For the main clean across several rooms with rugs and other soft furnishings, a cylinder vacuum is worth considering, provided you choose brushes suited to the surfaces you need to clean. A cordless stick vacuum makes quick, frequent clean-ups easier, while a robot can maintain accessible floors between manual cleans. In every case, check how to maintain the brushes, which accessories are compatible and which parts you’ll need for your model.
If pet hair gets caught in rugs, on the sofa or on the stairs, look at how well the vacuum performs on these surfaces and which brushes come with it. Que Choisir tests how effectively vacuums remove synthetic fibres, used to simulate pet hair embedded in a rug.
A cordless stick vacuum can be handy for cleaning floors, around pet beds or on the stairs. Before making it your main vacuum, check the battery life at the setting you’ll use, the bin capacity and how easy it is to access the brush and remove hair.
A robot lets you schedule cleaning in areas where it can move around. You’ll still need to empty its bin and maintain its brushes, so plan to use another method for furniture, stairs and soft furnishings.
First, choose the type of vacuum according to the cleaning you want it to handle. Then check the accessories and maintenance requirements for the exact model.
Consider it: for the main clean across several rooms, particularly if your rugs need thorough manual cleaning.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move the vacuum with its cable and, if it’s a bagged model, replace the bags.
Consider it: for quick, frequent clean-ups when convenience matters.
Bear in mind: run time depends on the setting you choose, and you’ll need to recharge it between sessions.
Consider it: as an extra to schedule cleaning on accessible floors.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty it and check its brushes, and it won’t clean stairs or furniture.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Rugs and soft furnishings | Check which brush is designed for your rugs, then see whether there’s a compatible accessory for furniture or stairs. If test results are available for the model, look for those covering the removal of fibres from rugs. | Pet hair gets caught in my rugs and on the sofa: a floor brush alone won’t suit every surface I need to clean. |
| Cleaning routine | For a cylinder vacuum, check the cable’s reach. For a stick vacuum, compare battery life in the mode you’ll need, not just the maximum run time advertised. For a robot, check that it can move around the rooms you want to clean. | I do quick clean-ups every day, or I prefer to clean several rooms in one go: these are different ways of using a vacuum. |
| Routine maintenance | Check how to empty the bag or bin, remove hair from the brush and access the filter. Que Choisir notes that emptying bagged cylinder vacuums exposes you to less dust than emptying bagless models. | If emptying an open bin bothers me, I’ll look at bagged models. With a robot, I’m happy to check the brushes regularly. |
| Parts and consumables | Make a note of the relevant bag, filter, brush and battery model numbers. In France, vacuum cleaners are among the appliances covered by the repairability index presented by the public authorities; also compare the information specific to each model. | I want to be able to find replacement parts and know how to get the appliance serviced if a part wears out. |
It doesn’t tell you whether the supplied brush is suitable for rugs, cushions or stairs. Que Choisir separately assesses how well vacuums remove fibres simulating pet hair from rugs.
Check which accessories are actually included and whether they’re compatible with the exact model. Then look for test results on the surfaces that matter in your home.
According to Que Choisir, the maximum run time advertised is measured at the lowest power setting. A longer clean at your chosen setting may therefore require a recharge.
Check the stated run time for the mode you plan to use. Before making a stick vacuum your main appliance, also check the bin, access to the filter and whether the battery can be replaced.
You’ll still need to keep an eye on the bin and brushes. For its Roomba s series, iRobot recommends checking the brushes at least once a week, or twice a week if you have pets.
Check how easy it is to access the brushes and replacement parts, and make sure the robot can move around your home. Keep a separate cleaning solution for stairs and soft furnishings.
Bags, filters, rollers and batteries aren’t all replaced in the same way. A general statement about parts availability doesn’t guarantee that every part will fit your model.
Make a note of the consumable part numbers, check which parts are available for the exact appliance and compare its repairability index before choosing.
These brand examples can help you identify accessories and maintenance details to check; they don’t cover every model in each brand’s range.
The brand offers cylinder and stick vacuums, including some configurations designed for households with pets.
Depending on the model, its Cat & Dog models include accessories for rugs or upholstered furniture.
Depending on the cordless vacuum range, the brand offers mini motorised brushes for smaller areas of soft furnishings.
Its robots and replacement brushes are designed to maintain accessible floors, with specific parts for different series.
This selection includes cordless stick vacuums for manual cleaning and robots for accessible floors. Compare their accessories and maintenance requirements with the surfaces in your home. Choosing an appliance for your main clean is a separate decision from choosing an extra.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for frequent manual clean-ups in a home with pets. Check which brushes are included for your rugs and stairs, the run time in the mode you’ll use and how to remove hair from the roller.
Image unavailable
The title lists a removable battery and a claimed run time of 60 minutes, but doesn’t specify the setting this applies to. For cleaning rugs or soft furnishings, check which accessories are included and the run time in the mode you plan to use.
Image unavailable
Consider it for scheduling cleans on accessible floors: the title mentions LiDAR navigation, a mopping function and a self-emptying dock. You’ll still need to check the brushes and use another appliance for furniture and stairs.
Image unavailable
The title mentions app control and a brush designed to reduce hair tangles. For scheduled floor cleaning, check that it can move around your rooms and that the brush is easy to access. Check the specifications for the exact model before comparing its advertised figures.
Image unavailable
The title advertises handheld use and a run time of 55 minutes; the product information links this figure to hard-floor mode. Check the run time on rugs, which soft-furnishing accessories are included and the model number of the appliance supplied, as one description also refers to it as “MV03”.
A bagged cylinder vacuum could be a good choice if you prioritise the main clean and want to reduce exposure to dust when emptying it. Que Choisir highlights this benefit of bagged models; check separately that the brush suits your rugs and that there’s an accessory for soft furnishings.
Check the run time at the setting you plan to use, especially with a motorised brush or on rugs. Que Choisir explains that manufacturers measure the maximum advertised run time at the lowest power setting. Its stick vacuum guide reports an average run time of around ten minutes at full power.
Not necessarily: a robot can help maintain the floors it can move around, but it won’t clean stairs, furniture or pet beds. Que Choisir also notes that its results vary depending on the type of floor, and that its bin needs to be emptied regularly.
Check the bag or bin, filters and brushes as instructed in the model’s manual, and remove any hair that builds up. For the Roomba s series, iRobot recommends checking the brushes at least twice a week if you have pets; check the guidance for any other appliance.
According to the French public authorities, vacuum cleaners are among the product categories covered by the repairability index. Compare the index for the models you’re considering, then check which bags, filters, brushes and other parts are compatible. General information about a brand won’t tell you which parts are designed for your model.