For regularly picking up small spills from floors, a cordless stick vacuum is a practical choice, provided its runtime in the mode you use is long enough for each clean. A handheld vacuum is better suited to specific areas, while a robot can maintain accessible floors but won’t replace manual cleaning on stairs or furniture. If rugs, carpets or deep cleaning are a priority, compare compact cylinder vacuums too rather than choosing solely for easy storage.
The floor area alone won’t tell you what you need. Also consider surfaces above floor level, floor types and how often you do a thorough clean.
If you regularly pick up crumbs and dust between full cleans, a cordless stick vacuum lets you clean the floors without getting out a cylinder vacuum. For a sofa, a piece of furniture or a very small area, a handheld model may be enough. Either way, keep it somewhere easy to reach and check that the runtime will cover your cleaning routine.
An easy-to-grab appliance is still useful for quick clean-ups, but don’t judge its performance on rugs by the advertised power alone. Que Choisir assesses suction on different floor types, so compare the results with the floors in your home. If you clean thoroughly often, consider a cylinder vacuum too.
A robot vacuum can clean accessible floors regularly, particularly in a single-storey home with plenty of clear space. You’ll still need a manual option for stairs, furniture and skirting boards, which Les Numériques identifies as areas beyond its reach.
First decide whether you want to tackle spills as they happen, clean all your floors or automate floor care. Then compare appliances under the conditions you’ll actually use them in.
Worth considering: for frequent manual cleaning of floors, with a charging spot close to hand.
Bear in mind: runtime varies depending on the mode selected, particularly if you need maximum power.
Worth considering: for crumbs, seats, furniture and other specific areas.
Bear in mind: you’ll need another appliance if you also want to clean all your floors regularly.
Worth considering: for regular cleaning of accessible floors without having to start each clean yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need a manual appliance for stairs and surfaces above floor level, as well as time to maintain the robot.
Worth considering: when rugs, carpets or thorough cleaning matter just as much as quick clean-ups.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to make room for a cable and hose, even on a model described as compact.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Handling and storage | Check the appliance’s weight in the configuration you’ll use, the accessories included and the space needed to store or charge it. | For a few crumbs, I want to be able to pick it up and put it away without a complicated set-up. |
| Useful runtime | Compare runtime in the mode you need for your floors, with the intended brush fitted. Que Choisir notes that the maximum advertised runtime usually refers to the lowest power setting; its laboratory tests found an average of around ten minutes at maximum power. | If I clean rugs or very dirty areas, runtime on a powerful setting matters more than the maximum figure advertised. |
| Performance on different floors | Look for tests carried out on the same types of flooring as yours: hard floors, gaps, rugs or carpets. Check the floor head and brushes included too, rather than judging by the motor’s wattage alone. | With several types of flooring at home, I’d rather compare how much each appliance picks up on each one. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot vacuum, consider how it moves between rooms, any obstacles, where the dock will go and what maintenance it requires. | I want regular cleaning of accessible floors, while keeping something to clean the stairs and furniture. |
| Repairability and spare parts | For an appliance sold in France, check its repairability index and the supporting details. ADEME lists documentation, disassembly and access to spare parts among the criteria to consider. Check the battery, filters, brush and charger for the exact model reference. | I want to know which parts fit my model before relying on a repair or replacement later on. |
This figure usually refers to the lowest power setting. In its laboratory tests, Que Choisir found an average of around ten minutes at maximum power. The mode you use therefore has a big impact on how much you can clean on one charge.
Estimate how long your cleaning routine takes and look for a runtime measured with the mode and brush suited to your floors.
A motor’s wattage doesn’t tell you by itself how well an appliance picks up dirt from gaps in wooden floors, rugs or carpets. Que Choisir assesses suction performance separately and under different conditions.
Compare results for your types of flooring and check which brushes are included with the version you’re considering.
Les Numériques points out that a robot vacuum can’t climb stairs or clean furniture and skirting boards. Its navigation and dock maintenance are also worth considering.
Use it for floors it can reach and keep a manual appliance for the other areas.
The index covers several criteria, but doesn’t by itself confirm that a battery or filter will fit every version in a range. Dyson, for example, specifies different compatibilities for V8 versions.
Note down the vacuum’s full model reference, check the index details and confirm which parts fit before buying.
Parts catalogues and product range descriptions can point you towards what to check, but they don’t guarantee that a part is available or indicate the performance of a specific model.
A brand to look at for cordless stick vacuums and parts listed by model reference.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a convertible cordless stick vacuum and want to check genuine parts by model.
A brand to compare if your needs point towards a bagged cylinder vacuum rather than an appliance designed just for quick clean-ups.
These models cover manual cleaning of floors, small handheld clean-ups and automated care for accessible floors. If you need to clean thoroughly on a regular basis, include a compact cylinder vacuum in your comparison too.
Image unavailable
Designed for quick cleans on hard floors, this stick vacuum is described as having a dedicated mode and a wall-mounted charging dock. The advertised runtime is up to 55 minutes in this mode. Check the runtime in carpet mode if you plan to use it on that type of flooring too. The product listing mentions a detachable battery and accessories for specific areas. Check how much space the dock needs and which parts fit this model reference.
Image unavailable
The self-standing design may suit you if you want to put the appliance down between cleans. The description gives a weight of 2.2 kg, a removable battery and accessories for furniture and awkward corners. The 50-minute figure is the maximum advertised runtime, so compare the runtimes of the modes you’ll use and its performance on your floors before choosing.
Image unavailable
This model is described as self-standing and convertible into a handheld vacuum, so you can switch between floors and specific areas. The listed weight is 3.3 kg for the product and 1.4 kg in handheld mode, so consider the weight of the configuration you’ll carry most often. The advertised runtime is up to 60 minutes, with no breakdown by mode. The suction figures in the description are inconsistent, so check the exact specification rather than treating them as a measure of performance.
Image unavailable
The handheld design and attachments described are suited to picking up crumbs from a sofa, car or other specific areas, rather than regularly cleaning all your floors. The description lists two power settings, a 500 ml dust container and a runtime of 13 to 25 minutes, depending on the mode. The title and description give different suction figures, so ask for clarification if this specification is important to your choice.
Image unavailable
This robot is worth considering for scheduled cleans on accessible floors, rather than for picking up a small spill by hand as soon as it appears. The description lists mapping, obstacle detection and a dock that empties the dust container and maintains the mop pads. Check that you have enough space, that you can access the app, and what maintenance the tanks and consumables need. You’ll still need a manual appliance for stairs, furniture and skirting boards.
Not necessarily: it’s usually quoted for the lowest power setting. Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at maximum power in its laboratory tests. Look for a runtime measured in the mode and with the brush you’ll use on your floors.
A robot can maintain accessible floors, but it can’t handle every manual cleaning task. Les Numériques explains that it can’t go up or down stairs, or clean furniture and skirting boards, so keep an appliance suited to these areas.
In France, the repairability index applies to vacuum cleaners, among other products. As ADEME explains, it helps you assess criteria such as documentation, disassembly and access to spare parts. Check the details for the specific model, then separately confirm the parts you may need.
Note down the vacuum’s full model reference and compare it with the compatibility information in the manufacturer’s parts catalogue or from the retailer. A battery for one range won’t necessarily fit every version: Dyson, for example, excludes the V8 Cyclone from the stated compatibility for a V8 replacement battery.