For quick pick-ups of dust and crumbs between cleans, choose a stick vacuum; if you want to schedule regular cleaning, consider a robot vacuum. If frequent mopping of a compatible floor is your priority, compare floor cleaners without assuming they’ll replace your vacuum. Keeping a separate vacuum and mopping by hand is also an option if you’d rather not maintain another appliance.
You want to quickly pick up dust or crumbs, then put the appliance away easily. For this kind of quick clean, UFC-Que Choisir highlights how easy stick vacuums are to handle, while advising you to check their battery life.
You’d rather leave regular cleaning to a robot and are happy to empty its bin, clear its route and, for a connected model, manage its app. UFC-Que Choisir notes that vacuuming results vary depending on the floor.
Your priority is frequent wet cleaning on a suitable floor covering. However, a floor cleaner adds tanks, rollers or pads that need looking after after each use.
Start by thinking about which task you want to make easier: getting the appliance out to tackle a small mess, cleaning regularly or washing the floor. Then consider what you’ll still need to do after each use.
Consider it: for quickly vacuuming small messes and easily putting the appliance away.
Bear in mind: battery life and vacuuming performance need to suit the mode you’ll use and the floors in your home.
Consider it: if scheduled cleaning matters more to you than dealing with a mess straight away.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clear its route and maintain the robot; performance varies depending on the floor.
Consider it: if frequent wet cleaning of a compatible floor is your main requirement.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clean the wet components after use, and some models may struggle with dry debris or stubborn stains.
Consider it: if your current vacuum meets your needs and you’d like to mop only when necessary.
Bear in mind: there’s more to do by hand, but you won’t have another floor-cleaning appliance to maintain.
| Criterion | What to check before you buy | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick cleaning and storage | How easy it is to use, where you’ll store it and the battery life in the mode you’ll use. | If I mainly clean up small messes as they happen, I want an appliance that’s easy to get out and put away; around 31% of consumers would put quick cleaning first. |
| Scheduled cleaning | The robot’s navigation, its performance on your floor coverings and how often you’ll need to empty the bin. | If I want to keep my floors clean regularly without doing every clean myself, I prioritise scheduling; around 25% of consumers would make this automation their priority. |
| Frequent mopping | Whether the floor covering is compatible and what you’ll need to do to the tanks and wet components after use. | When I regularly mop a compatible hard floor, wet cleaning matters more than vacuuming alone; around 25% of consumers would have this as their main requirement. |
| Maintenance and repairability | How the battery can be replaced, whether parts are available and how to maintain the filters, brushes or rollers. | If I want to keep maintenance to a minimum or continue using my vacuum and mop by hand, I consider the long-term upkeep; this would be the priority for around 19% of consumers. |
Features vary between models. UFC-Que Choisir says a dedicated floor cleaner doesn’t necessarily replace vacuuming up dust and dry debris, and may have limited results on stubborn stains.
Check exactly what the model picks up when dry and when wet. If you still need to vacuum, keep a suitable vacuuming solution.
After wet cleaning, also allow time to deal with the tanks, rollers or pads, and filters.
The quoted battery life at low power won’t necessarily reflect how long it lasts in the mode you need for your floors.
Compare battery life in similar modes and consider how it measures up against the time you need to clean your floors.
For a robot or a battery-powered appliance, being able to replace worn parts easily can matter just as much as the features you use every day.
Check which parts are available for the exact model, how long they’re expected to remain available and how to replace the battery.
Depending on the design, battery replacement may require a repair by the after-sales service team; brushes, filters and rollers also need regular attention.
UFC-Que Choisir finds that robot vacuum performance varies depending on the floor, and that mopping systems don’t all deliver the same results.
Look for tests covering your floor covering, edges and the types of mess you deal with, rather than relying on the presence of a mopping function alone.
A brand to consider if you’re comparing cordless stick vacuums with appliances designed to wash floors.
A brand to look at when comparing stick vacuums, robot vacuums and floor cleaners.
A brand worth comparing for robot vacuums with a mopping function and dedicated floor cleaners.
Another brand to consider for robot vacuums with mopping and floor cleaners.
These models cover two of the options discussed here: wet cleaning compatible hard floors and scheduling cleaning with a robot vacuum. Compare their features with the level of maintenance you’re happy to take on.
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Worth considering if you want to pick up debris and use a wet roller on smooth hard floors in one cleaning session.
Cordless appliance with a self-cleaning roller and a stated battery life of 35 minutes. It’s not designed for rugs or carpets. You’ll need to empty the dirty water tank and refill the clean water tank after use.
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Worth considering if you want to schedule vacuuming and have a mopping function too.
The model description mentions LDS navigation and a station that empties the bin and cleans the pads. Allow space for the station and check how well it vacuums and mops your floors.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning with an auto-empty station and a mopping function.
The model is described as having an app and carpet detection. Check that the app is compatible with your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, and confirm the exact specifications of the version on sale before comparing its stated figures.
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Worth considering if you want to schedule vacuuming and mopping, with a station that handles several maintenance tasks.
The description mentions mapping, automatic emptying and pad washing by the station. It needs space, and the tanks, brushes and filters still require regular maintenance.
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Worth considering for frequent cleaning of hard floors confirmed as compatible with the appliance.
The description mentions two tanks, a self-cleaning function and a stated battery life of up to 30 minutes, although it doesn’t specify how this was measured. The tanks need emptying and rinsing after use; the roller and filter also need maintenance.
Not necessarily. A stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups, but whether it’s suitable for your whole home depends on its battery life and performance on your floors. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking these limitations in particular; compare tests on the relevant floor coverings before replacing your current appliance.
It depends on the model’s features: don’t assume a dedicated floor cleaner will replace vacuuming up dry debris. UFC-Que Choisir also highlights limitations with stubborn stains and advises against using some cleaners on wooden parquet flooring. Check the instructions and make sure the appliance is suitable for your floor covering.
A robot still needs its bin and maintenance components looking after, even if its station automates some tasks. With a floor cleaner, you’ll need to manage the tanks and clean the rollers or pads and filters after wet cleaning.
For a new vacuum covered by the French requirement, check the repairability index out of 10 shown in-store or online, and make sure parts are available for the model you’ve chosen. The French ministries responsible for ecological transition explain that the display requirement does not apply, in particular, to second-hand, refurbished, loaned, rented or free equipment.