Housemates who are sensitive to noise
You want to vacuum while other people are around. Check the noise level in the mode suited to everyday cleaning, rather than assuming the advertised figure applies to that mode.
Who is this option for?
People who clean carpets or pet hair
A brush suited to the surfaces you need to clean matters more than a long battery life quoted at low power. You should also consider how much noise the brush makes when it’s running.
People who do frequent, quick clean-ups
A vacuum that’s easy to take out, move around and put away can be a good choice for quick clean-ups. Compare its weight in the set-up you’ll use on the floor, and its battery life with your chosen attachment.
Which features should you compare first?
For quick clean-ups in shared accommodation, start with the floors you need to clean and when you plan to vacuum. Que Choisir highlights the trade-offs between noise, cleaning performance, battery life and manoeuvrability. If a stick vacuum doesn’t meet your needs, its comparison also presents a cylinder vacuum as an option to consider for deep cleaning.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Noise | Which mode the dB(A) rating applies to; whether there’s a medium or automatic setting. | When other people are around, I want to clean without always using maximum power. Around 33% of consumers would put low noise at the top of their list. |
| Performance on different floors | Floor types; the brush supplied and test results for those surfaces. | If I need to tackle rugs, carpets or pet hair, I’d prioritise a suitable brush, even if it adds to the noise. This level of cleaning performance would be the priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Battery life in practice | Run time in the required mode, with the brush you’ll use; charging time. | If I need to clean several rooms without stopping, battery life at low power isn’t enough to guide my choice. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise battery life in real-world use. |
| Manoeuvrability | Weight of the vacuum ready to clean the floor; balance and storage. | For short, frequent clean-ups, I want to be able to take the vacuum out and put it away easily. Manoeuvrability would come first for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Comparing maximum battery life alone
This figure often refers to use at low power. Que Choisir reports that many stick vacuums struggle to last more than around ten minutes at full power.
Compare run times across the different modes, and check whether they include the motorised brush you’ll use.
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Judging performance or quietness from a single figure
The power rating alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans each type of floor. Nor is a decibel rating enough to compare how quiet different models feel if they’ve been measured under different conditions.
Consider the figures alongside the mode, brush and floor type. Look for comparable tests covering the models you’re interested in.
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Choosing a brush without considering the floors in your home
A powered brush can help lift dirt from rugs or carpets, but it also adds to the noise. Whether it’s worth having depends on the rooms you clean.
Check which surfaces you have, then see which brush is supplied with the exact model you’re considering.
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Forgetting about maintenance and spare parts
If several people will use the same vacuum, it’s worth checking whether you can maintain the brush and filter, and get a suitable replacement battery or other parts.
If you’re buying a new vacuum in France that’s covered by the scheme, check its repairability index and the parts available for the exact model.
Brands to know
Rowenta
The X-Force and X-Ô ranges offer different power settings and formats to explore for quick clean-ups.
- Rowenta quotes up to 90 minutes in Eco mode, 50 minutes in High and 30 minutes in Max for the X-Ô 90. The mode you choose therefore affects the run time to consider.
- Rowenta also quotes 69 dB(A) in Boost mode for the X-Ô range. This figure, stated by the brand, isn’t enough on its own to compare the noise with other models.
Electrolux
The French product page for the Electrolux 900 EP91UB21WB includes information on weight, noise and battery life with a motorised attachment.
- Electrolux states that this model offers 80 minutes in Normal mode with a motorised attachment and has a total weight of 3,176 kg.
- The 78 dB figure on the product page isn’t enough to establish whether this model is quieter or noisier than a competitor measured under different conditions.
Dyson
The Dyson V11 Fluffy is worth considering if you have hard floors and want to keep track of the mode you’re using.
- Dyson presents the V11 Fluffy with a Fluffy brush for hard floors and a screen that shows, among other things, the mode and remaining battery life.
- To decide whether it’s suitable for shared accommodation, compare its noise while running under conditions that reflect how you’ll use it.
Stick vacuum cleaners to consider on Joybuy
These cordless stick vacuums are suited to quick clean-ups. Compare their settings and brushes to match your floors. The noise levels quoted for some models aren’t a ranking of how quiet they are.
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Daynee XL618E-8, 55 kPa, flexible hose and pet brush
Worth considering if you switch between everyday cleaning and tackling carpets or pet hair.
The product title mentions a pet brush and flexible hose. Before comparing its noise or battery life with another stick vacuum, check which mode and attachment the quoted figures apply to.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5, anti-tangle brush
Worth a look if you clean several types of surface and want to adjust the mode you use.
The product title states up to 65 minutes of battery life. To estimate how long a cleaning session will last in your home, check the run time with the brush and mode you plan to use, and find out which mode the noise rating applies to.
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Monsga ME03, 55 kPa, 550 W, with charging dock
Worth looking at for quick clean-ups across hard floors and carpets.
The product title mentions an anti-tangle brush and 55 minutes of battery life. Check the run time for your chosen mode and attachment, as well as the weight of the vacuum when it’s ready to clean the floor.
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UNINELL HOME UV1, 450 W, removable battery
Worth considering for short cleaning sessions if you’d like a removable battery.
The product title states up to 60 minutes of battery life and mentions an anti-tangle brush. Before choosing this model for times when others are at home, check the run time and noise level in the mode you need for your floors.
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Monsga M100, 55 000 Pa, anti-tangle brush
Worth considering for quick clean-ups if an anti-tangle brush suits the surfaces in your home.
The product title states 45 minutes of battery life. To decide whether it’s suitable when other people are around, check its noise level, run time in each mode and weight when set up for cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
Is the dB(A) figure enough to choose a quiet stick vacuum?
No. You also need to know which mode was used and be able to compare models tested under similar conditions. Que Choisir points out that the frequencies of the noise can also affect how comfortable it is to listen to. A single figure therefore isn’t enough to rank all stick vacuums.
Why does the quoted battery life differ from how long I can clean for?
Maximum battery life is usually measured at low power, while a more powerful mode shortens cleaning time. For shared accommodation, compare the run time in the mode you need for your floors, ideally with the motorised brush fitted. Que Choisir highlights the difference between minimum and full power.
Do you need a motorised brush in shared accommodation?
It’s worth considering if you clean rugs, carpets, pet hair or dirt that sticks to the floor. As the brush adds another source of noise, check whether it’s useful in each room rather than assuming you need to use it everywhere.
What should you check to make sure you can maintain your vacuum?
Check that you can access the filter and brush, and find parts for the exact model, particularly the battery. In France, the ministry responsible for the ecological transition lists vacuum cleaners among products covered by repairability or durability indices. Check which index applies to the appliance you’re comparing.