For a quick pick-up of crumbs and dust between more thorough cleans, choose a stick vacuum if you’re happy to accept shorter run time in a powerful mode and the need to maintain the dust container, filter and brush. A robot is a better fit if you want to schedule regular cleans on floors with few obstacles. Consider a compact cylinder vacuum if carpets or embedded dirt matter more than being able to grab the appliance quickly, despite the cable.
If you clean for a few minutes around the table or in high-traffic areas, an appliance that’s easy to take out and put away is especially important. Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as suitable for everyday spot cleaning; just check the run time at the setting you plan to use.
A robot can be a good choice if you can clear the floor before its cleaning cycles. Its performance on carpets, along walls and in corners, as well as the maintenance of its brush and dust container, are all worth considering. Que Choisir’s testing protocol looks at these different areas in particular.
If storage space is limited but carpets, rugs or gaps between floorboards often need cleaning, compare compact cylinder vacuums too. You’ll need to be happy to use a cable and check the dimensions of the model to make sure it will fit in your storage space.
Best for: short, targeted cleans when you want the appliance to be easy to take out and put away.
Bear in mind: run time varies depending on the setting you use, and the brush and dust container also need maintenance.
Best for: scheduling regular cleans in rooms where the robot can move around freely.
Bear in mind: obstacles and hard-to-reach areas may mean you need to prepare the room or finish cleaning by hand.
Worth considering: if carpets and embedded dirt make cleaning performance a priority. Que Choisir describes cylinder vacuums as the most effective type for removing dust.
Bear in mind: you’ll have to deal with a cable and an appliance that’s less quick to grab; a model with a bag also needs regular bag replacements.
For quick sessions between more thorough cleans, start with what matters most to you: getting the appliance out quickly, automating regular cleans or tackling more demanding floor surfaces.
| Feature | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Access and storage | Space needed to store the appliance; weight in your hand and run time at the setting you’ll use for a stick vacuum. | I want to clean up a few crumbs without spending longer getting the appliance ready and putting it away than I do cleaning; around 42% of consumers prioritise being able to get started straight away. |
| Automatic cleaning | Performance on your floor coverings and along walls; movement around obstacles and dust container maintenance. | When I can clear the floors, I’d rather leave regular cleans to a robot than do them by hand. Automation is the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Performance on demanding floor surfaces | Test results on carpets and in gaps between floorboards; a brush and accessories suited to the surfaces you need to clean. | My carpets or embedded debris need an appliance that performs well on these surfaces, even if it takes longer to get started; around 25% of consumers put this cleaning performance first. |
The advertised run time for a stick vacuum may refer to its lowest setting. Que Choisir reports that stick vacuums run for around ten minutes on average at full power. This figure won’t tell you how long a particular model will last.
Compare run times at the setting you’ll use and with the brush you plan to fit, especially if you have carpets or gaps between floorboards.
Automatic cycles don’t guarantee that the robot will pick up dirt in corners, on carpets or near obstacles. Robots also need maintenance.
Check where your thresholds, carpets and tricky areas are, then look for test results on those surfaces and check what maintenance is required.
If carpets or embedded dirt are a regular issue, how easy another type of vacuum is to take out won’t tell you how well it cleans. Que Choisir describes cylinder vacuums as the most effective type for removing dust.
Before choosing a compact model, check how much space it takes up, its reach and whether its accessories are suitable for your floors.
A cylinder vacuum with a bag needs compatible replacement bags.
The repairability index doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean your carpets or hard floors, or which accessories are included.
Check test results for your floor coverings separately from the parts available for the model you’re considering, particularly the battery if it has one, the brush and the filters.
Worth considering for a stick vacuum if access to parts and repairs is important to you.
Worth comparing with other cordless vacuums if you want to find parts by model.
Worth considering for a bagged cylinder vacuum if you’re happy to use a cable and want a model that’s easy to store.
These models show a few different ways to tackle quick clean-ups: scheduled cycles with a robot, touch-ups with a cordless or corded stick vacuum, or cleaning with a bagged cylinder vacuum. Compare what each one involves with your floors before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to leave regular cleans to a robot and can give it room to move around. The model name lists a self-emptying station, 3D obstacle avoidance, 8,000 Pa suction power and up to 180 minutes of run time. These figures don’t replace test results on your carpets, along walls and in corners. Also check how much space you need around the station and whether your Wi-Fi network is compatible with the app.
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For cord-free manual touch-ups, this model can also be used as a handheld vacuum and comes with a charging stand. The model name lists 550 W, 55 kPa and 55 minutes of run time; this figure is for hard floors and doesn’t apply to the other settings. Check the weight of the version on sale and look for test results on your carpets or in the gaps between your floorboards.
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For quick cleans without waiting for a recharge, this stick vacuum converts into a handheld model. The model name lists 550 W, a 0.5 L dust container and a 4.5 m cord, so you may need to switch sockets depending on the room. Check its storage dimensions and performance on your floor coverings.
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Worth comparing if you’re happy to use a corded, bagged appliance to clean your floors. Check that it will fit in your storage space, that the supplied brushes are suitable for your floor coverings and that compatible bags are available. You’ll also need to consider how easy the cylinder is to move around during quick cleaning sessions.
Not always: Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums as more suited to spot cleaning. If you regularly clean carpets, rugs or gaps between floorboards, compare test results on these surfaces and the run time at the setting you need before ruling out a compact cylinder vacuum.
Look for separate results for the floor coverings and areas in your home, rather than relying on a single overall rating. Que Choisir’s testing protocol looks at tiles, parquet with gaps, carpets, edges and corners in particular. Also consider obstacles and the maintenance the robot needs.
If the vacuum has a repairability index, check it and then look for parts that match the model you’ve chosen. The index is no substitute for checking what’s actually available or looking at cleaning test results for your floors. Pay particular attention to the battery if the appliance has one, as well as the brush and filters.