For the main cleaning in a home with carpets and frequent foot traffic, start by comparing cylinder vacuums on their results on carpets, hard floors and fibres designed to mimic pet hair – the criteria used by UFC-Que Choisir. A cordless stick vacuum can make quick clean-ups easier if its battery life in the mode you need and its accessories suit your needs. A robot vacuum can keep floors clean between manual cleans, but results vary depending on the flooring.
The amount of carpet, how often you clean and which areas need attention will largely determine the role of each appliance.
When choosing a main vacuum, look at its results on carpets and fibres designed to mimic pet hair, as well as the included brush. UFC-Que Choisir includes carpet fibres in its test protocol for cylinder vacuums.
A cordless stick vacuum can make quick clean-ups more convenient. Check that it comes with an attachment suited to sofas and cushions, then compare its battery life in the mode you use with the length of your cleaning sessions.
A robot vacuum can clean between manual sessions. Compare its results on your flooring and allow time to maintain the dust container, brushes and wheels.
First decide which appliance will handle the main cleaning, then check the accessories, cleaning time and maintenance each type requires.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Carpets and upholstery | Compare results on carpets and fibres designed to mimic pet hair. Check whether a turbo brush or motorised brush and an upholstery attachment are included. UFC-Que Choisir tests carpet fibres, among other things. | Pet hair gets embedded in my carpets or sofa: I need to check results on these surfaces and the accessories included with the version I choose. |
| Main cleaning | For a cylinder vacuum, look at test results on your flooring, its reach and how easy it is to store. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide reports better suction results for bagged models than for their bagless counterparts. It’s still worth comparing the specific models you’re considering. | I regularly clean several rooms or carpets: I’m looking for a main vacuum that performs well on my flooring. |
| Quick clean-ups | For a cordless stick vacuum, check battery life with the mode and brush you plan to use, as well as the bin capacity and how it empties. UFC-Que Choisir describes this type of vacuum as more of a supplementary option. | I often need to remove pet hair from floors or cushions, so I want an appliance that’s easy to grab. I won’t assume the advertised maximum battery life is the same as the run time in my chosen cleaning mode. |
| Scheduled cleaning | For a robot vacuum, compare results on your flooring and along edges. Check how easy it is to access the bin, brushes and wheels. UFC-Que Choisir notes that performance varies depending on the floor. | I’d like to schedule floor cleaning between manual sessions, while keeping a solution for upholstery and deeper cleans. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Compare removing and replacing a bag with emptying and cleaning a bin. Check how easy it is to access the filters and brushes, and whether parts are available for your model. | If pet hair fills the container quickly, how often it needs emptying and cleaning matters just as much to me as how easy the vacuum is to handle. |
These figures alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum removes fibres from a carpet. UFC-Que Choisir advises against judging a stick vacuum’s results on these numbers alone.
Look for test results on the types of flooring in your home, and check the brush and upholstery attachments included with the exact model.
Bagged and bagless vacuums are emptied in different ways, and the bin on a bagless model also needs cleaning. Filters and brushes need maintenance in both cases.
Before choosing, check the manual or product photos to see how to access the dust container, filter and brush roll.
The advertised run time may be for a lower-power mode than the one you use on a carpet. It won’t tell you how many rooms you can clean in your chosen mode.
Check the run time with the brush and mode you plan to use, then compare it with the area you need to clean.
UFC-Que Choisir finds that results vary depending on the floor. A robot vacuum also needs its bin emptied or its dock maintained, along with its brushes and wheels.
Use it for scheduled floor cleaning if its results suit your flooring, and keep a suitable option for carpets, upholstery and deeper cleans.
These brand examples show different formats and accessories worth comparing. Their features don’t guarantee the same results from other models in the range.
The ProAnimal range includes the bagged BGB41PET1 and the bagless BGS41PET1 cylinder vacuums.
The Guard L1 Cat & Dog Flex is a bagged cylinder vacuum to consider if you’re looking for a turbo brush for carpets and rugs.
The X-Force Flex 14.60 Animal Care is an example of a cordless stick vacuum for quick clean-ups and upholstery.
The Roomba Plus 515 Combo with AutoWash dock is an example of a robot vacuum for scheduled floor cleaning.
This selection includes four cordless stick vacuums for manual cleaning and one robot vacuum for scheduled floor maintenance. If you need to clean frequently, especially on carpets, compare results on your flooring before deciding what role each one should play.
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For frequent manual clean-ups, this stick vacuum features an advertised anti-tangle brush and a self-standing storage position. Its title states a 45-minute run time. Check how long it lasts in the mode you plan to use on your floors, and look for carpet test results if carpets are a main feature of your home.
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For quick clean-ups, this model advertises an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of run time. Check how long it lasts in the mode you’ll use on carpets, as well as which upholstery attachments are included.
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If you regularly need to remove pet hair, compare this stick vacuum’s results on your floors and check which attachments are included for stairs or upholstery. Also check the bin capacity and run time in the mode you’ll need for your cleaning sessions.
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For quick clean-ups, this model advertises a removable battery, a self-standing storage position and up to 60 minutes of run time. The wattage alone won’t tell you how well it removes pet hair. Check its results on your flooring, run time for each mode and how often you’ll need to empty it.
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For scheduled cleaning between manual sessions, this robot vacuum advertises app control and an anti-tangle brush. Compare its results on the flooring in your home and allow time to maintain the robot and its dock. Check the specifications for the exact model before choosing.
For carpets, check whether the vacuum comes with a motorised brush or turbo brush, then look for test results on fibres. UFC-Que Choisir tests fibres designed to mimic pet hair on carpets, among other things. For sofas and cushions, make sure the version on sale includes an upholstery attachment.
Yes, if it performs well on your floors and its battery life in the mode you use and bin capacity are suitable for your cleaning sessions. If you have a large home or carpets that need frequent deep cleaning, compare it with a cylinder vacuum too. UFC-Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums more as supplementary appliances.
Don’t assume so: a robot vacuum can clean floors on a schedule, but UFC-Que Choisir says results vary depending on the flooring. Check test results for your floors and carpets, keep a solution for upholstery, and allow time to maintain the bin or dock, brushes and wheels.
Before choosing, check how easy it is to access the filters and brushes, and whether parts are available for the specific model. For vacuum cleaners covered in France, the repairability index is another point of comparison. ADEME also recommends considering repair when an appliance breaks down.