Whether you live with easily-disturbed roommates or, like me, and own a sweet cat that’s absolutely frightened by the roaring noise of a vacuum cleaner, finding a model with a quieter motor is essential if you want to keep the peace. Sure, vacuum cleaners are inherently going to be somewhat on the loud end of the spectrum, but that doesn’t mean they have to be disruptive or defeating. I mean, we’ve all had a less-than-courteous neighbor who just loves to get their cleaning done in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn.

On top of that consideration, if you live in an apartment, studio or just smaller space, investing in a big and bulky vacuum cleaner isn’t exactly ideal. They’re not exactly the chicest of household appliances, so when storage is scant, opting for a smaller and more compact device is your best bet. Fortunately, you don’t have to compromise cleaning power to find a vacuum cleaner that’s both relatively quiet and compact enough to stow in small spaces. Ahead, check out some of our favorite models to try for yourself.