For quick, frequent cleans in a small home, a cordless stick vacuum is easy to get out and put away, as long as its battery life on the setting you use is sufficient. If you clean for longer or have rugs, compare compact cylinder vacuums instead, bearing in mind that they have a cable and take longer to put away. With a cylinder vacuum, choosing a bagged or bagless model also comes down to whether you’d rather buy bags or empty the dust container.
If you often vacuum up crumbs or dust between full cleans, a cordless stick vacuum is easy to get out and put away. Check that its battery life will cover the length of your usual cleaning sessions on the setting you need.
A compact cylinder vacuum is worth considering if you have rugs, several types of flooring or need to clean for longer. However, you’ll need an accessible socket and space to store the main unit and hose.
If handling dust is an important factor in your choice, compare a bagged cylinder vacuum with a bagless model. To keep your vacuum in good working order, also look for bags, filters, batteries or other parts that match its exact model number.
Worth considering: for quick cleans when you want to get the vacuum out and put it away with minimal effort.
Bear in mind: it needs recharging, and battery life can drop sharply on a powerful setting, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Worth considering: if your cleaning sessions are long or your rugs need a deeper clean.
Bear in mind: it has a cable and a main unit to move, and takes up more storage space than a stick vacuum.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Measure the available space and check the vacuum’s dimensions with its accessories. For a stick vacuum, check the type of stand and how much room it needs to charge. | I want to be able to get the vacuum out to pick up a few crumbs, then put it away without cluttering the room. |
| Battery life | For a cordless stick vacuum, compare how long it runs at the power level you’ll actually need, as well as how long it takes to recharge. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the quoted battery life is often based on a low-power setting. | I don’t want a cleaning session to stop before I’ve finished, especially if a rug needs a more powerful setting. |
| Flooring | Look for vacuuming tests on the types of flooring in your home, including rugs, fitted carpets and crevices. A single power figure doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean. | I need to clean the flooring I have at home, not just an uncluttered hard floor. |
| Emptying | Compare how easy it is to handle the dust container and filters with the process of changing compatible bags. In its comparison, UFC-Que Choisir found that bagged cylinder vacuums picked up more dirt and exposed users to less dust than bagless models. | I want to make an informed choice between buying bags and regularly emptying a dust container. |
| Spare parts | Look for filters, brushes and, for a cordless stick vacuum, a battery that matches the full model number. Check compatibility and availability when you buy. | If a part wears out, I want to be able to find a replacement that suits my exact model. |
UFC-Que Choisir says the quoted battery life for a stick vacuum is often based on a low-power setting and can drop sharply on a more powerful mode.
Compare the battery life on the setting you need for your floors with the length of your usual cleaning sessions.
Storage matters, but if you have rugs or need to clean for longer, a compact cylinder vacuum may be a better fit despite its cable.
Consider your flooring, how long you clean for and the space you have available before choosing a type.
You’ll still need to empty the dust container and look after the filters and brushes. A bagged model, meanwhile, needs compatible bags.
Compare the maintenance involved and check the model number of any consumables you need.
A battery or brush listed for a product range won’t necessarily fit every vacuum in that range.
Search for the full model number on the manufacturer’s website, then check that the part is compatible and in stock.
Rowenta offers cordless stick vacuums and bagged and bagless cylinder models. Its product information can help you check whether parts are available for a specific model.
For a Miele cylinder vacuum, the French parts catalogue lets you search for items including tubes, brushes, hoses and parts for the bag or dust container.
If you’re considering a Dyson stick vacuum, search for accessories and parts by product range and variant.
These models include cordless stick vacuums, a compact bagless cylinder vacuum and a corded stick vacuum. Compare their storage requirements and power supply to suit your cleaning sessions. This selection doesn’t replace the choice between a bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum.
Image unavailable
Its freestanding design may suit you if you want to stand the vacuum up between cleans. The product listing claims up to 50 minutes of battery life. Check which setting this figure applies to and whether the vacuum will fit in your storage space.
Image unavailable
The freestanding design is worth considering if you have somewhere to stand the vacuum. The quoted battery life is up to 65 minutes. Check how long it runs on the setting you need for your floors before comparing this with your usual cleaning sessions.
Image unavailable
This corded model lets you clean without stopping to recharge, but you’ll need space to store the vacuum and its cable. You’ll also need to empty the dust container. The power figures given for this model vary, so don’t use them to draw conclusions about its suction performance.
Image unavailable
Its two speeds let you choose a setting for each clean. The product listing claims 15 minutes on high and 40 minutes on low. Compare the battery life on the setting you’ll use with the length of your cleaning session, then check how much space the vacuum takes up.
Image unavailable
This corded stick vacuum doesn’t need recharging, but its 4.5 m cable means you’ll need a socket within reach of the areas you want to clean. Also check that you’re happy with storing the cable and emptying the 0.5 L dust container.
Compare the quoted or tested battery life on the setting you’ll use for your floors, rather than focusing only on the maximum figure. UFC-Que Choisir says this usually applies to a low-power setting. If you plan to use a more powerful mode, check its battery life separately.
A bagged model may suit you if you want to minimise dust exposure when emptying it and don’t mind buying compatible bags. UFC-Que Choisir found that bagged cylinder vacuums picked up more dirt than bagless models in its comparison. If you’d rather avoid bags, be prepared to empty the dust container and maintain the filters on a bagless model.
Make a note of the vacuum’s full model number and search the manufacturer’s website for the matching battery, filter, brush or consumable. Check that it’s compatible with your variant and that the specific part is in stock. A general spare parts section won’t confirm either of these things.
France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition lists three options for electrical equipment: a collection point or recycling centre, a retailer, or a social and solidarity economy organisation.