For regular cleaning of carpets, hard floors and upholstery, a cylinder vacuum cleaner with the right attachments is a good choice for a thorough clean, but you’ll need to move a corded appliance around. A cordless stick vacuum makes quick clean-ups easier, provided its battery life is sufficient for the mode you use. A robot vacuum can keep floors clean between manual cleaning sessions, as long as you check how well it performs on carpets, along edges and around obstacles.
If you have carpets, several rooms and sofas to vacuum, look at how the cleaner performs on each surface and check which upholstery attachments are included. UFC-Que Choisir assesses how well vacuum cleaners pick up fibres, hair and pet hair from different floor types.
If you often get the vacuum out after your pet has been around or to clean under furniture, manoeuvrability matters. Check the battery life in the mode you’ll use, as well as how long it takes to maintain the brush.
If you want to schedule regular cleaning, a robot vacuum can take care of your floors. How well it performs on carpets, along skirting boards and around obstacles, as well as how easy it is to maintain, are still key considerations; UFC-Que Choisir tests these aspects separately.
Consider it: for your main clean across several rooms, carpets and upholstery, with suitable attachments.
Be prepared for: a cable, an appliance you’ll need to move around and, if you choose a bagged model, replacement consumables.
Consider it: for quickly picking up visible pet hair or reaching awkward spots.
Be prepared for: battery life that varies depending on the power setting and brush you use. UFC-Que Choisir mainly sees this format as a handy back-up.
Consider it: for scheduling routine floor cleaning between manual cleans.
Be prepared for: performance that needs to be assessed separately on carpets, along edges and in corners, as well as emptying and cleaning the appliance.
If you have a pet and several types of flooring, first decide what you need the appliance to do. Then check how well it performs on your surfaces and which accessories are actually included.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Thorough cleaning | Performance on carpets and hard floors; upholstery attachments included. | If pet hair gets caught in carpets and the sofa, I want to be able to clean those surfaces as part of a thorough clean. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise this need to clean multiple surfaces. |
| Frequent quick cleans | How easy it is to manoeuvre under furniture; battery life with the power setting and brush used. | To quickly pick up visible pet hair without getting ready for a long cleaning session, I’d choose an appliance that’s easy to grab and put away. This would be the main priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Automated cleaning | Performance on each floor type; navigation around obstacles and robot maintenance. | If I want to schedule floor cleaning between manual cleans, I need to know how the robot will perform in my home. Around 23% of consumers would prioritise this automation. |
| Brushes and hair removal | Upholstery attachment included; access to the roller to remove tangled hair. | When hair gets tangled around the brush or pet hair stays on the cushions, I look first at the attachments and how to maintain them. Around 15% of consumers would put this need first. |
A power rating on its own doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum cleaner picks up fibres from carpets, parquet, edges and upholstery. The vacuum head and the surface being cleaned also matter in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests.
Compare performance on the floor types in your home and check which attachments come with the model you’re considering.
For a cordless stick vacuum, the advertised battery life may refer to a lower power setting than the one you’ll use with a motorised brush on carpet. UFC-Que Choisir takes these different usage conditions into account in its advice.
Check how long it lasts in the mode and with the brush you’ll need, as well as how long it takes to recharge.
A floor brush and a sofa attachment aren’t designed for the same jobs. Accessories can vary between models and packs.
Check the list of included items: a brush suited to your floors, an upholstery attachment and a crevice tool for tight spaces, if you need one.
Pet hair can build up in the brushes. You’ll also need to take bags and filters into account, depending on the model.
Before buying, check how to access the roller, the maintenance instructions and whether suitable consumables are available.
Untangling the brush and replacing consumables add regular tasks to using the appliance.
These ranges show some of the configurations worth comparing. A brand name alone won’t tell you which accessories come with a specific model.
Miele offers bagged cylinder vacuum cleaners and Cat & Dog stick vacuums, for example, for households that need to clean both floors and upholstery.
The X-Force Flex 13.60 Complete Animal Kit cordless stick vacuum is an example of a set-up designed for regular cleaning across different surfaces.
Dyson offers cordless vacuum cleaners and accessories designed for households with pets.
These models cover two needs: robot vacuums for scheduled floor cleaning and cordless stick vacuums for frequent manual cleans. For carpets and upholstery, check separately which brushes are included and the stated usage conditions.
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For scheduling floor cleaning between manual cleans. The product title lists LiDAR navigation, automatic emptying, an anti-tangle system and 8,000 Pa suction power. Check how it performs on your carpets and near corners before choosing this robot for those surfaces.
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For scheduled floor cleaning if navigation around objects is important to you. The title mentions DuoDetect AI 3D obstacle avoidance and an anti-tangle brush. Confirm the power rating for this model, as the figures in the title and description differ, then check how it performs on carpets and along edges.
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For frequent manual cleaning of carpets and hard floors. The title lists an anti-tangle brush, 65 kPa suction power and up to 70 minutes of battery life. Check how long it lasts in the mode and with the brush you plan to use.
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For picking up pet hair during manual cleans and reaching under furniture. The title lists a self-standing design, an anti-tangle roller and up to 45 minutes of battery life. Check which mode this applies to. If the sofa is a priority, check whether this version includes a motorised mini power brush.
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Worth considering if you want a cordless appliance for cleaning both floors and upholstery. The title mentions a hose and a pet brush. Check which attachments are included, as well as the power and battery-life figures for the mode and brush you’ll use.
A cordless stick vacuum won’t necessarily replace a cylinder vacuum for thoroughly cleaning carpets and several rooms. UFC-Que Choisir mainly describes it as a handy back-up. If you’re thinking of making one your only vacuum cleaner, compare its performance on your floors and its battery life with the brush you’ll use.
Check whether the model you’re buying includes a mini power brush or an upholstery brush, as well as a crevice tool if you need one for tight spaces. Rowenta and Miele offer these types of attachments with some models, but what’s included depends on the exact pack.
No. This figure alone doesn’t tell you how well the vacuum cleaner will pick up pet hair from different surfaces. UFC-Que Choisir also highlights the importance of the vacuum head. Compare test results on carpets, hard floors and fibres, then check which accessories suit your home.
You can take it to a collection point or recycling centre that accepts electrical equipment, as advised by the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition. If you’d like your old appliance taken away when you buy a new one, ask the seller about the options available before placing your order.