For quick clean-ups between full cleans, a rechargeable stick vacuum is a handy choice. If you’d like to schedule regular cleans, consider a robot vacuum, provided it suits your floors and home layout. Stick vacuums have limited battery life, while robot vacuums still need regular maintenance. A cylinder vacuum is worth considering for more thorough cleans, especially if you have plenty of rugs and carpets.
If you want to vacuum a specific area without getting out a bulky appliance, a rechargeable stick vacuum is quick and cordless. Just bear in mind its battery life and remember to maintain the dust container, filter and brush. Que Choisir notes that battery life is shorter at high power, for example.
If you’d rather not handle the vacuum yourself every time, a robot can take care of regular cleaning. Check that it can move around the rooms you want to clean, and remember to maintain its dust container and brushes. According to Que Choisir, results vary depending on the floor type.
If rugs, thick carpets or large floor areas are a big part of your cleaning routine, keep a cylinder vacuum on your list of options. Que Choisir distinguishes this more thorough cleaning from quick touch-ups, where a stick vacuum is particularly convenient.
First decide whether you want to clean as soon as you need to, schedule cleaning and let an appliance do the work, or keep a vacuum for more thorough cleans. Then assess each model against the floors in your home.
Consider it: for quickly vacuuming a small area by hand whenever needed.
Bear in mind: battery life depends on the setting used. In its tests of stick vacuums, Que Choisir found an average of around ten minutes at maximum power.
Consider it: for scheduled cleaning in areas the appliance can reach.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to keep its routes clear and check the dust container and brushes regularly.
Consider it: as your main appliance for more thorough cleans, rather than for automating regular cleaning.
Bear in mind: it has a cable and is less convenient to grab at a moment’s notice than a rechargeable stick vacuum.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick access | How heavy the stick vacuum feels in your hand and where you’ll store it. | When crumbs or a small patch of dirt appear, I want to vacuum it and put the appliance away quickly. Around 33% of consumers rank this convenience as their top priority. |
| Automated cleaning | How it moves around obstacles and reaches the areas to be cleaned; any app requirements for use. | For regular cleaning, I’d rather schedule the vacuum than get an appliance out every time. Around 27% of consumers say that being able to delegate this task is their main need. |
| Challenging floors | Test results on your floor coverings, especially rugs, carpets or grooved wood flooring; don’t rely on power figures alone. | If my rugs or floorboard grooves need a more thorough clean, I want to choose based on results on those surfaces. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Maintenance and parts | The repairability rating for the exact model and the stated availability of the batteries, filters or brushes you may need. | I want to be able to maintain the appliance and know which parts will be available if something needs replacing. Around 20% of consumers put long-term usability first. |
The stated battery life at a low power setting doesn’t necessarily reflect how long it will last on a carpet at a high setting. In its tests of stick vacuums, Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at maximum power.
Compare the stated battery life for each setting with how long your usual cleaning takes and the floors you need to clean.
Automated cleaning doesn’t mean you can forget about checking the dust container, brushes and consumables. According to Que Choisir, performance also varies depending on the floor covering.
Build maintenance into your routine, and check whether the docking station will help you empty the onboard dust container less often.
Que Choisir says that watts, volts and air watts alone don’t tell you how well a stick vacuum will clean different floors.
Look for test results on the floor coverings in your home, particularly if you have rugs or carpets.
As ADEME explains, the repairability rating takes factors such as documentation, ease of dismantling and spare parts into account. It doesn’t, on its own, guarantee how long an appliance will last.
Check the rating for the exact model, then look at the manufacturer’s information on parts and consumables you may need.
The X-Plorer range includes robot vacuums with different features depending on the model.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum and want to check which parts are available for a specific model.
The DEEBOT range includes robot vacuums with different docking stations and features, according to ECOVACS product information.
Another robot vacuum brand to consider, depending on the model and layout of your home.
These models illustrate the three uses discussed: robot vacuums for scheduled cleaning, cordless stick vacuums for quick clean-ups by hand, and cylinder vacuums for more thorough cleans. Stated specifications are no substitute for test results on your own floors.
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Worth considering if you want to schedule cleaning and use a station to empty the robot. The product name states a suction power of 25 000 Pa and mop washing at 75 °C; these figures don’t tell you how it will perform on your floors.
A docking station doesn’t eliminate the need to clean the brushes and filters. Also check that the set-up requirements suit your home.
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For quick clean-ups by hand when you want to keep your vacuum within easy reach. The product information states up to 65 minutes of battery life, but this name doesn’t specify how long it lasts at each power setting.
Compare battery life by setting and check performance on your floors before relying on this stick vacuum for more demanding cleans.
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For automated cleaning if you have a suitable spot for its station and can keep its routes clear. The product name states a battery life of 180 minutes, but doesn’t specify the conditions.
The instructions cited for this model recommend leaving around 0.5 m of clearance on either side of the station and 1.5 m in front. Check that you have space, and remember to maintain the brushes and base regularly.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups between full cleans, with a freestanding design. The product name states 45 minutes of battery life, but doesn’t give the runtime for each setting.
The product information recommends checking the brush regularly and leaving the washed filter to dry for at least 24 hours. Check that the battery life suits the cleaning you need to do.
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Worth considering if you want to keep a cylinder vacuum for more thorough cleans. The product name states a power rating of 550 W, but that alone doesn’t show how well it will clean a particular carpet.
Its cable and the need to replace the bag are part of everyday use. Also check how well it performs on your floor coverings.
Not in every home. Stick vacuums are handy for quick clean-ups, but Que Choisir notes that battery life can be limited at high power and that suction varies on rugs, thick carpets and grooved wood flooring. If these surfaces make up a large part of your home, keep a cylinder vacuum on your list to compare for more thorough cleans.
Look for test results for the model on the floor coverings you have most of. Que Choisir tests robot vacuums on surfaces including carpets, tiles and wood flooring, as performance varies by floor type. Also measure the clearance under your furniture, check for common obstacles, and consider the dust container and access to the brushes.
No. It can mean you need to empty the robot’s small onboard dust container less often, but you’ll still need to check the station, brushes and other parts that require maintenance. Check the care instructions for the model you’re interested in.
Yes. ADEME says the repairability rating applies to corded, cordless and robot vacuum cleaners. The rating takes factors such as ease of dismantling, documentation and spare parts into account. Check the rating for the exact model rather than assuming it applies to the whole range.
The French Ministry of the Economy says you can claim under the legal guarantee of conformity for two years on a new product. Any commercial warranty is in addition to your legal guarantees. Check its terms, and don’t confuse it with your rights if the product doesn’t conform to the contract.