For regular cleaning across several rooms with a mix of hard floors, carpets and upholstery, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners and checking which brushes and tools come with each model. A cordless stick vacuum is ideal for quick clean-ups if its battery life suits your needs; a robot can automate floor care if your thresholds, carpets and flooring are suitable. Wet and dry vacuums are better suited to DIY dust and debris, while choosing between a bagged and bagless cylinder also comes down to the maintenance you’re happy to take on.
If you regularly clean several rooms, including hard floors and carpets, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners and the accessories actually included. Que Choisir recommends considering a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean; whether you choose a bagged or bagless model then depends on your maintenance preferences.
If you want to grab your vacuum often and put it away again straight afterwards, a rechargeable stick vacuum is worth comparing. Que Choisir sees it mainly as a handy extra for quick clean-ups. Before making it your only vacuum, check its battery life in the mode you’ll use and whether it comes with tools for carpets and upholstery.
A robot vacuum can take care of scheduled cleaning when it can move easily between rooms. Measure your thresholds, check your carpets and, if the model also mops, make sure your flooring is suitable for this.
Whether you’re choosing a main vacuum or an extra one, first think about the surfaces and upholstery you need to clean. Then weigh up manoeuvrability, maintenance and automation.
Worth considering: for regular cleaning across several rooms if you’re happy to use bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to get the vacuum out and put it away, and replace its bags with compatible ones.
Worth considering: if you’d prefer a cylinder vacuum without having to buy bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed.
Worth considering: for short, frequent clean-ups, or as your main vacuum if its usable battery life is enough for your home.
Bear in mind: battery life varies depending on the power setting; Que Choisir highlights this limitation of stick vacuums.
Worth considering: to automate cleaning on floors that the model can navigate.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clear clutter and check your thresholds and carpets.
Worth considering: as an extra vacuum for DIY dust or other types of dirt permitted by the instructions.
Bear in mind: it’s a bulkier format. Que Choisir recommends it mainly for these uses rather than everyday cleaning of household upholstery.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and upholstery to clean | Check that it comes with brushes for hard floors and carpets, then look for an upholstery tool if you need to clean furniture. | When I clean several rooms, I want to move from parquet to carpets and clean the fibres on my furniture too. Around 36% of consumers are said to prioritise being able to clean these different surfaces. |
| Everyday manoeuvrability | Compare how heavy it feels to hold and, for a stick vacuum, the battery life in the mode you’ll use on carpets. | If I get the vacuum out for frequent, short clean-ups, I want it to be easy to pick up and put away. Ease of use is said to be the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Maintenance and filtration | Check the model number for compatible bags or filters, how easy it is to access the dust container, and the maintenance steps in the instructions. | Whether I’m replacing bags or emptying a dust container, I’d rather choose the maintenance tasks I’m happy to do. Around 21% of consumers are said to prioritise this above all else. |
| Automating floor care | Measure your thresholds and check how the vacuum handles carpets. Before using the mopping function, check the flooring manufacturer’s instructions. | To cut down on manual cleaning, I’m looking for a robot that can move around my home without using its mop on unsuitable flooring. This is said to be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A parquet brush, a carpet head and an upholstery tool each have a different purpose. Which ones are included depends on the model and the pack being sold.
Make a list of the surfaces you need to clean, then check the product listing for the exact model to see which accessories are included and what they’re compatible with.
Buying a compatible accessory later adds to the cost, and you’ll need to find the right model number.
The maximum battery life advertised won’t necessarily tell you how long it lasts in the mode you’ll use on a carpet.
Compare battery life by mode, charging time and the accessories you’ll need for your regular cleaning routine.
The height of obstacles and type of flooring can restrict where it can go. Mopping also needs extra care on floors that are sensitive to water.
Measure the routes between rooms and check the instructions for both the model and your flooring before switching on the mopping function.
Que Choisir describes wet and dry vacuums as being particularly useful for DIY dust and small pieces of rubble. On their own, these uses don’t meet the need for a manoeuvrable vacuum for carpets and household upholstery.
Use this type of vacuum only for dirt and tasks expressly permitted by its instructions. For everyday cleaning, compare other types according to the surfaces in your home.
Rowenta offers bagged cylinder vacuums, stick vacuums and accessories for various ranges.
The Guard L1 Parquet XL bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering if you have a lot of hard flooring to clean.
Bosch bagless cylinder vacuums are worth comparing if you’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags.
Dyson cordless stick vacuums are worth considering for quick everyday clean-ups.
Roomba robot vacuums are worth considering if you want to schedule floor care in a home that’s suitable for one.
These models showcase three options for your home: stick vacuums for frequent clean-ups, a bagged cylinder vacuum for regular cleaning and robot vacuums to automate floor care. Compare their accessories and instructions for use with your carpets and upholstery.
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Worth considering for frequent clean-ups on hard floors and carpets, as well as for cleaning fibres from furniture. The product name mentions an anti-tangle brush and battery life of up to 65 minutes. Check the battery life in the mode you’ll use on your carpets and see which upholstery tools are included.
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Worth comparing for regular cleaning across hard floors and carpets. The product name lists 55 minutes of battery life, an anti-tangle roller and a charging dock. Check the battery life for each mode and whether it comes with a tool for your upholstered furniture.
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Worth considering as your main vacuum if you’re happy to replace the bags. For mixed flooring, check which brushes come with this model, whether it includes an upholstery tool and whether compatible bags are available.
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Worth considering if you want to automate cleaning on floors the robot can access. Its name lists an auto-empty station and battery life of up to 180 minutes. Measure your thresholds and check how it handles carpets, as well as the instructions for mopping your floors.
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Worth considering if you want to automate vacuuming and mopping on suitable flooring. The product name lists a maximum obstacle clearance of 4 cm, but this doesn’t guarantee it will get over every threshold or carpet. Before using the mopping function, also check how the robot handles carpets.
Yes, if its battery life in the mode you’ll use, its accessories and its capacity are suitable for all your surfaces. However, Que Choisir sees rechargeable stick vacuums mainly as an extra for quick clean-ups. If you have carpets and several rooms, compare how it performs in everyday use with a cylinder vacuum rather than looking only at its maximum battery life.
Look for a brush suited to parquet, a head designed for carpets and a tool for upholstered furniture. Which accessories are included and what they’re compatible with depends on the model and the pack being sold. Rowenta, for example, lists separate brushes for carpets and small tools for upholstery.
No. iRobot advises against mopping unsealed parquet and some unprotected laminate flooring with its Combo robots. For movement between rooms, iRobot lists a clearance of up to 1.6 cm for Roomba models, but this doesn’t guarantee that they’ll get over every threshold or carpet. Measure yours and check the specifications of the model you’re considering.
With a bagged cylinder vacuum, you’ll need compatible bags. With a bagless model, emptying the dust container and maintaining the filter are part of everyday use. For a stick or robot vacuum, also check the instructions for details on the battery, filters and other replaceable parts.