For short, frequent cleans, a cordless stick vacuum is a good choice if its battery life on the power setting you need is enough to cover the whole job. For longer sessions or several types of flooring, a corded cylinder vacuum avoids charging breaks, but you’ll need to manage the cable and find space to store it. In either case, compare test results on your floors rather than choosing based on the power rating alone.
If you want to get your vacuum out and put it away quickly, consider a cordless stick vacuum. Check its battery life on the setting you need for your floors, though: UFC-Que Choisir points out that the quoted battery life is usually based on low-power use.
If you have rugs, carpets or wooden floors with gaps between the boards, look for test results for each type of flooring in your home. UFC-Que Choisir tests different floor types separately, so a result on tiles alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans a rug.
For pet hair on fabrics, check how well the vacuum removes embedded fibres and how easy the brush is to clean. An accessory described as being for pet owners doesn’t, by itself, show how well it performs on your rugs.
Start with the floors you need to clean and how long your usual sessions last. Then check that you’re happy with the maintenance and storage requirements of the format you choose.
Worth considering: for short, frequent cleans, if the battery life on the setting you need is enough for your routine.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to recharge it and maintain the dust container, filters and brush. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the maximum quoted battery life may not reflect use at higher power.
Worth considering: for longer cleaning sessions without charging breaks, especially if you have several rooms and types of flooring to clean.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move the vacuum around, manage the plug sockets and make more room for storage.
Worth considering: if you want a cylinder vacuum without a cable and a specific model offers enough battery life for your cleaning session.
Check: the 2023 study by the French National Consumer Institute included just one cordless bagless cylinder vacuum among 18 vacuums. Its results can’t be applied to every model in this format.
| Consideration | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning performance on different floors | Look for test results on hard floors, wooden floors with gaps between the boards, rugs or carpets. If you have pets, also look for tests on embedded fibres. | I need to clean my rugs and hard floors regularly, so results for just one type of flooring aren’t enough to guide my choice. |
| Uninterrupted use | For a cordless vacuum, compare battery life across the different settings and check the charging time. For a corded model, check that its reach is suitable for the plug sockets in your home. | I’d prefer to finish cleaning without recharging or having to change sockets too often. |
| Ease of use and storage | Check how heavy the vacuum is to move and how much space it takes up, including any charging station or stand. | For quick cleans, I want to be able to get the vacuum out and put it away without rearranging the room. |
| Everyday maintenance | Check the capacity of the dust container or bag, how easy it is to access the filters, and how to remove fibres wrapped around the brush. | Emptying the vacuum and cleaning the brush need to be manageable for how often I use it. |
| Repairability | Compare the repairability index for the exact model and check which spare parts are available, particularly the battery if it’s cordless. ADEME says vacuum cleaners are among the appliances covered by this index. | I want to be able to assess the repair options before choosing a model. |
These figures alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from each type of flooring. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocols assess different types of floors separately.
Identify the main floor types in your home, then look for relevant test results for the models you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir says this figure is usually based on low-power use, so battery life can be much shorter on the setting you need.
Compare battery life across the different settings, charging time and battery replacement options for your chosen model.
A brush described as being for pet hair doesn’t, by itself, tell you how well it removes fibres embedded in a rug or how long it takes to untangle.
Look for tests on embedded fibres, and check how the brush can be removed and cleaned.
ADEME says vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index. The format or reputation of a brand is no substitute for checking the specific appliance you plan to buy.
Check the index for the exact model and find out how easy it is to access spare parts and the battery, if it has one.
The Green Force and X-Force Flex ranges let you compare cylinder and stick vacuum configurations respectively.
The V8 Advanced and V11 Advanced are stick vacuum models worth considering separately.
The CordZero A9 range offers different stick vacuum configurations, so check what’s included with each one.
The PD82-4ST Pure D8 is a cylinder vacuum model worth considering if you’re looking for a corded option.
This selection includes a corded stick vacuum and cordless vacuums, some with a station. Compare their power supply and maintenance requirements with your routine. This list isn’t a substitute for comparative tests of cylinder vacuums.
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Its corded power supply means you won’t need to stop to recharge while cleaning, but you’ll need to consider where the plug sockets are and manage the cable. The product title lists 65KPA and 600W; compare test results on your floors to assess its cleaning performance.
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The auto-empty and charging station may appeal to households that clean regularly. The product title lists 220AW, 30kPa and a 590W motor. These figures don’t replace checking the battery life on the setting you’ll use, test results on your floors and how much space the station needs.
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The stick design and removable battery make it a cordless option for frequent cleaning. The product title claims up to 60 minutes of battery life and an anti-tangle brush. Check how long it lasts on the setting you need, and how easy the brush is to clean if you have pets.
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This cordless stick vacuum is described as self-standing, which may be useful if you put it away between cleans. The product title mentions up to 65 minutes of battery life and an anti-tangle brush. Check battery life for each setting and look for test results on your flooring.
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The collection and charging station is worth considering if you want to cut down on some of the tasks after cleaning. The product title claims up to 70 minutes of battery life. Before choosing this configuration, check how long it lasts on the setting you need, how to maintain the station and how much space it takes up.
No. These figures alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans each type of flooring. Look for test results relevant to your floors, then compare battery life or running time, maintenance and the accessories that are useful for your home.
Yes, if its battery life on the setting you need and its performance on your floors are enough for your usual cleaning sessions. If you clean for a long time or have lots of rugs and carpets, pay particular attention to both: UFC-Que Choisir says the quoted battery life is usually based on low-power use.
Not necessarily. For pet hair on rugs or carpets, look for tests on embedded fibres and check that the model’s brush is easy to clean. A ‘pet’ label on an accessory isn’t enough to establish how well it performs.
Check the repairability index for the exact model and find out how easy it is to access spare parts, particularly the battery for a cordless model. ADEME says vacuum cleaners are among the appliances covered by this index, but the index alone doesn’t tell you how well the vacuum cleans.