Homes with rugs, carpets and hard floors
If you have several types of flooring, compare suction performance on each one, including in gaps between floorboards, and check which brush is included. UFC-Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately.
Who is this choice for?
People who vacuum often in short bursts
A cordless stick vacuum can make quick clean-ups easier. If you want it to be your main appliance, though, check that its battery life at the setting you need is long enough, and consider how much time you’ll spend looking after the dust container, filter and brush.
Homes looking to automate some of their cleaning
A robot vacuum can clean accessible floors between manual sessions. Les Numériques notes that it won’t tackle stairs, furniture or skirting boards in the same way as a manual vacuum.
Which criteria should you compare?
Start with the flooring that’s hardest to clean in your home. Then check whether the type of vacuum you’re considering suits the length of your cleaning sessions and the level of maintenance you’re happy with.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Suction on different floors | Compare test results on hard floors, gaps between floorboards, rugs and carpets. Check the floorhead supplied and, where relevant, results on different fibres. Motor wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well it cleans. | I have several types of flooring, so I want to know whether the vacuum cleans rugs and gaps as well as tiles. |
| Type and battery life | For a cordless stick vacuum, compare battery life at the setting you use with the length of your cleaning sessions. For a cylinder vacuum, check its weight, cable and reach. UFC-Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as easy to manoeuvre, but often limited at high power. | For quick clean-ups, I want an appliance that’s easy to get out; for longer sessions, it needs enough power to finish the job. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Compare bags and dust containers, capacity, access to filters and how easy the brushes are to clean. UFC-Que Choisir says bags reduce contact with dust when emptying, while a dust container requires more direct handling. | I want to be able to empty and maintain the vacuum easily enough to use it often. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot vacuum, look at test results on each type of floor, navigation, areas it can’t reach, emptying the dust container and app compatibility. According to UFC-Que Choisir, performance varies depending on the flooring. | I’d like to cut down on manual cleaning of clear floors, while keeping another option for stairs and furniture. |
| Noise and repairability | Compare noise levels using the same measurement method, then check the availability of parts and consumables. For eligible vacuum cleaners sold new in France, ADEME presents the repairability index as a score out of 10, separate from cleaning performance. | Noise while I’m cleaning and the ability to maintain the appliance over time both matter to me. |
| Specialist uses | If you’re considering a wet-and-dry vacuum, check which materials it can pick up, its floor accessories, weight and size. UFC-Que Choisir recommends it in particular for water, rubble and outdoor jobs. | I sometimes need to vacuum things other than household dust, so I treat this as a separate need from everyday cleaning. |
Which mistakes should you avoid?
-
Choosing based on wattage or maximum battery life
Motor power alone doesn’t sum up suction performance on every type of floor. With a cordless stick vacuum, the claimed battery life at the most energy-efficient setting may also differ from how long it lasts when cleaning a demanding rug.
Look at test results for different flooring types, and compare battery life at the setting you plan to use with the length of your longest session.
-
Assuming a lightweight stick vacuum can always replace a cylinder vacuum
UFC-Que Choisir notes limitations in battery life and suction for stick vacuums, particularly when rugs, thick carpets or gaps between floorboards need more work.
If these surfaces make up most of your home, compare results for the exact model before choosing it as your only vacuum. Consider a cylinder vacuum for deeper cleaning.
-
Overlooking the dust collection system
A dust container saves you from buying bags, but emptying it means closer contact with dust. A robot vacuum’s small dust container also needs regular emptying unless it has a suitable docking station.
Check the availability of bags, filters, brushes and other parts you’ll need, as well as how to replace or clean them.
-
Assuming a mopping function is suitable for every type of floor
UFC-Que Choisir tests mopping separately from vacuuming and reports that mopping results are often disappointing. It advises against using this function on wooden floors, particularly solid wood.
Check that your flooring is compatible, and look at mopping test results separately from vacuuming performance.
Which brands should you look at?
These brands represent different types of vacuum cleaner. The brand alone won’t tell you how a particular model performs on your floors.
Rowenta
A brand to consider when comparing bagged cylinder and stick vacuums.
- For its Silence Force Effitech RO7473EA cylinder vacuum specifically, Rowenta lists a 4.5 L bag and a 12 m operating radius.
- These features don’t apply to every model. Compare the equipment and suction performance of each one separately.
Dyson
A brand featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests of cordless stick vacuums.
- Its models can be compared on battery life, brush design and ease of maintenance, just like other stick vacuums.
- Check the results for the exact model on rugs and carpets before choosing it as your main appliance.
Roborock
A brand to consider among robot vacuums for maintaining accessible floors.
- Compare navigation, maintenance of the dust container or docking station, and performance on each type of flooring.
- A docking station or mopping function alone doesn’t establish a model’s vacuuming or mopping performance.
Dreame
Another brand featured in French robot vacuum comparisons.
- Its models can be assessed based on the floors you need to clean, navigation and maintenance tasks.
- For the model you’re considering, check noise levels, consumables and the app’s operating requirements.
Vacuum cleaners to consider on Joybuy
These models cover three ways to clean mixed flooring: a bagged cylinder vacuum for manual cleaning, a robot vacuum for accessible areas and a stick vacuum for easy manoeuvrability. Compare each model based on the flooring and cleaning times that matter in your home.
Image unavailable
Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG with bag
This bagged cylinder vacuum is suited to regular manual cleaning. If your rugs or gaps between floorboards are challenging, compare its performance on these surfaces and check which brushes are included and whether replacement bags are available.
Image unavailable
Electrolux EB61C2GRN with bag, 550 W
This bagged cylinder vacuum is another option for manually cleaning mixed flooring. Its stated motor power of 550 W isn’t enough to assess how well it vacuums rugs. Look at test results for different flooring types and check which accessories are included.
Image unavailable
Eureka E20 Plus with docking station
This robot vacuum is designed to automate cleaning on accessible floors, alongside manual cleaning of stairs and furniture. Its product description lists up to 180 minutes of run time and 8,000 Pa suction power. Still, compare results on your flooring and check that the app is compatible.
Image unavailable
MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5
This cordless stick vacuum could suit frequent cleaning if its run time covers your sessions. The product description lists up to 65 minutes of battery life. Check how long it lasts at the setting you’ll use on rugs, and compare suction performance on each type of flooring.
Image unavailable
Monsga M100 cordless stick vacuum
This stick vacuum is worth considering for quick, easy cleaning. Its product description lists 45 minutes of battery life, but doesn’t specify the run time at each setting. Compare the setting you’ll use on rugs, as well as its performance on hard floors and carpets.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cordless stick vacuum be your main vacuum for mixed flooring?
Yes, if your cleaning sessions are short and the model can clean your floors well enough throughout. Check its battery life at the setting you use and its performance on rugs, carpets and gaps between floorboards. UFC-Que Choisir notes that battery life and suction can limit how stick vacuums are used.
Which test results should I look at for wood flooring, tiles and rugs?
Look for separate results on hard floors, gaps between floorboards, rugs and carpets, and consider the fibres if they cause problems in your home. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing separates these surfaces; motor wattage is no substitute for these measurements.
Can a robot vacuum completely replace a manual vacuum?
Not in a home where you also need to clean stairs, furniture or skirting boards. Les Numériques points out that a robot vacuum can’t tackle these areas, so it’s better suited to automating cleaning on accessible floors.
Is a robot vacuum’s mopping function suitable for all types of mixed flooring?
No. Check that each type of flooring is compatible, and look at mopping test results separately from vacuuming results. UFC-Que Choisir reports that mopping performance is often disappointing and advises against using this function on wooden floors, particularly solid wood.
What is a vacuum cleaner’s repairability index for?
For eligible vacuum cleaners sold new in France, this score out of 10 helps you assess whether the appliance can be repaired, not how well it cleans your floors. According to ADEME, it takes factors such as parts, ease of dismantling and documentation into account.