If you mainly need to clean rugs, carpets and hard floors, a canister vacuum is a good choice if you want to clean without worrying about battery life. In the tests cited by UFC-Que Choisir, bagged canister vacuums pick up more dirt than bagless models and expose you to less dust. A bagless model saves you from buying bags, but you’ll need to empty the bin. A cordless stick vacuum makes quick clean-ups easier, provided you check how long it lasts at the power setting you’ll use on carpets.
If your vacuum cleaner will handle most of the housework, compare how each model performs on rugs, carpets and hard floors. UFC-Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately: a stated power rating is no substitute for test results.
A cordless stick vacuum is easy to take out and put away. If you also plan to use it for a full clean of your carpets, check how long it runs at the setting you’ll need, rather than relying on its maximum advertised battery life, as UFC-Que Choisir advises.
Choosing between a bag and a bin affects how you empty the vacuum and which consumables you’ll need. Also check the filters, the parts available for your chosen model and, for a new appliance sold in France, its repairability rating.
When choosing a vacuum cleaner for your main cleaning, start with the surfaces you need to clean and how long your sessions usually last. Then consider the format and dust collection system.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning different surfaces | Check test results for the exact model on rugs or carpets and hard floors, and see which brush is included. | When I have both rugs and hard floors, I want one appliance to handle the main cleaning on both, not just pick up visible dust from tiles. Around 36% of consumers say effective cleaning on different floor types is their top priority. |
| Ease of use and battery life | Compare how easy each model is to handle and, for a stick vacuum, how long it runs at the power setting you’ll actually use. | If I vacuum often for short spells, being able to take the appliance out and move around without a cable may matter more to me. Ease of handling is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Dust collection | Check how the bag seals or the bin empties, as well as how to maintain the filters. | I’d rather minimise contact with dust when emptying the vacuum, even if that means buying compatible bags. This dust-collection preference comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Noise and long-term use | Compare the noise level at the setting you’ll use, the repairability rating for the new model, and access to consumables and spare parts. | For regular cleaning, I want an acceptable noise level and to be able to maintain or repair the model I choose. Around 14% of consumers prioritise these factors for long-term use. |
This figure is often based on a low power setting. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir found that stick vacuums ran for an average of around ten minutes at full power. This doesn’t tell you how long any individual model will last.
For rugs and carpets, check the run time at the setting you’ll use and estimate how much area you can cover before recharging.
These figures alone won’t tell you how well a particular model removes dust or fibres from a carpet. UFC-Que Choisir’s test methods distinguish between the surfaces and types of dirt tested.
Compare test results for the floor types in your home and check which brushes are included with the version on sale.
You still need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. In its guide to canister vacuums, UFC-Que Choisir says that the bagged models it tested expose users to less dust.
Before choosing, compare emptying the bin with replacing the bag, then check which consumables are right for the exact model.
The bin and filters may also need regular attention between cleaning sessions.
A repairability rating can help you assess a new vacuum cleaner sold in France, but it’s still worth checking that the parts you need are available for the specific model.
Check the displayed rating, then look up the bags, filters, batteries or other parts compatible with the appliance you’re considering.
The Silence Force Effitech RO7473EA is a useful point of comparison if you’re looking for a bagged canister vacuum and low noise is important to you.
The BGC21X350 bagless canister vacuum is worth considering if a brush designed for rugs and carpets is one of your priorities.
The V11 Fluffy is a cordless stick vacuum to consider if mobility matters and its set-up suits your floors.
This selection includes bagged and bagless canister vacuums, as well as cordless stick vacuums for everyday cleaning. To compare models for rugs and hard floors, check their results on each surface and the accessories included with the version you choose.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagless canister vacuum for mixed flooring. Its product name lists 900 W, but you can’t use this figure to predict how it will perform on carpets. Check which brushes are included with the version on sale, test results for your floor types and how to empty the bin.
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Consider this if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a bin during your main clean. Check which brushes are included, how this specific model performs on rugs and hard floors, and whether compatible bags are available.
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Its stick design may suit you if you want to clean without a cable. The product name claims ‘up to 65 minutes’ of run time. If you plan to use it on carpets, check how long it lasts at the setting you’ll need and how well this model cleans.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a stick vacuum with a removable battery for cable-free cleaning. The product name claims up to 60 minutes, but doesn’t say which setting this applies to. Compare its run time on carpets and check the battery replacement terms.
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Its stick design may be handy for frequent cable-free clean-ups. The product name claims 45 minutes of run time, but doesn’t specify how long it lasts at each power setting. Check the run time at the setting you’ll use on carpets, as well as its performance on different floor types.
Yes. SignalConso says that displaying this rating is compulsory for vacuum cleaners sold in France, both in shops and online. Check the rating for the new model you’re considering, and separately make sure you can get the parts you may need. The rules are different for second-hand and refurbished appliances.
It’s the maximum claimed run time, often measured at a low power setting—not a promise that the vacuum will last through a carpet-cleaning session on high power. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power in its tests of stick vacuums. Look for the run time for the exact model and the setting you’ll use.
Check whether the version on sale includes a motorised brush or turbo brush designed for these surfaces, then look up test results for the exact model on rugs and carpets. The inclusion of a brush alone doesn’t prove that it can remove dirt embedded in the fibres.