Who is this type of vacuum for?

Homes with several rooms and different floor types

If you need to clean hard floors, rugs or carpets, look at the supplied brushes, the appliance’s reach and how easy it is to move around, rather than focusing on its stated power alone.

People who also clean fabrics

For sofas, bedding, furniture or pet hair, check which accessories are included and what each one is designed for. This varies by model.

Homes looking for an extra appliance

A stick vacuum can be handy for quick clean-ups between full cleans. For robot vacuums, Que Choisir notes that performance varies by floor type, so check that the model is suitable for the rooms you need to clean.

What should you check?

Start with the floors and fabrics you need to clean, then check what will help you finish without too many interruptions.

FeatureWhat to checkYour needs
Floors and fabrics Compare the performance information available for your floor coverings. Check which brushes are included, along with the accessories designed for crevices, furniture or fabrics. I have rugs and hard floors to clean, and perhaps a sofa or bedding too.
Reach and capacity For a cylinder vacuum, compare its cleaning radius with the location of your plug sockets, and check whether the bag or dust-container capacity suits your cleaning sessions. For a stick vacuum, check the battery life at the setting you’ll use. I have several rooms and would rather avoid changing sockets, emptying the container or recharging too often.
Maintenance For a bagged model, find out which replacement bags fit. For a bagless model, check how easy it is to access the dust container and maintain the filters. Bosch says its bagless system avoids the need to buy bags, but the container still needs emptying. I can replace bags, or I’d rather empty a container and maintain its filters.
Handling Check the weight you’ll need to move, how it stores away and where the controls are. Compare noise levels in dB(A) only when they’ve been measured under comparable conditions. Stairs, moving between rooms and storage space all factor into my choice.
Long-term use For applicable new vacuum cleaners in France, check the repairability index out of 10 published by the ministry responsible for the ecological transition. Also check whether parts and consumables are available for the model. I want to be able to find the bags, filters, brushes or parts my appliance needs.

What mistakes should you avoid?

  • Focusing on watts alone

    Energy consumption alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans carpets, hard floors and fabrics. The French National Consumer Institute, for example, assesses cleaning performance separately from electricity consumption.

    Look for tests covering your floor types, then check the brushes and ergonomics of the specific model.

  • Assuming a stick vacuum’s stated battery life will cover your whole clean

    The stated run time doesn’t necessarily show how long the appliance will last with the brush and setting you’ll need.

    Check the battery life under those conditions and compare it with the time it takes to clean your home.

  • Forgetting about consumables

    A bagged cylinder vacuum needs compatible bags; a bagless model needs its dust container emptied and filters maintained.

    Make a note of the bag, filter and brush references for the model you’re considering, then check how to get them.

    Remember to factor in the cost of replacement bags or the time needed to maintain the dust container and filters.

  • Assuming a robot will take care of all your cleaning

    Que Choisir says that robot vacuum performance varies by floor type. Fabrics also need a different cleaning solution.

    Check how the model performs on your floor coverings and in the layout of your rooms. Keep another way to clean the areas it can’t reach.

A few notable brands

Rowenta

The Silence Force Effitech RO7457EA is one bagged option to consider if capacity and reach are priorities. These features apply to this model, not the entire brand.

  • Rowenta states that this model has a 4.5 L Hygiene+ bag and an 11 m operating radius.
  • Check the bag reference and the accessories included with the version you choose.

Bosch

The bagless cylinder range is aimed at people who would rather empty a dust container than replace bags.

  • Bosch describes an integrated dust container that can be emptied after use.
  • Check the capacity of the container, filter maintenance and accessories for the specific model.

Miele

The Complete C3 125 Edition is a bagged cylinder vacuum worth considering if accessories for furniture and crevices are important for your cleaning routine.

  • Miele lists an upholstery nozzle, a crevice nozzle and a round brush on the page for this model.
  • Check the exact contents of the version you’re planning to buy.

Vacuum cleaners to explore on Joybuy

This selection includes a bagged cylinder vacuum for your main clean, three cordless stick vacuums for quick clean-ups and a robot for floor maintenance. Compare each appliance according to how you plan to use it.

Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner

Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG, bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner

Worth considering as your main appliance if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container. For rugs, hard floors and fabrics, check which brushes are included and whether the model’s reach suits your home.

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Daynee XL618E-8 cordless stick vacuum with flexible hose and pet brush

Daynee XL618E-8, cordless stick vacuum with flexible hose and pet brush

The flexible hose and pet brush mentioned in the product name may make it a good option for targeted clean-ups. The name states 55 kPa, but that doesn’t tell you how it will perform on your rugs or hard floors. Also check the battery life with the accessories and setting you plan to use.

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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5 self-standing cordless stick vacuum

MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5, self-standing cordless stick vacuum

Its self-standing design may be useful if you take breaks between rooms. The product name mentions an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of battery life. Check the run time with the setting and brush you’ll need for your floors.

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Monsga M100 self-standing cordless stick vacuum

Monsga M100, self-standing cordless stick vacuum

The anti-tangle brush mentioned in the product name is worth considering for quick clean-ups involving pet hair. The stated 45-minute run time doesn’t specify the setting used, so check that it will last for your cleaning session before relying on this stick vacuum for several rooms.

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ECOVACS Deebot T30C OMNI Gen2 robot vacuum and mop with station

ECOVACS Deebot T30C OMNI Gen2, robot vacuum and mop with station

Worth considering for maintaining your floors between manual cleans, if your room layout suits a robot and its station. The product name lists a mopping function; check the expected results on your floor coverings, how it handles obstacles and how much space you’ll need for installation.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a cordless stick vacuum be the only vacuum cleaner in a large home?

Only if its battery life at the setting you need, its capacity and its performance are suitable for every surface you need to clean. Que Choisir presents stick vacuums as more of an extra appliance, so check these points before deciding against a main vacuum cleaner.

Is it better to choose a bagged or bagless cylinder vacuum?

Choose according to the type of maintenance you’re happy with: replacing compatible bags, or emptying a dust container and maintaining its filters. The collection type alone doesn’t indicate how well a vacuum will clean your floors, so compare specific models and their accessories.

Which accessories should I check for rugs, sofas and bedding?

Check that a brush is suitable for your rugs and that accessories for fabrics and crevices are included in the pack you choose. Look at what they’re designed for rather than assuming one all-purpose brush will clean every surface in the same way.

What is the repairability index for vacuum cleaners in France?

According to the ministry responsible for the ecological transition, the repairability index out of 10 shows how easy or difficult it is to repair applicable new vacuum cleaners. Check whether parts are available for the model too. The score doesn’t guarantee the terms of any particular repair.

What should you do with dust and an old vacuum cleaner?

For ordinary dust, ADEME recommends putting it in your household rubbish, preferably in a sealed bag. For a vacuum cleaner at the end of its life, look for an electrical equipment collection point or a local take-back and reuse scheme, such as those listed by Ecologic.