If you regularly clean rugs or fitted carpets as well as hard floors, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners. According to Que Choisir, they’re better suited to regular, thorough cleaning than cordless stick vacuums, particularly on deep-pile carpets. In the tests cited by the organisation, bagged cylinder models picked up more dirt and exposed users to less dust than bagless models. A stick vacuum may still be a good choice if easy handling and storage are your priorities, provided you check how it performs on your flooring and how long the battery lasts in the mode you’ll use.
If one appliance needs to handle your regular cleaning, compare its performance on each of your floor types and check which brushes come with the specific model. The motor’s wattage alone won’t tell you how well it will pick up dirt from a carpet.
An easy-to-store stick vacuum can be a practical choice for shorter cleaning sessions. Before making it your only vacuum, check its battery life in the mode you’ll need for carpets. Que Choisir reports that stick vacuums last an average of around ten minutes at full power.
It’s worth paying close attention to the dust collection system. According to Que Choisir, the tested bagged cylinder models exposed users to less dust during maintenance than bagless models. The trade-off is that you’ll need to replace the bags.
When choosing a main vacuum cleaner for a home with carpets and hard floors, start with the surfaces you need to clean. Then consider whether the vacuum’s design suits the length of your cleaning sessions and the level of maintenance you’re happy to do.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Floor cleaning | Compare test results on rugs or carpets and hard floors like yours. Check which heads and brushes are supplied with the exact model, rather than judging performance by motor wattage alone. | I want one appliance to handle regular cleaning on both carpets and hard floors, not just quick touch-ups. |
| Design and running time | For a stick vacuum, check the battery life in the mode you’ll need for carpets and how long it takes to recharge. For a cylinder vacuum, consider its weight, cable and storage requirements. Que Choisir puts the average battery life of stick vacuums at around ten minutes at full power. | If I’m cleaning for a long time or covering a large area, I need to finish without recharging. In a small home, it may be more important to get the vacuum out and put it away easily. |
| Dust collection and filtration | Check how to replace the bags or empty the dust container, and how to maintain the filters. According to Que Choisir, the tested bagged cylinder vacuums exposed users to less dust than bagless models. | I’d rather minimise contact with dust when emptying the vacuum, or avoid bags and accept that I’ll need to maintain the dust container regularly. |
| Long-term maintenance | Check the model’s repairability score and make sure the right filters, brushes and spare parts are available. For a stick vacuum, also look into the battery replacement options. | A worn battery or brush shouldn’t make my vacuum difficult to maintain. |
These figures alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up dirt from carpets and hard floors. The vacuum head and floor covering both affect how it performs.
Where available, look for test results on the types of flooring you have, then check which brushes are included with the exact model.
The advertised battery life for a stick vacuum may refer to a lower-power setting than the one you’ll need for a carpet. Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power for this category.
Before choosing a stick vacuum as your main appliance, check how long it lasts in the mode you’ll use, how long it takes to recharge and whether the battery can be replaced.
You’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. In the tests cited by Que Choisir, bagged cylinder vacuums exposed users to less dust than bagless models.
Compare how each vacuum is emptied, how easy it is to access the filters and how often you’ll need to replace bags, depending on the system you’re considering.
A stick vacuum relies on its battery, which Que Choisir identifies as a frequent cause of faults. The availability of replacement parts for routine maintenance varies by model.
Check the repairability score and the product codes for filters, brushes and batteries compatible with the model you’ve chosen.
Rowenta offers bagged cylinder vacuums, including models in the Silence Force range. They’re worth considering if you’re looking for this style of vacuum for regular, thorough cleaning.
Miele offers bagged cylinder vacuums, with filtration options and accessories that vary by model.
Dyson is an option if you’re considering a cordless stick vacuum and easy handling and battery replacement are important to you.
This selection includes two cylinder vacuums, one bagged and one bagless, and two cordless stick vacuums. To find one that could handle regular cleaning on your carpets and hard floors, compare each model with your floor types, the length of your cleaning sessions and the level of maintenance you prefer.
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A bagged cylinder vacuum could suit you if you’re looking for one main appliance to clean different floor types. Check which brushes come with this model and how it performs on your carpets. Also consider storage and the need to replace bags.
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This bagless cylinder vacuum saves you from replacing bags, but you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. Its advertised 900 W output alone won’t tell you how well it cleans carpets. Check which brushes are included and look for test results for this specific model.
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The cordless design can make quick cleans and storage easier. Its advertised battery life is up to 65 minutes in standard mode. Before using this stick vacuum as your main appliance on carpets, check how long it lasts in the mode you’ll need and how well it cleans your floors.
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This cordless stick vacuum is designed for easy storage and quick cleans. Its product description advertises up to 45 minutes of battery life, but doesn’t specify the mode. If you’re considering it as your main vacuum, check how long it lasts in carpet mode and how well it performs on each of your floor types.
No, not on their own. When choosing a main vacuum cleaner, compare results on carpets and hard floors, as well as the brushes supplied with the exact model. The design of the vacuum head also affects its cleaning performance.
It may suit some compact homes if its battery life in the mode you’ll use and its performance on carpets are right for your cleaning sessions. Que Choisir considers stick vacuums more suitable for occasional cleaning and reports an average of around ten minutes’ battery life at full power. Check the exact model before making it your main appliance.
In the tests cited by Que Choisir, bagged cylinder vacuums picked up more dirt and exposed users to less dust than bagless models. However, you’ll need to replace the bags. With a bagless model, you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing the bag or emptying the dust container, maintaining the filters and removing debris caught in the brushes. Check the product codes for consumables and spare parts that fit your model.
You could first consider having it repaired or donating it. If it needs to go through the electrical equipment recycling scheme, ADEME says you can take it to a shop. Remove any accessible batteries and recycle them separately, but leave batteries that can’t be accessed in the appliance.