For regular cleaning throughout your home, especially if you have carpets or several rooms, start by considering cylinder vacuum cleaners. Que Choisir describes this type as suitable for larger homes, although the cable and weight can restrict your freedom of movement. A cordless stick vacuum is easier to grab for a quick clean and to manoeuvre around furniture. Before choosing one as your only vacuum, check how it performs on your flooring and how long the battery lasts at the power setting you need.
If your vacuum needs to handle more than hard floors, look for results specific to carpets and fibres. Que Choisir assesses these tasks separately in its tests of cordless stick vacuums. A brush described as suitable for carpets isn’t enough, on its own, to tell you how well the model performs.
Cleaning time, changing sockets and recharging all matter more when you’re tackling your whole home. Que Choisir describes cylinder vacuums as suitable for larger homes, while cordless stick vacuums are presented more as a secondary appliance.
A stick vacuum can be easier to grab for cleaning furniture, upholstery or the car. If you also want to use it to clean your whole home, check its battery life at the power setting you need and which accessories come with your chosen variant.
Consider it: for regular cleaning across several rooms, particularly if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move a mains-powered appliance around and replace its compatible bags.
Consider it: if you want a mains-powered cylinder vacuum without the need for bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. According to Que Choisir, removing a bag exposes you to less dust.
Consider it: if easy manoeuvrability and frequent cleaning of specific areas are your priorities.
Bear in mind: running time varies depending on the setting you use. Que Choisir suggests this type is better suited to use as a secondary appliance.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carpets, rugs and pet hair | Look for tests on the flooring you have and check which brush comes with the variant. Que Choisir tests carpet pick-up and the removal of fibres similar to pet hair separately. | If carpets trap dust and fibres, I want to know how a vacuum performs on those surfaces before choosing one. Around 36% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Cleaning your whole home in one go | For a cylinder vacuum, check its operating radius; for a stick vacuum, check the battery life at the setting you need and the charging time. Que Choisir notes that the maximum battery life advertised often refers to a low-power setting. | When I clean several rooms one after another, interruptions become my main concern. This would be the case for around 22% of consumers. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Choose the routine that suits you: replacing a bag, or emptying the dust container and maintaining the filters. Check the model’s consumable reference and availability. | I’d rather know how to dispose of the dust and maintain the appliance day to day. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Furniture and awkward spots | Check how easy it is to manoeuvre and whether the pack you’re buying includes a crevice tool or upholstery attachment. | To move from floors to the sofa and reach into gaps, I want an appliance that’s easy to handle. This would be a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
These figures alone don’t tell you how well an appliance picks up dirt from your carpets. For stick vacuums, Que Choisir notes that the advertised maximum battery life often refers to operation at a low power setting.
Compare test results for your flooring and check the running time at the setting you’ll actually use.
Easy handling doesn’t guarantee that a cordless stick vacuum can clean several rooms at the power setting you need. Que Choisir presents this type more as a secondary appliance.
Think about how long your usual clean takes, then compare this with documented battery life for the relevant setting and surfaces.
Choosing between a bag and a dust container affects how you dispose of dust. According to Que Choisir, removing a bag limits dust exposure more than emptying a dust container.
Check the reference for compatible bags or filters and read the model’s cleaning instructions.
An accessory advertised for a range may not come with every variant, and its inclusion doesn’t prove how well the vacuum performs on carpets or upholstery.
Check exactly what’s included in the pack, then look for tests on the surfaces you want to clean.
If an accessory is missing or incompatible, you may need to do more research before you can clean the area you have in mind.
Que Choisir lists Dyson among the brands in the cordless stick vacuum market.
Que Choisir lists Rowenta among the stick vacuum brands and the cylinder vacuum models it has tested.
Bosch offers, among other products, bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums and cordless stick vacuums.
Que Choisir lists Electrolux among the cordless stick vacuum brands and the cylinder vacuum models it has tested.
Que Choisir lists Hoover in its tests of cordless stick and cylinder vacuums.
These models cover two of the options discussed here: a bagged cylinder vacuum for cleaning sessions and a cordless stick vacuum that’s easier to manoeuvre. To compare them, pay particular attention to carpets, how long a cleaning session takes and the accessories included with each variant.
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Worth considering if you want to clean several rooms with a mains-powered appliance. If you need to pick up pet hair or clean carpets, check its performance on those surfaces, which accessories come with the variant and the reference for compatible bags.
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Worth considering for a cleaning session with a mains-powered cylinder vacuum. The 550 W motor power rating alone doesn’t tell you how well it performs on carpets. Check which accessories come with the variant and the reference for compatible bags.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a stick vacuum for floors and hard-to-reach areas. The product name states that it has an anti-tangle brush and offers 45 minutes of battery life. Check how long it lasts at the setting you need and how it performs on your carpets before planning to clean your whole home in one go.
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Worth considering if you want a manoeuvrable stick vacuum for floors and awkward spots. The product name states that it has an anti-tangle brush and offers up to 65 minutes of battery life. Check how long it lasts at the setting you need and how it performs on carpets if you plan to use it to clean your whole home.
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Worth considering if you also want to clean furniture with a stick vacuum. The product name states that it has an anti-tangle brush and offers 55 minutes of battery life. Check how long it lasts at the setting you need, and how to maintain the dust container, filters and brush for your needs.
A cordless stick vacuum may be suitable if its battery life at the setting you need and its performance on your floors are enough to cover your whole cleaning session. Que Choisir presents this type more as a secondary appliance and describes cylinder vacuums as suitable for larger homes. So if you have several rooms or carpets, check both points carefully.
Look for results specific to carpets and fibres similar to pet hair, then check which brush is included with the variant on sale. Que Choisir tests these tasks separately; a power rating alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum performs.
A bagged model needs compatible replacement bags, while a bagless one requires you to empty its dust container and maintain the filters as instructed. According to Que Choisir, removing a bag limits dust exposure more. Check the routine and consumables for the exact model you’re considering.
The repairability rating helps you compare how easy it is to repair vacuum cleaners covered by this labelling scheme, but it doesn’t measure their cleaning performance. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition says vacuum cleaners are among the product categories covered. Check the rating for the model you’re considering alongside its performance on your floors.