A multimode an upright section moveably mounted to a surface cleaning head between an upright storage position and a reclined floor cleaning position. A hand vacuum cleaner is removably mounted to the upright section. The upright section has an auxiliary air treatment chamber, an auxiliary suction motor and an upright section clean air outlet. In a first upright mode of operation, the multimode surface cleaner is operable with the auxiliary air treatment chamber removed from the upright section, and the hand vacuum cleaner is in airflow communication with the dirty air inlet. In a second upright mode of operation, the multimode surface cleaner is operable with the auxiliary air treatment chamber mounted to the upright section whereby air travels through the auxiliary air treatment chamber, the auxiliary suction motor and exits the multimode surface cleaning apparatus through the upright section clean air outlet.