the vacuum stand, it's another of my favorite features of the model, since the vacuum is automatically charged when it's docked, and the stand is compact enough to store in my tight utility closet (plus, it doesn't constantly fall over like my corded model). 

I use it less frequently as a mop, since I do have another floor washer model that I prefer, but the functionality is still excellent if you don't already have a power mop. 

What's not so great about the LG CordZero A9

I've already mentioned that this vacuum isn't designed for carpet. That didn't really sink in for me the first few times I used it, and I thought I'd be fine vacuuming a runner we have in our kitchen while cleaning up. The first few times, it was fine ... but then I did it again and the brushroll broke.

LG was super helpful and we were able to replace the part for free, and fairly easily, but a word of caution based on my experience: Don't use this vacuum on carpet, even occasionally, if you want to steer clear of a customer service phone call. 

Another drawback? As much as the Kompressor technology is helpful in packing dust and pet hair into the dirt canister, it's also a bit finicky. The Kompressor works by packing down the contents of the dirt canister with a level inside the canister. Sometimes, though, dirt and debris get stuck on the wrong side of the level, making it hard to fully empty the canister. We've had to take apart the dirt canister a couple of times to empty it completely.