If you regularly clean carpets, floors and upholstery with one main appliance, a cylinder vacuum cleaner with brushes suited to different surfaces is worth considering. The UFC-Que Choisir testing protocol assesses how well models remove fibres from carpets, among other things. A stick vacuum is better suited to quick clean-ups, while a robot automates cleaning on floors it can reach. Neither replaces a plan for cleaning sofas, stairs and other fabrics.
If you regularly clean several types of flooring, compare how each appliance performs on them, particularly when it comes to removing fibres embedded in carpets. This is one of the criteria in the UFC-Que Choisir testing protocol.
For sofas, cushions, stairs or cars, check which accessories come with the exact model you’re considering. The appliances listed by Miele and Dyson show why you shouldn’t assume every model includes an upholstery brush.
A stick vacuum can be handy for quick clean-ups, while a robot can tackle floors it can reach. UFC-Que Choisir describes stick vacuums mainly as secondary appliances; the uses Ecovacs lists for its robots don’t include cleaning sofas or stairs.
Consider it: as your main appliance if carpets, floors and upholstery are all part of your regular cleaning routine.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move and store a corded appliance; UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes this kind of use from the quick clean-ups a stick vacuum is suited to.
Consider it: for quickly picking up pet hair between more thorough cleans.
Bear in mind: runtime on a cordless model varies by mode; UFC-Que Choisir also advises caution when using stick vacuums on thick carpets.
Consider it: for scheduled cleaning on floors the appliance can move around.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need a manual solution for upholstery, stairs and areas the robot can’t reach.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Carpets and mixed flooring | Test results for each floor type and whether the brush is designed for carpets; UFC-Que Choisir tests how well models remove fibres from carpets, among other things. | If pet hair gets trapped in my carpets, I also want to clean other floors without assuming that good results on one surface mean good results on all of them. Around 28% of consumers rank this type of everyday cleaning as their top need. |
| Sofas and upholstery | Which accessories are actually included and whether a mini brush is compatible with the exact model. | For my sofa or stairs, the floor head alone isn’t enough to determine which appliance to choose. Cleaning upholstery is the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
| Quick clean-ups | Ease of use and, for a cordless stick vacuum, runtime in the mode you plan to use. | When pet hair reappears between full cleans, I want to be able to do a quick tidy without a lot of preparation. This is the top need for around 22% of consumers. |
| Floors a robot can reach | How it moves between furniture, handles carpets and allows access to the brush for maintenance. | If my floors are suitable for scheduled cleaning, I’d like to automate the task while continuing to clean upholstery another way. Around 11% of consumers prioritise this kind of automation. |
| Routine maintenance | Access to the brush and filters, as well as how to empty the bag or dust container. | I’d rather consider untangling hair and emptying the appliance when I buy it than discover these chores later. For around 17% of consumers, minimising maintenance is the main priority. |
Accessories for floors, sofas and awkward corners aren’t interchangeable, and what’s included can vary between versions of the same appliance.
Check what’s in the box and make sure any additional accessory you’re considering is compatible with the exact model.
For a cordless stick vacuum, the runtime quoted for one mode won’t necessarily be the same in another. UFC-Que Choisir also highlights the potential limitations of stick vacuums on thick carpets and fitted carpets.
Compare the runtime in the mode you’ll need for your floors before relying on a stick vacuum as your only appliance.
A robot covers floors it can reach, but you’ll still need another method for sofas, bedding and stairs.
Consider how it will move around your home and make a separate plan for cleaning upholstery.
Pet hair and human hair can wrap around a brush. Bags, dust containers and filters also need regular maintenance, which varies by appliance.
Check the model’s instructions for accessing the brush, cleaning the filters and emptying the appliance.
The ProAnimal range includes cylinder vacuum cleaners worth considering if you’re looking for a main appliance with accessories for different surfaces.
Miele’s Cat & Dog cylinder vacuum cleaners pair a carpet brush with accessories that vary by model.
Some Rowenta accessories are designed for upholstery, while robot vacuum brushes have their own care instructions.
A Dyson motorised mini brush may suit owners of a compatible stick vacuum who also clean upholstery.
DEEBOT robots are worth considering for automated cleaning of floors the appliance can reach.
These appliances are suited to quick clean-ups with a corded or cordless stick vacuum, or automated floor cleaning with a robot. For each one, compare the accessories and usage requirements with the surfaces you need to clean.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for quick clean-ups on floors and carpets. The model name lists an anti-tangle brush, 60,000 Pa suction and up to 65 min runtime; this figure applies to standard mode. If you need to remove embedded pet hair from a sofa, check the type of upholstery tool and the runtime in the mode you’ll use.
Image unavailable
Consider it for quick cleans and handheld use in accessible areas. The model name lists 550 W, 55 kPa and up to 55 min runtime; this figure applies to bare-floor mode. If carpets or upholstery are your priority, check the runtime in the relevant cleaning mode and what type of tool is included.
Image unavailable
The stick design and removable battery could suit quick clean-ups. The model name lists 450 W, 45,000 Pa, an anti-tangle brush and up to 60 min runtime, but doesn’t specify which mode this figure applies to. If upholstery is a priority, also check whether the sofa attachment is motorised.
Image unavailable
This robot is designed to clean floors it can reach; you’ll need to clean upholstery and stairs manually. The model name lists LiDAR navigation, a mopping function, an anti-tangle system and 8,000 Pa. Check how it moves around your furniture, handles your carpets and allows access to the brush for maintenance. Don’t assume these features guarantee a particular result on pet hair.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’d rather have a corded secondary appliance than a battery to recharge. The model name lists a 550 W motor, a 0.5 L dust container and a 4.5 m cord; the electrical power rating alone doesn’t establish how well it will clean carpets. Check that the cord length and upholstery attachments suit your rooms.
Look for a motorised mini brush or a turbobrush designed for upholstery, then check whether it’s included or compatible with the exact vacuum model. An upholstery nozzle doesn’t necessarily provide the action of a rotating brush; Miele and Dyson accessories vary by model or product.
It can work if its performance on your floors, its accessories and, for a cordless model, its runtime in the mode you use meet all your needs. If you have thick carpets or need to deep-clean several surfaces, compare it with a cylinder vacuum too: UFC-Que Choisir generally describes stick vacuums as secondary appliances.
Follow the instructions for your model and remove hair when it becomes wrapped around the brush. Rowenta recommends cleaning the turbo brush on certain compatible robots weekly, but this guidance doesn’t automatically apply to other appliances or their filters.