Homes with mixed flooring
If you have both hard floors and rugs or carpets, compare performance on each surface, particularly when it comes to embedded fibres. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing assesses these floor types separately for cylinder vacuums.
Who is this choice for?
People who often clean small areas
When it comes to crumbs and high-traffic areas, how easily you can get the vacuum out matters. If you’re considering a cordless stick vacuum, check its run time in the mode you’ll use, as UFC-Que Choisir recommends.
Homes dealing with hair or pet fur
For rugs, carpets, sofas or stairs, check tests on fibre removal and look for accessories suited to upholstery. A brush that’s easy to clean is also useful when hair or fur gets tangled around it.
Which criteria should you prioritise?
To choose between a cylinder, stick or robot vacuum, first decide which will handle your main cleaning. Then consider whether quick clean-ups or automated runs justify having a second appliance.
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Consider it: for your main cleaning if you’re happy with a corded appliance and want to compare performance on your carpets and hard floors.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to use bags, and it’s less manoeuvrable than a stick vacuum. However, UFC-Que Choisir found that bagged cylinder vacuums performed better in its suction tests than bagless models.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Consider it: if you’d rather empty a container than use bags, while keeping a corded design for your main cleaning.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. Compare its performance on carpets rather than assuming it will match a bagged model.
Cordless stick vacuum
Consider it: if you want to clean small areas quickly or supplement a main vacuum.
Bear in mind: run time depends on the mode you choose. UFC-Que Choisir says stick vacuums average around ten minutes at full power.
Robot vacuum
Consider it: if you want to automate regular cleaning in rooms with enough clear floor space.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to prepare the floor and maintain the robot. UFC-Que Choisir found that results vary depending on the surfaces and areas cleaned.
Main vacuum and a second appliance
Consider it: if you want to clean rugs and carpets regularly while making small everyday clean-ups easier.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space to store and maintain two appliances, with a stick vacuum for quick manual clean-ups or a robot for automated runs.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning different surfaces | Compare test results on hard floors, rugs or carpets and fibres, then check that the included heads suit your flooring. | When fibres get trapped in my rugs, I also want to clean the wooden floors without changing my main vacuum. Around 37% of consumers prioritise cleaning across multiple surfaces. |
| Manoeuvrability and run time | For a stick vacuum, check its run time in the mode you plan to use and how easy it is to handle. | If I often pick up crumbs or clean a small area, I want an appliance that’s quick to get out. Around 27% of consumers put this kind of quick clean-up first. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Choose between a bag and a bin, then look at the steps involved in emptying it and maintaining the filters and brushes. | If I vacuum regularly, I want to know what I’ll need to do after each use. Around 18% of consumers prioritise the collection system and its maintenance. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot vacuum, check how it performs on your floors and how well it cleans edges and corners. | I want to cut down on regular manual cleaning without assuming a robot will do as good a job on carpets and in corners. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this automation. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based only on the advertised power
Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from wooden floors, tiles or carpets. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing assesses several floor types and kinds of dirt separately.
Look for results on the surfaces in your home and check which brushes are included, especially if fibres get caught in your rugs.
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Confusing maximum run time with cleaning time
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the maximum run time of a stick vacuum is measured at its lowest power setting, so it won’t necessarily reflect a session cleaning carpets.
Work out how long your cleaning takes, then compare that with the run time in the mode you need and the charging time.
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Assuming a bagless model needs no maintenance
You’ll need to empty the bin and look after the filters and brushes. A bagged model also needs its bag replaced and its components maintained.
Before choosing, check how easy it is to access the bin or bag, read the filter-care instructions and see how easy the brush is to clean.
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Assuming a robot will replace all manual cleaning
UFC-Que Choisir tests robot vacuum performance separately on different floors, as well as around edges and in corners. Simply scheduling a clean doesn’t guarantee equally thorough results everywhere.
Compare results on your flooring and allow for clearing the floor, as well as maintaining the bin, brushes and any docking station.
Brands to consider by model
Rowenta
Worth a look, particularly for bagged cylinder vacuums with separate accessories for wooden floors and upholstery.
- Rowenta lists the Silence Force Effitech RO7473EA with a parquet brush, a mini turbo brush, a 4,5 L bag and a 12 m operating radius.
- These specifications apply to this model. Check the exact accessories included and how well it performs on your carpets.
Miele
Worth considering if you want a bagged cylinder vacuum with a dedicated parquet brush and hard floors make up a large part of your home.
- Miele lists the Guard M1 Parquet XL with a 41 cm Parquet Twister XL brush and an 11 m operating radius.
- A parquet brush doesn’t tell you how well the vacuum performs on carpets. Check the head designed for carpets and test results for the specific model.
Bosch
Worth a look if you’re comparing collection systems or looking for accessories designed to remove hair and fur from upholstery.
- Bosch lists the BGS41PET1 bagless cylinder vacuum with a 2,4 L bin. Its ProAnimal range includes accessories designed to remove pet fur.
- Check the accessories included with your chosen model and its performance on rugs or carpets, rather than judging by the range name alone.
Dyson
Worth considering if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum and manoeuvrability and quick clean-ups matter to you.
- Dyson claims up to 60 minutes of run time for the V11 Fluffy and lists it with a hard-floor brush and a mini anti-tangle brush.
- This maximum run time doesn’t tell you how long it will last on carpets or whether it can handle all your cleaning on its own.
Vacuum cleaners available on Joybuy
These models cover three of the options to consider when choosing a vacuum for mixed flooring: a bagged cylinder vacuum for your main cleaning, cordless stick vacuums for quick clean-ups and a robot for automated runs. For each one, compare its performance on your flooring before relying on it to clean your carpets.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged vacuum cleaner
A bagged cylinder design to consider for everyday cleaning across mixed flooring. Check which brushes are actually included and how it performs on your rugs and carpets, particularly when it comes to fibres.
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Monsga ME03 cordless
Worth a look for quick clean-ups on hard floors and carpets. Its product listing states 55 kPa, 550 W, an anti-tangle brush and up to 55 minutes of run time; this figure is for bare-floor mode. Check the usable run time on carpets before making it your main vacuum.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5 cordless
A stick vacuum to consider for quick clean-ups on hard floors and carpets. Its product listing mentions an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of run time, but doesn’t specify the mode. Compare the run time you need for your cleaning routine and its performance on carpets before choosing it as your main vacuum.
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Monsga M100 cordless, self-standing
Worth considering if you want a stick vacuum for frequent clean-ups. Its product listing states that it has an anti-tangle brush and offers up to 45 minutes of run time, but doesn’t specify the mode. If you’re considering it as your main vacuum, also check how it performs on rugs, carpets and fibres.
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Eureka E20 Plus robot vacuum with docking station
A robot to consider for automating regular cleaning. Its product listing states up to 180 minutes of run time; check its performance separately on hard floors, carpets, edges and corners. Before buying, confirm the collection system and which consumables are compatible with the docking station.
Frequently asked questions
Which tests should I look at for a home with hard floors and carpets?
Look for separate results on hard floors, wooden floors, rugs or carpets and fibres, rather than relying on a single measurement. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocols assess these surfaces for cylinder vacuums; for robots, they also examine edges and corners.
Can a cordless stick vacuum be the only vacuum in my home?
It could be suitable if its run time in the mode you’ll actually use and its performance on your carpets are enough to cover your entire cleaning session. UFC-Que Choisir generally describes stick vacuums as secondary appliances and says they average around ten minutes of run time at full power. Check the specific model before replacing your main vacuum.
Is a bagged or bagless cylinder vacuum better?
Choose based on how well it performs on your floors and how you prefer to collect dust. UFC-Que Choisir found that bagged cylinder vacuums performed better in its suction tests than bagless models. You’ll need to replace the bag, while a bin needs to be emptied and maintained.
What should I check to keep my vacuum in good working order?
Check how easy it is to access the filters and brushes, read the care instructions and look for information on spare parts and repairability for the exact model. For a robot, also consider the maintenance needs of any docking station and the conditions for using its app.