If you regularly clean several rooms with carpets, a canister vacuum is generally the most practical choice. Que Choisir highlights the limitations stick vacuums often face on thick carpets, and recommends them mainly for quick clean-ups. A bagged canister is worth particular consideration if you want to minimise contact with dust. A stick vacuum can be your main cleaner if it performs well on your carpets and has enough battery life in the mode you use to clean your whole home. Otherwise, it can complement a canister for quick pick-ups.
If you regularly clean carpets and hard floors throughout your home, check how well the vacuum performs on each surface and whether you can finish cleaning without stopping. Que Choisir notes in particular that thick carpets can be challenging for stick vacuums.
Replacing a bag and emptying a dust container involve different steps. Que Choisir says bagged canister vacuums expose users to less dust than bagless models. It’s also worth checking how the model you’re considering seals.
A cordless stick vacuum is easy to grab for a quick clean. If you want it to be your only vacuum, check its battery life in the setting you need for carpets, how well it cleans those surfaces and whether the battery is compatible with the model you’ve chosen.
Start with the carpets you need to clean and how long your regular cleaning takes. Then decide between the uninterrupted cleaning of a corded canister, the manoeuvrability of a stick vacuum or using both for different jobs.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning carpets and hard floors | Check which brushes are included and look for test results on both types of flooring. Que Choisir notes that stick vacuums may be less effective than canister vacuums on thick carpets and rugs. | I want to clean both carpets and hard floors in my home, rather than choosing a vacuum based solely on its advertised power. |
| Getting the cleaning done without interruptions | For a stick vacuum, compare its battery life in the setting you’ll actually need for carpets with the time it takes to clean your rooms. For a canister, check the cord length and operating radius. | I need to clean several rooms in one go, so frequent recharging or changing sockets would disrupt my routine. |
| Dust and maintenance | Compare how bags seal and which ones fit, as well as how to empty a dust container and maintain its filters. Que Choisir says bagged canister vacuums expose users to less dust during maintenance than bagless models. | I’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container, or vice versa. The amount of contact with dust may help me choose between the two. |
| Storage and manoeuvrability | Check how much storage space you’ll need, how heavy the vacuum is to move and whether it can reach the areas you clean most often. A second vacuum will also need somewhere to be stored. | I’d like to be able to grab a vacuum easily for quick cleans, without compromising on cleaning my carpets thoroughly. |
| Consumables and parts | Look up bags, filters, brushes and, for a stick vacuum, the battery by exact model number. The repairability index can help you compare eligible models, but it doesn’t guarantee that a specific part is in stock. | I want to know which parts need maintaining or replacing before choosing a main vacuum. |
The advertised battery life doesn’t tell you how long the vacuum will run in the setting you’ll need for carpets. A stick vacuum that’s handy for quick clean-ups may not last long enough for a full clean.
Compare the battery life stated for the setting you plan to use with the time you need to clean your rooms, and check how well it performs on carpets. If it doesn’t meet your needs, consider a canister as your main vacuum and keep the stick vacuum for quick cleans.
Avoiding the cost of replacement bags doesn’t mean you can skip emptying the dust container or maintaining the filters. This is worth considering if you want to minimise contact with dust.
Before choosing a bagless canister, check how to empty its dust container and find out which filters fit the model.
Parts catalogues list different models and, sometimes, different battery versions. The fact that a battery is available for a product range doesn’t mean it will fit every vacuum in that range.
Check the exact model number, battery type and availability if the vacuum is going to be your main cleaner.
The index can help you compare eligible products, but it doesn’t guarantee that a particular brush, hose or battery will be available straight away.
Use it as a starting point, then look up the important parts for the model you’re considering.
These brands are useful starting points when looking for consumables and parts. Their inclusion here doesn’t imply that every model has the same features.
The French range includes bagged and bagless canister vacuums, as well as cordless stick vacuums, so there are options to explore whichever format you choose.
Worth considering for a bagged canister vacuum if being able to identify compatible bags and filters is important to you.
A brand to explore for cordless stick vacuums if finding a battery or accessories by model is part of your decision.
A brand to consider for a canister vacuum if you want to look up bags, filters, brushes and other parts by model number.
These three canister vacuums offer two ways to tackle your main cleaning: two are bagged and one is bagless. If you’re considering a stick vacuum on its own or as an additional cleaner, compare its battery life separately in the setting you’ll use on carpets.
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Consider this as your main vacuum if the accessories suit your carpets and hard floors. Check which brushes are included, and which bags and filters fit the EB61C4OG model.
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This bagged model is an option if you want a corded vacuum for cleaning several rooms. In a home with carpets, check that the included brush suits your flooring, then find out which bags and filters fit the EB61C2GRN.
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A canister option if you’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags. Check that the brush is suitable for your carpets, how to maintain the dust container and the model number of the replacement filter. Power specifications for this model vary between descriptions, so confirm which specification applies before comparing it with other models.
Yes, if it cleans your carpets effectively and its dust container capacity and battery life in the setting you use are enough for a full clean. However, Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as being best suited to quick clean-ups and notes that they often perform less well than canister vacuums on thick carpets and rugs.
If this is a priority, start by looking at bagged models and how their bags seal. Que Choisir says they expose users to less dust than bagless canister vacuums. Bagless models need their dust containers emptied and filters maintained.
According to the ministry responsible for the ecological transition, the index is intended to help consumers compare eligible products. You’ll still need to check the availability of important parts for the model you’re considering, such as the brush, filter or stick vacuum battery.
First, find the exact model number of the vacuum. Then look up bags or filters, brushes suited to your flooring and, for a stick vacuum, its battery and charger. The French Miele, Dyson, Rowenta and Electrolux catalogues let you search for some of these parts, but you’ll need to check compatibility and availability for each model.