To keep hard floors, carpets, furniture and awkward corners clean, first choose a machine with brushes and tools suited to the surfaces in your home. A bagged cylinder vacuum is a good choice if you prefer uninterrupted cleaning sessions and less dust when emptying; a bagless model does away with bags but requires you to maintain its bin and filters. A stick vacuum makes quick clean-ups easier, provided its battery life meets your needs, while a robot is mainly a useful extra for accessible floors.
If you move from wooden or tiled floors to carpets, then on to cushions and armchairs, check that the brushes suit each floor type. Also look for a crevice tool for awkward corners and an upholstery tool for fabrics.
If emptying a dusty bin puts you off, consider a bagged cylinder vacuum. UFC-Que Choisir points out that removing and throwing away a full bag means less handling of dust. Check which bags and filters are compatible, too.
A stick vacuum can be handy for picking up crumbs, pet hair or dust between more thorough cleans. Compare its battery life under the conditions you expect to use it in, how long it takes to recharge and which tools you’ll need at home.
Start with the surfaces you need to clean and the tasks you want to make easier. The tools determine which areas you can reach, while the bag, bin, cord or battery all affect your cleaning routine.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Floors, fabrics and awkward corners | Brushes suited to the floors in your home; a crevice tool and an upholstery tool included with the specific model. | I want to move from hard floors to carpets, then clean the sofa and corners, without finding out I’m missing a tool. Around 33% of consumers make this range of surface coverage a priority. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Collection type, access to the filters, and the product codes for compatible bags or filters. | How I empty the vacuum matters more to me than how quickly I can get it out. I’d rather minimise contact with dust or avoid bags, and I’m happy to take care of the necessary maintenance. Around 27% of consumers share this priority. |
| Ease of use | Weight and storage; the reach of a cylinder vacuum, or the battery life and charging time of a stick vacuum. | For frequent, quick clean-ups, I want to be able to move and store the vacuum without too much effort. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this ease of use. |
| Automated cleaning | Scheduling, how it navigates the floors in your home and bin maintenance. | I mainly want to schedule cleaning on accessible floors between manual cleans, while keeping a solution for furniture. This kind of automation is the top need for around 13% of consumers. |
Two vacuums in the same category may come with different floor heads and tools. Your choice may not be practical if the brush isn’t suitable for wooden floors or there’s no tool for reaching into crevices.
Make a list of the surfaces in your home, then check the tools included with the exact model you’re considering, rather than relying on a product range photo.
The bin and filters need to be maintained. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that emptying a bin exposes you to more dust than removing and throwing away a full bag.
Check how to empty it, how to access the filters and their product codes. If handling dust is your main concern, compare bagged models, too.
The advertised battery life doesn’t necessarily reflect use with the brush and setting you’ll choose for carpets or hard floors.
Check which setting was used to measure the stated battery life, then look at the charging time and bin capacity to see how well they fit your routine.
UFC-Que Choisir says robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor type. A robot that moves around on the floor won’t clean furniture, fabrics or high-up corners.
Consider one for accessible floors between manual cleans, and plan to use another vacuum or a suitable tool for other surfaces.
Worth considering for bagged cylinder vacuums, particularly if you clean large areas of hard flooring.
Worth considering for compact bagless cylinder vacuums and accessories designed for specific models.
Worth considering for cordless stick vacuums if manoeuvrability and quick clean-ups are important to your routine.
These models include cordless stick vacuums for quick clean-ups and a bagged cylinder vacuum for longer, corded cleaning sessions. Compare their accessories and maintenance requirements with the surfaces in your home.
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Worth considering for cleaning hard floors and carpets with a cordless vacuum. The stated 55-minute battery life applies to the bare-floor setting. Check the battery life for carpets and the charging time before planning a longer cleaning session.
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Worth considering if you’d like a stick vacuum that’s easy to put down between quick clean-ups. The 45-minute figure in the product name isn’t enough to tell you how long it will last on your floors. Check which setting it applies to, the charging time and which tool you’ll need for upholstery.
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Worth considering if you also need to clean stairs, furniture and awkward corners. Check which tools are included for these tasks and how long the battery lasts when using them. How often you need to empty the bin will depend on what you’re cleaning up.
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Worth comparing for cordless cleaning on hard floors and carpets. The product name states a 70-minute battery life, but check which setting this applies to and how long recharging takes to find out how much cleaning time you can expect. Also check for an upholstery tool and find out how to maintain the filters.
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Worth considering if you prefer a corded vacuum with a bag, so you can clean without worrying about recharging. Check which brushes and tools are included for wooden floors, carpets and furniture, and find out which replacement bags are compatible.
Check for a brush suited to each of your floor types, as well as a crevice tool and an attachment designed for cushions or furniture. Read the list of items included with the exact version you’re considering: accessories shown for a product range aren’t necessarily supplied with every model.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth prioritising if emptying is your main concern. According to UFC-Que Choisir, removing and throwing away a full bag limits exposure to dust more effectively than emptying a bin. A bagless model, on the other hand, needs its bin and filters cleaned.
No. Check which setting the stated battery life applies to, then look at the charging time and the tools you’ll use during a cleaning session. For example, Dyson France claims up to 60 minutes for the Cyclone V10 Total Clean. This figure doesn’t cover every setting or other models.
Not for every surface in a home that also has furniture, fabrics and high-up corners. UFC-Que Choisir says robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor type, so consider a robot for accessible floors and keep a suitable option for the remaining manual cleaning tasks.
Look up the repairability index for the vacuum model you’re considering. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition includes vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered. Separately, check the product codes for any filters, bags or other parts you might need.