For a thorough clean of carpets and mixed flooring, start by looking at a canister vacuum; for short, frequent clean-ups, a cordless stick vacuum may be more convenient. A robot can take some of the routine off your hands if your rooms are suitable, while its mopping function needs separate consideration: according to UFC-Que Choisir, results vary depending on the flooring, and mopping can leave dried-on stains.
If your priority is a thorough clean of carpets, rugs and hard floors, start by looking at canister vacuums. UFC-Que Choisir highlights their effectiveness at removing dust; then compare the included floorhead, accessories and cleaning reach of the model you’re interested in.
If you regularly need to pick up crumbs, dust or pet hair without getting out a corded appliance, a cordless stick vacuum is worth considering. Check its weight in use, how long it runs in the mode you need and how easy the bin is to empty.
A robot is a good option if you want to schedule regular cleans and can leave your rooms accessible. Before choosing one, check its dimensions and navigation against your thresholds, carpets, under-furniture clearance and awkward areas. You’ll also need to factor in maintaining the robot or its dock.
Start by deciding which task you need to do regularly: deep cleaning, quick clean-ups, delegating vacuuming or using water to clean hard floors. This will help you choose the type of appliance; use the checks in the table to compare individual models.
Consider it: if a thorough clean of carpets and mixed flooring is your priority; UFC-Que Choisir describes canister vacuums as effective at removing dust.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the cable and hose, and move and store the appliance.
Consider it: if you want to grab the vacuum quickly and clean small areas several times a day.
Bear in mind: run time depends on the mode you choose; UFC-Que Choisir says the maximum-power mode may last only a few minutes.
Consider it: if you want to schedule regular vacuuming in rooms the robot can access.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to prepare the rooms, and results vary depending on the flooring and area being cleaned, according to UFC-Que Choisir’s tests.
Consider it: if you want to automate light cleans on hard floors suitable for mopping.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the water and mop pads, and shouldn’t assume it will remove dried-on stains; UFC-Que Choisir’s tests highlight limitations with mopping.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuuming mixed flooring | Compare the floorheads supplied for carpets and hard floors, then look at test results on these surfaces and in corners. A stated power rating alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean. | If I have carpets, rugs and hard floors to look after, my first priority is for my main vacuum to clean all these surfaces. Around 33% of consumers put this performance at the top of their needs. |
| Quick clean-ups | Check the weight in your hand and the stick vacuum’s run time in the mode you’ll use, as well as how it needs to be recharged. | When crumbs and dust keep coming back, I’d rather be able to grab the vacuum for a quick clean without having to organise a big clean. For around 27% of consumers, this convenience is their top priority. |
| Automated routine | Measure thresholds and clearance under furniture; check the robot’s navigation and how much space its dock needs. | If I want to spend less time on regular cleaning, the robot needs to be able to move around my rooms. Automating vacuuming is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Mopping hard floors | Check the instructions for your flooring, how it handles carpets and its results on stains. Also find out which tanks and mop pads need maintenance. | On hard floors, I’d like to automate some of the mopping while still being able to tackle stubborn dirt another way. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this wet cleaning. |
In its tests of robot mops, UFC-Que Choisir found that results were often unsatisfactory, particularly on dried-on stains. So, the presence of a mop pad alone doesn’t tell you what it will remove from your floor.
Look for tests that cover the types of dirt you’re concerned about, follow the instructions for your flooring and check how the mop pads perform around carpets.
You’ll also need to handle the water, maintain the mop pads and, depending on the model, clean the dock.
Run time changes depending on the mode; UFC-Que Choisir says maximum power may only be available for a few minutes. A single run-time figure doesn’t tell you how long it will last for a full clean.
Compare run times in the mode suited to your floors, then check the weight with the floorhead attached, how easy the bin is to empty and how it recharges.
Depending on the model, a dock can automate some tasks, but the brushes, tanks and dock components still need regular attention.
Check the manual to see which tasks are genuinely automated and which you’ll still need to do. Also measure the space the dock will need.
Cleaning the brushes and tanks still takes time, even when emptying the bin or washing the mop pads is automated.
Bags, filters and brushes vary by model. ADEME recommends considering maintenance and whether the appliance can be repaired to extend its useful life.
Before ordering, look up the reference numbers for consumables, check whether spare parts are available and find out what repair options there are. Check the repairability index if one is displayed.
These brands offer different ways to look after your floors. Their ranges provide useful points of comparison, but don’t guarantee the features or availability of any particular model.
Rowenta offers bagged and bagless canister vacuums, cordless stick vacuums, vacuum mops and robots.
Bosch offers bagged and bagless canister vacuums, cordless stick vacuums and robots.
Dyson is worth considering here mainly for its cordless stick vacuums and some appliances with a hard-floor cleaning head.
iRobot offers robot vacuums and mops; specific models are advertised with features such as mapping and carpet management.
Roborock offers robot vacuum mops; some Qrevo models come with docks that manage several tasks involving water and mop pads.
These products show three ways to approach everyday floor care: a bagged canister vacuum for mixed flooring, robots for scheduled vacuuming and mopping, and cordless appliances for manual clean-ups. The NEW400 wet and dry vacuum cleaner is designed for sealed hard floors; it is not a robot.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you prefer manual cleaning sessions across several floor types and don’t mind moving a corded canister vacuum around.
This model is described as a bagged canister vacuum. For your carpets and hard floors, check which floorheads are actually included and how well it vacuums each surface. You’ll also need compatible bags.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to schedule cleans in rooms you can leave accessible to the robot.
The product description lists app control, DuoDetect AI 3D obstacle avoidance and 8000 Pa suction power. This stated figure doesn’t measure how well it will clean your floors. If you plan to use the mopping function, check separately how it handles carpets, thresholds and stains, as well as what maintenance the dock needs.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to schedule vacuuming and mopping and can set aside space for the dock.
The model name lists mop pad washing at 75 °C and the OZMO Turbo 2.0, ZeroTangle 3.0 and TruEdge 2.0 systems. These advertised features alone don’t tell you how well it will remove stains or handle carpets. Measure the space you have available and factor in maintaining the tanks, brushes and filters.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for frequent manual clean-ups when going cordless matters more to you than automation.
The product name lists up to 65 minutes of run time, an anti-tangle brush and an LED touchscreen. Actual run time depends on the mode and how you use it, so compare it with the area you need to clean and check its vacuuming performance on your floor types.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for manual wet and dry cleaning on the sealed hard floors it is designed for, rather than vacuuming carpets or handing the job over to a robot.
The product name lists a self-cleaning function. You’ll still need to check and maintain the roller and tanks; follow the instructions for your flooring and check whether the run time suits the clean-ups you have in mind.
Not necessarily. If deep cleaning carpets is your priority, first compare how the robot and canister vacuum perform on these surfaces. UFC-Que Choisir tests robots separately on different floors, as well as around edges and in corners; an automated clean doesn’t guarantee the same results everywhere.
Don’t assume it will always remove dried-on stains: UFC-Que Choisir found that mopping results were often unsatisfactory in its test. The test covered tiled floors but not solid wood, so check the manufacturer’s instructions before using it on your flooring.
Even if some docks empty the robot or handle tasks involving the mop pads, you’ll still need to check and maintain the components listed in the manual. Features vary by model: before buying, check how it handles water, what maintenance the tanks and brushes need, and how much space the dock requires.
A new, second-hand or refurbished vacuum cleaner sold by a trader to an individual is covered by the legal guarantee of conformity, as explained by the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. If the product doesn’t match its description or the features advertised, for example, keep your proof of purchase and the product listing so you can make a claim under this guarantee with the seller.
Before buying, look up the reference numbers for the bags, filters or brushes you’ll need, check that spare parts are available and look for the repairability index if one is displayed. Then follow the manufacturer’s instructions for emptying the dust container or changing the bag and maintaining the filters. ADEME highlights the value of regular maintenance in extending an appliance’s useful life.