For quick clean-ups and compact storage, choose a cordless stick vacuum if its battery life in the mode you use is enough for your routine. A canister vacuum is a better choice as your main appliance if you regularly clean several rooms, carpets or upholstery. A bagged model makes it easier to dispose of dust, while a bagless one saves you from buying bags but means you’ll need to empty and maintain the dust container. A robot vacuum can help with routine cleaning, but it won’t necessarily replace cleaning areas it struggles to reach.
Your choice mainly depends on how long you spend cleaning, the surfaces you need to tackle and how you’d like to deal with dust.
If you mainly vacuum up crumbs and clean specific areas before putting the appliance away, a cordless stick vacuum is worth considering. However, check that its battery life in the mode you need will cover these clean-ups, especially if you use a motorised brush.
If you’re looking for a main appliance, check how well it picks up dirt from your floor coverings, as well as the brushes and accessories supplied. UFC-Que Choisir tests show that performance varies by floor type, so a motor specification alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans a carpet or a gap between floorboards.
A bagged canister vacuum lets you dispose of dirt in a sealed bag instead of emptying a container. You’ll need to make sure you have compatible bags, though. With a bagless model, check how to empty the dust container and maintain the filters.
Start with your floors and cleaning routine, then check whether the appliance’s reach, maintenance and storage requirements suit your home.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Run time | For a cordless stick vacuum, compare the battery life in the mode and with the brush you’ll use, as well as the charging time. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power for the appliances covered in its comparison of stick and canister vacuums. | I want to finish my usual cleaning without having to stop and recharge the appliance. |
| Floors and upholstery | Look at tests on the floor coverings in your home: hard floors, gaps, carpets or rugs. Check which brush and accessories are included for furniture and awkward corners. According to UFC-Que Choisir, wattage and voltage alone don’t prove how effective a vacuum is on these surfaces. | Carpets, pet hair and sofas matter just as much as clear floors in my home, so I’m looking for an appliance equipped for each task. |
| Maintenance | For a bagged canister vacuum, find out which bag reference you need. For a model with a dust container, check how to empty it and maintain the filters. Compare capacity while taking the type of appliance and how often you use it into account. | I’d rather remove a sealed bag, or do without bags and accept that I’ll need to empty and clean a container. |
| Moving and storage | Check the appliance’s size and how heavy it is to move. For a canister vacuum, look at its operating radius and how often you’ll need to change sockets; for a stick vacuum, check how it can be stored. Only compare noise levels when they’ve been measured under equivalent conditions. | I want to be able to get the vacuum out and put it away easily, without overlooking rooms that are far from the sockets. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot vacuum, check how it performs on your floors and around obstacles, as well as how to empty the dust container and maintain the brushes. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results vary depending on the floor type. | I’m interested in scheduled cleaning, but I also need a solution for upholstery and areas the robot can’t clean properly. |
The power mode affects how long you can use the vacuum. In its comparison of stick and canister vacuums, UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power. So the advertised maximum battery life may not reflect how long your cleaning session will take.
Compare battery life in the mode and with the brush you plan to use. Also check the charging time and whether you can use a spare battery with the specific model.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, watts, volts and air watts aren’t enough to establish how effectively a vacuum will clean different floors. The floorhead and brush also affect the results.
Look for tests carried out on the floor coverings you have, and check which accessories are included for carpets, upholstery and pet hair.
You’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as set out in the manual. A bagged canister vacuum, on the other hand, needs compatible bags. Your choice also depends on how you prefer to handle dust.
Before you buy, check how to empty the container or change the bag, and find out which consumables you’ll need.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor type and aren’t always convincing. You’ll also need to maintain the dust container and brushes.
Think of a robot as an addition for accessible floors, then plan how you’ll clean carpets, upholstery and areas it struggles with.
These examples highlight features to compare on specific models. A feature advertised for one model won’t necessarily apply to the entire brand.
The range includes cordless stick vacuums worth considering if battery life and accessories are important to you.
The Silence Force Cyclonic Effitech RO7935EA offers a point of comparison for a bagless canister vacuum.
The Electrolux 500 EB51A4OG bagged canister vacuum gives you a specific model to consider when comparing bag capacity and filtration.
The brand’s bagged canister vacuums may suit households that prefer to dispose of dust in a sealed bag.
This selection includes a bagged canister vacuum, two cordless stick vacuums, a corded stick vacuum for specific tasks and a robot vacuum to consider as an extra. A corded stick vacuum doesn’t need recharging, but its cable sets it apart from a cordless model. A robot vacuum won’t automatically replace your main appliance.
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A bagged canister vacuum to consider if you’re looking for a main appliance for several rooms and prefer to dispose of dust in a sealed bag. Check that the brushes supplied suit your floors and find out which bags are compatible.
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Its cordless design is handy for targeted clean-ups if the battery life suits your routine. The product title advertises up to 65 minutes of battery life. Check how long it lasts in the mode and with the brush you plan to use, particularly on carpets.
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This model has a removable battery and an advertised battery life of 60 minutes for cleaning without a cable. Check how long it lasts in each mode you’re likely to use at home. The advertised figure alone won’t tell you how long it will last when cleaning carpets or using a high power setting.
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The corded design means you won’t need to wait for a recharge before tackling specific tasks, but your reach depends on the socket you use. The title lists a 4.5 m cable and a 0.5 L dust container. Check whether the reach and how often you’ll need to empty it suit your home. The 550 W rating alone isn’t enough to judge how well it will clean every floor.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning on accessible floors, alongside a separate way to clean upholstery and hard-to-reach areas. The title advertises up to 180 minutes of use. Check that its navigation is suited to your home, and confirm whether the station collects dust in a bag.
No. According to UFC-Que Choisir, watt, volt and air watt figures alone don’t describe how effectively a vacuum will clean different floors. Instead, compare results on your floor coverings, the vacuum head and the accessories included.
Not in every case. UFC-Que Choisir notes that robot vacuum performance varies depending on the floor type and isn’t always convincing. Check which areas a model can realistically clean in your home, and plan another way to clean upholstery and hard-to-reach spots.
Follow the model’s manual when replacing the bag or emptying the dust container, maintaining the filters and removing fibres caught in the brush. UFC-Que Choisir’s canister vacuum tests also look at changes in performance caused by dirt build-up.
If it still works, ecosystem says you can take it to a reuse organisation. Otherwise, use an appropriate collection and recycling scheme. ecosystem recommends removing the bag before dropping off the appliance to make it easier to process.