For thorough, regular cleaning of rugs and carpets as well as hard floors, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners. UFC-Que Choisir highlights them for dust removal and reports that bagged models perform better than bagless ones. A cordless stick vacuum is better suited to quick clean-ups, provided its battery life in the mode you’ll use on carpets is long enough. A robot vacuum can help with day-to-day upkeep if it can move around your home and its performance on each floor type meets your needs.
If you switch between rugs, carpets, wood flooring and tiles, check the vacuum’s performance on each surface and the brushes supplied with the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately in its assessments.
A cylinder vacuum is worth considering when thorough cleaning matters more than ease of moving the appliance around. Check its operating radius, bag or bin capacity, and performance on the floors in your home.
A cordless stick vacuum can be handy for regularly picking up dust, crumbs or pet hair. If you also plan to use it on rugs, check the brush supplied and the battery life in the mode you’ll actually use.
First, choose the type of appliance to suit the scale of your cleaning, then compare its performance and accessories on the flooring in your home.
Consider it: for thorough, regular cleaning, especially if rugs and carpets make up a significant part of your home.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move a corded appliance around. UFC-Que Choisir says bagged models expose you to less dust during maintenance than bagless models.
Consider it: for frequent quick clean-ups, stairs or convenient storage.
Bear in mind: how long you can use it depends on the mode you choose, which may limit its ability to clean carpets throughout your home.
Consider it: for keeping floors clean between manual vacuuming sessions, if your home’s layout allows it to move around.
Bear in mind: performance varies by floor type, according to UFC-Que Choisir. You’ll also need to maintain the bin, brushes and, where applicable, the docking station.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning performance on each surface | Compare test results for the exact model on rugs or carpets, wood flooring and tiles. UFC-Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately in its assessments of cylinder and robot vacuums. | I want to clean my rugs without assuming that good results on hard floors will also mean good results on soft furnishings. |
| Floorheads and brushes | Check the main floorhead and the accessories actually included. Depending on your floors, look for a parquet brush or one designed for rugs and carpets. | I have wood flooring and rugs, so I need to be able to use a suitable floorhead for each. |
| Getting the cleaning done in one go | For a stick vacuum, check the battery life in the mode and with the brush you’ll use on carpets: UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power. For a corded appliance, check its operating radius. Also consider the bag or bin capacity. | If I clean several rooms in a row, avoiding interruptions matters just as much as how easy it is to get the appliance out. |
| Maintenance | Check how to replace bags or filters, empty the bin and clean the brushes, as well as the repair options for the model you’re considering. | I’d rather know what maintenance is involved before choosing between a bag, bin, battery or robot docking station. |
Electrical power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean rugs, carpets, wood flooring or tiles. UFC-Que Choisir assesses performance separately for different floor types.
Look for test results by surface for the exact model, and check which floorheads come with it.
UFC-Que Choisir explains that the quoted maximum battery life is measured at low power, while runtime at full power is shorter.
Compare the runtime in the mode and with the brush you’ll need for your rugs with the length of your usual cleaning session.
A mopping function needs particular consideration if the robot will encounter soft furnishings. For example, Roborock says the Qrevo S lifts its mops when it detects a rug or carpet. This doesn’t apply to every model.
Check exactly how the robot you’re considering detects, avoids or lifts its mop around rugs, as well as its vacuuming performance on them.
Bags, filters, brushes and bins all require different kinds of maintenance, depending on the appliance. Battery-powered models and robots also have their own parts to look after.
Check which consumables are compatible, the cleaning instructions and the repair options for the exact model.
These examples highlight accessories or features to check on a specific model. They don’t indicate how other models from the same brand will perform.
Its cylinder vacuum range includes bagged models and accessories designed for different floor types.
The V12 range is an example of cordless stick vacuums where it’s worth checking the floorhead for use on mixed flooring.
The Qrevo S is an example of a feature to check on a robot that combines vacuuming and mopping.
This selection includes a bagged cylinder vacuum, two stick vacuums — one cordless and one corded — and two robots for everyday upkeep. Compare each model on the surfaces in your home. The inclusion of a stated accessory or feature doesn’t, on its own, prove how well the vacuum will clean.
Image unavailable
Its bagged design makes it a cylinder vacuum option for thorough cleaning. Before choosing it for mixed flooring, check which brushes are included and how the EB61C4OG performs on rugs, carpets and hard floors.
Image unavailable
This cordless stick vacuum is an option for frequent clean-ups. Its product description claims up to 65 minutes of battery life and an anti-tangle brush. Check the runtime with the brush and mode you’ll use on your rugs, along with its performance on each floor type.
Image unavailable
The corded design means you won’t need to stop to recharge while cleaning, but you’ll need to consider where your plug sockets are. The figures in the product name don’t replace performance results for different surfaces. Also check that its floorhead is suitable for your wood flooring.
Image unavailable
This robot could help keep your floors clean between manual vacuuming sessions, if your home’s layout allows it to move around. Its product description mentions a lifting mop. Check how it handles your rugs and how well it vacuums each type of flooring.
Image unavailable
This robot with a mopping function is worth considering as an addition for mixed flooring. The product description refers to both S1000 and S1000 Ultra+. Confirm the exact version, how it handles rugs and its vacuuming performance before relying on the stated features.
Compare results from the same types of surface rather than looking only at wattage or an overall rating. UFC-Que Choisir tests carpets, tiles and wood flooring separately for cylinder vacuums, and different floor types — including rugs — for robot vacuums. Then check the results for the model you’re interested in.
First check the main floorhead supplied with the exact model, then look at the accessories suited to your floors: a parquet brush if needed, and a brush designed for rugs or pet hair, depending on how you’ll use it. Having a particular brush doesn’t replace comparing vacuuming performance on each floor type.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir says maximum battery life is measured at low power, and reports an average of around ten minutes at full power for stick vacuums. Check the runtime with the mode and brush you’ll need for your rugs.
Don’t assume so without checking the model and your home. UFC-Que Choisir reports that robot vacuum performance varies by floor type. Compare how it performs on rugs and hard floors, whether it can move around your home, and how it handles rugs if it has a mop. It can also help with upkeep between manual vacuuming sessions.