For your main vacuum cleaner in a home with carpets, rugs and hard floors, a cylinder vacuum is generally a good place to start. UFC-Que Choisir describes it as suitable for sustained vacuuming, while stick vacuums are often less effective on carpets and thick rugs. Choose a bagged model if you want to minimise contact with dust; with a bagless model, you’ll need to be comfortable emptying the dust container. A stick vacuum can only serve as your main appliance if its floorhead and battery life in the mode you use are genuinely suitable for your floors.
If fibres and pet hair get caught in your carpets, look for performance tested on these surfaces and check which floorhead is included. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol distinguishes between tests on carpets and tests on hard floors.
If you move between carpets and hard floors during the same cleaning session, reach, dust capacity and accessories matter just as much as the appliance’s design in everyday use.
Consider how the appliance is emptied, how the filter is maintained and how noisy it is. UFC-Que Choisir says replacing a bag exposes you to less dust than emptying a bagless dust container; noise levels vary from model to model.
When choosing your main appliance, start with its performance on your carpets, then check whether you can finish cleaning and maintain the appliance in a way that suits you. A stick vacuum can also be a handy back-up for quick clean-ups between full sessions.
Consider it: for regular cleaning across several floor types, especially if minimising contact with dust matters to you.
Bear in mind: you’ll have a cable and an appliance to move around, and you’ll need to replace the bags.
Consider it: if you want a mains-powered appliance for a full clean without using bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filter, and, according to UFC-Que Choisir, you may have more contact with dust.
Consider it: if freedom of movement is your priority and its battery life and floorhead suit all your floors.
Bear in mind: running time depends on the mode you choose, and you’ll need to check carefully how well it handles thick carpets.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet performance | Separate test results for carpets or rugs; the floorhead and turbo brush supplied with the exact model. | When pet hair and fibres get embedded, I want to know whether the appliance will remove them from my carpets, rather than relying on the motor’s wattage alone. This would be the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Cleaning for longer | Reach and bag or dust-container capacity; for a stick vacuum, battery life in the mode you need. | If I clean several rooms and floor types in one go, I want to finish without constantly recharging or emptying the appliance. Around 29% of consumers would put this first. |
| Dust management | How the bag is sealed or the dust container is emptied; the type of filter and how it needs to be maintained. | When maintaining my vacuum, I prefer to minimise contact with dust and know how to clean the filter. This would be the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ease of use and quick clean-ups | Weight and handling; if the stick vacuum is to be used for a full clean, its battery life with the floorhead on carpets. | For stairs or quick clean-ups, I want an appliance that’s easy to pick up, but not at the expense of my main cleaning needs. Ease of use would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
Wattage alone doesn’t tell you how much dirt the floorhead will lift from a carpet. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol separately assesses embedded dust and fibres on carpets.
Compare results for the surfaces in your home, then check which brush comes with the model you’re considering.
Accessories vary between models in the same range. Don’t mistake a parquet or multi-surface brush for a turbo brush designed for carpets and pet hair.
Check the accessories listed for the exact model and, if you’re interested in another floorhead, confirm that it’s compatible and check the terms for buying it separately.
A bagged model needs replacement bags; a bagless one needs its dust container emptied and filter maintained. Your choice also affects how much contact you have with dust when maintaining the appliance.
Before you buy, find out which consumables are compatible and how to empty the dust container or replace the bag.
The advertised running time for a stick vacuum won’t necessarily apply in the mode you use on carpets. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average battery life of around ten minutes at full power among the stick vacuums it tested; this is not a guaranteed running time for any specific model.
Check the battery life with the floorhead and in the mode you’ll need, as well as whether the battery can be replaced.
These models illustrate different configurations. Always check the exact model and accessories rather than assuming a feature applies to an entire brand.
The Silence Force Effitech RO7473EA is an example of a bagged cylinder vacuum for cleaning sessions across several floor types.
The Guard L1 Cat & Dog Flex is worth considering if you’re looking closely at accessories for carpets and upholstery.
The Pure D8 PD82-4ST is a bagged model worth looking at for cleaning across several floor types.
The ProAnimal models offer two different dust-collection options to consider for homes with carpets and pet hair.
The V15 Detect Absolute is a cordless option if ease of handling matters, provided it can cover your planned cleaning session.
These models let you compare bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums with cordless stick vacuums for cleaning different floor types. For carpets and rugs, compare the floorhead supplied and test results for the exact model; if you plan to use a stick vacuum as your main appliance, also check its running time in the mode you need.
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Worth considering as your main appliance if you prefer a bagged cylinder vacuum; for embedded fibres, check the floorhead supplied and its results on carpets.
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A mains-powered option for cleaning different floor types; if pet hair or fibres build up on your carpets, check exactly which brush is included.
Motor power shown in the product name: 550 W. This figure alone doesn’t measure carpet performance.
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Consider it if you want a bagless cylinder vacuum as your main appliance and are happy to empty the dust container; check the floorhead and its results on your carpets.
The product name lists LED lighting and a 900 W motor, but this doesn’t indicate how well it performs on carpets.
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The cordless design can make it easier to move between rooms; before making it your main appliance, check its battery life and performance on carpets in the mode you’ll use.
The product name lists an anti-tangle brush, self-standing design and up to 65 minutes of running time. This maximum doesn’t guarantee the same length of cleaning time on carpets.
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Worth considering for cordless cleaning across different floor types; if it’s to replace a cylinder vacuum, make sure it can cover a full cleaning session and clean your carpets effectively.
The product name lists 45 minutes of running time and a light designed to make dust visible. Check the running time with the floorhead and in the mode you’ll use.
Look for test results on carpets for the specific model, then check its floorhead. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses embedded dust and fibres on carpets separately, so motor wattage isn’t a substitute for these results.
Choose a bagged model if minimising contact with dust during maintenance is a priority: UFC-Que Choisir notes this as an advantage over bagless models. A bagless model saves you from replacing bags, but you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filter.
It can if its floorhead, performance on your type of carpet and battery life in the mode you need are sufficient to clean your whole home. UFC-Que Choisir notes that stick vacuums are often less effective on carpets and thick rugs, so an advertised maximum battery life doesn’t answer the question on its own.
You’ll need to replace the bag or empty the dust container, and maintain the filter and brushes according to the model’s instructions. If a rotating brush picks up hair or fibres, check how to remove them.
In France, retailers must take back your old appliance free of charge when you buy a new one, including when you buy remotely, according to Service-Public.fr. Check the take-back options available before placing your order.