If you clean several rooms and types of flooring in one go, start by comparing cylinder vacuums and their floorheads. If you prefer quick clean-ups around furniture and on the stairs, look at cordless stick vacuums and their battery life. For pet hair on sofas or bedding, check whether the model comes with a small brush designed for upholstery, and make sure it’s compatible with the version you’re buying. Your choice between a bag and a dust container will also depend on the maintenance you’re happy to do.
If your cleaning takes you from hard floors to rugs or fitted carpets, check which floorheads are included and how they perform on each surface. Que Choisir assesses suction on different floor types and fibres, among other things: one headline specification doesn’t tell you everything about how a vacuum will perform.
Whether it’s a sofa, pet bed, armchair, staircase or car seat, these smaller areas call for a closer look at the tools included and whether they’re compatible with your vacuum. A “pet” label on a product doesn’t, on its own, tell you what’s in the box.
If you plan to keep your vacuum for a long time, check which bags or filters fit its exact model number, as well as which brushes and parts are available. For eligible models in France, the repairability index is another useful point of comparison, though it doesn’t tell you whether a specific part is available.
Start with the surface or task you deal with most, then check the vacuum’s design and which accessories are actually included.
Worth considering: for cleaning several rooms in one go, if you’re happy to replace bags that fit your model.
Bear in mind: the cord limits how far you can move around, and bags are a consumable. For example, Miele France lists FJM and GN bags for different product ranges.
Worth considering: if you want a corded vacuum for your floors without having to buy bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. Check how easy they are to access on the exact model.
Worth considering: for frequent clean-ups across floors, furniture and stairs, with the right tools for each job.
Bear in mind: check the battery life in the mode you’ll use, how long it takes to recharge and exactly what’s included.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and carpets | A floorhead suited to hard floors and carpets; reach or battery life, depending on the vacuum type. | When I clean carpets and hard floors in the same session, I want a floorhead that works well on each. Around 31% of consumers put cleaning floors and carpets at the top of their list. |
| Pet hair on upholstery | A mini brush, turbo brush or upholstery nozzle included; compatibility with the model. | If pet hair builds up on the sofa or in a pet bed, I need a tool for these smaller areas. Removing pet hair from upholstery is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Ease of handling | Weight in your hand and storage; battery life in the mode you’ll use on a stick vacuum. | For quick clean-ups in different parts of my home, I’d choose a vacuum that’s easy to pick up and move around. Around 23% of consumers prioritise ease of handling. |
| Maintenance | Compatible bag and filter references; access to the model’s parts. | Before choosing between a bag and a dust container, I want to know what regular maintenance will involve. For around 15% of consumers, long-term maintenance comes first. |
A floorhead doesn’t tell you whether the package includes a tool for removing pet hair from smaller upholstery surfaces. Dyson accessories, for example, vary depending on the vacuum version.
Check the floorhead, mini brush or upholstery nozzle separately, and make sure each is compatible with the model you’ve chosen.
If the brush you need isn’t included, buying it separately is another step before you can clean the upholstery in question.
One figure alone doesn’t tell you how a vacuum will perform on carpets, hard floors and fibres. Que Choisir assesses vacuums on different surfaces and types of dirt.
Make a list of the surfaces you need to clean most, then check which floorheads are designed for each. For a stick vacuum, also check the battery life in the mode you’re interested in.
Bags from the same brand won’t necessarily fit the same ranges. Miele France lists different compatibility details for its FJM and GN bags.
Note down the vacuum’s full model number and check which bags and filters fit before choosing a bagged model.
The repairability index indicates how easy or difficult eligible products are to repair. On its own, it doesn’t confirm whether the brush or filter you need is available for a particular model.
Compare the index where it applies, then check the manufacturer’s listings for parts and accessories by model number.
Worth a look if you’re considering a bagged cylinder vacuum, as the accessories included can vary by model.
ProAnimal models with and without bags let you compare two ways of collecting dust while checking which pet-hair tools are included.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum and need a small brush for regular furniture cleaning.
Worth a look if you’re considering a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to check which consumables you’ll need before buying.
These cordless stick vacuums cover a range of needs, from cleaning floors and carpets to tackling pet hair. Depending on the model, the listed accessories may also be useful for furniture or stairs. Check they’re included and compatible with the upholstery you want to clean.
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Worth a look if you move between floors and stairs where pet hair tends to gather. The product description lists a detachable handheld unit and a motorised stair brush. It also mentions an anti-tangle brush and three modes. If you’re planning a full cleaning session, check the battery life in the mode you’ll use.
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For switching between hard floors, carpets and furniture, the product description lists an anti-tangle brush and a 2-in-1 upholstery tool. Battery life is stated as up to 65 minutes in standard mode. If you plan to use it on delicate upholstery, check the tool’s instructions first.
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If you need to clean the sofa, bed or car as well as the floors, the product description says it converts to a handheld vacuum and comes with a combination brush designed for these surfaces. It also mentions a removable battery. To compare cleaning time or suction power, look for figures that apply to the specific version and mode.
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Worth considering if you also find pet hair on the sofa or bed. The product description lists a pet brush and an extendable hose among the accessories, as well as a 1.6 L dust container. For longer cleaning sessions, check the battery life for each mode rather than relying on an unspecified overall figure.
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This model is worth a look if you mainly need to clean hard floors and carpets where pet hair gathers. The product description lists an anti-tangle V-shaped brush and an automatic emptying station. Battery life is stated as up to 45 minutes in Eco mode. If sofas or bedding are a priority, check which upholstery tool is included or compatible.
Your choice of dust collection system mainly depends on the maintenance you prefer: a dust container needs emptying, while a bagged model needs compatible bags. For pet hair, check separately which brush is designed for your floors or upholstery. Having a bag doesn’t determine which tools are included.
It could be a good option if you regularly remove pet hair from these surfaces. Dyson France lists its mini brush for uses like these, but check the instructions for the upholstery in question and whether the brush is included with or compatible with the version you’re buying.
Note down the vacuum’s full model number, then check the manufacturer’s listings for the consumables and accessories that fit it. Miele bags, for example, come in FJM and GN types for different product ranges, so the brand alone isn’t enough to confirm compatibility.
For eligible products in France, the index rates how easy or difficult they are to repair on a scale of 0 to 10, according to the ministries responsible for the ecological transition. Use it to compare eligible models, then check separately which parts are available for the model you’re considering.