For regular cleaning across several rooms with hard floors, rugs and carpets, choose a cylinder vacuum if you want a main appliance without battery limits. A cordless stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups, while a robot lets you schedule cleaning in uncluttered rooms, provided you check how it handles your rugs and corners. Choose a wet and dry vacuum for debris or larger clean-ups that justify the extra space it takes up.
You’re looking for a main appliance to clean several rooms regularly, from hard floors to carpets, without interrupting your cleaning to recharge a battery. UFC-Que Choisir’s guides also recommend looking at the floorhead and the accessories suited to each surface.
You want to grab the vacuum easily to tackle crumbs and dust, then put it away straight afterwards. A cordless stick vacuum is well suited to this, as long as its run time in your chosen mode is enough for your clean-ups.
You may want to schedule regular cleaning with a robot in suitable rooms, or occasionally vacuum debris in a garage or after small DIY jobs with a wet and dry vacuum. These are two distinct needs, so start by deciding which one is driving your purchase.
First decide whether you need an appliance for your main cleaning, quick pick-ups, scheduled cleaning or larger amounts of debris. Then compare models on the types of flooring in your home.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Main cleaning | Separate results for hard floors, rugs and carpets; the supplied brush and the operating radius of a corded model. | If you need to clean several rooms and floor types regularly, you’ll want to keep going without recharging and choose a suitable floorhead. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise this type of main cleaning. |
| Quick clean-ups | Run time in the mode you use on rugs; weight in your hand and ease of storage. | If you often pick up crumbs or dust, you’ll want an appliance that’s easy to grab, even if it needs recharging. Around 30% of consumers would put this convenience first. |
| Scheduled cleaning | Navigation around obstacles and performance on rugs, along edges and in corners. | If you want to schedule cleaning in uncluttered rooms, you’ll need to prepare the space and maintain the robot. Around 20% of consumers would make automation their priority. |
| Debris and larger clean-ups | Container capacity, a hose suited to the waste and the space needed for storage. | If you’re cleaning a garage or dealing with occasional DIY mess, your main concern will be picking up fine dust or larger debris. Around 10% of consumers would put this need ahead of everyday cleaning. |
The power rating alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean each type of flooring. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the floorhead and the differences between models.
Look for separate results for your floors and check which brush is supplied or compatible.
The stated run time at low power may differ from what you get in the mode used on rugs. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power for the stick vacuums covered in its guide.
Before choosing one as your only vacuum, compare the run time in the mode you need, the charging time and whether the battery can be replaced.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, robot performance varies depending on the floor and the areas to be cleaned, particularly edges and corners.
Check how it handles your rugs, thresholds and obstacles, along with its navigation settings and maintenance needs.
Filters, brushes and, for some docking stations, bags also need replacing over time.
This type of vacuum, designed for debris and larger clean-ups, can be heavy or bulky for everyday cleaning. Its brush also needs to suit any indoor flooring you plan to clean.
Check the weight, storage requirements, hose and accessories before choosing it as your main household vacuum.
In France, Rowenta offers cylinder, cordless stick and robot vacuums, as well as sections for parts and accessories.
In France, Miele offers cylinder vacuums with or without bags, as well as cordless stick vacuums, with variants named for different floor types or uses.
Dyson’s French store features cordless stick vacuums as well as other types.
iRobot offers Roomba robots, as well as filters, brushes, docking station bags and kits identified by series.
Kärcher offers wet and dry vacuums in a canister style for use around the home, in the car or in the workshop.
These models cover main cleaning with a cylinder vacuum, quick clean-ups with a cordless stick vacuum and scheduled cleaning with a robot. Choose the type that best suits your main need, then check the model’s usage requirements.
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Worth considering for your main cleaning if you prefer a bagged cylinder vacuum. For your rugs and carpets, check performance on each floor type, the brushes supplied and which bags are compatible with this model.
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Worth considering for frequent clean-ups if you’re happy to store it on its station. The product is described as having an anti-tangle brush; check the run time in the mode you use on rugs and which consumables are compatible with its station.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups without a cord. The stated run time is up to 65 minutes under the conditions specified for the product, but that alone doesn’t tell you how long it will last on rugs. Check which mode you’ll need, the charging time and which replacement battery is compatible.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning if your room layout is suitable for a robot. The product also features a mopping function; check whether it can vacuum without mopping, how it handles your rugs and thresholds, and whether the app is compatible with a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning if you have enough room for its docking station. This model also has a mopping function, which is separate from the vacuuming needs covered here. Check its vacuum-only mode, how it handles your rugs and which maintenance parts are compatible.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering for main cleaning across several floor types. In its comparison of cylinder vacuums, UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models pick up more effectively than bagless ones and limit contact with dust when you empty them. Still, check the floorhead, settings and results of the specific model on your rugs.
Not necessarily: the maximum run time is usually stated for low power. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power in its guide to cordless stick vacuums. When choosing your appliance, look for the run time in the mode and with the brush you’ll use on rugs.
Check which bags, filters and brushes are compatible with a cylinder vacuum; for a stick vacuum, add the battery to your list. For a robot, also check its dust bin and any docking station bags. Check compatibility for the exact model rather than relying on the brand name alone.
ADEME recommends considering repair first. If the appliance still works, donating it is an option; otherwise, check whether it can be taken back by a retailer or dropped off at a collection point for electrical and electronic equipment.