For a small home, choose a cordless stick vacuum if you mainly clean little and often and have limited storage space. A cylinder vacuum may be a better fit for full cleaning sessions, particularly if rugs or carpets are an important consideration. Whether you choose a bagged or bagless model also depends on the maintenance you’re happy to do. In either case, check how the exact model performs on your floors, which brush is included and how much storage space it needs.
If you get the vacuum out for quick clean-ups, particularly on hard floors, easy handling and how much space it takes up when stored may matter more than maximum battery life. Que Choisir highlights the manoeuvrability of cordless stick vacuums for this kind of use.
If the vacuum is to be your main cleaner, including for rugs or carpets, consider how long you can use it for, which brush is included and how it performs on your floor coverings. Que Choisir’s test methods assess stick and cylinder vacuums in their intended configurations.
If maintenance is a key factor in your choice, compare replacing bags with emptying the bin and cleaning the filters. For a cordless stick vacuum, also check whether the battery can be replaced on the model you’re considering.
Start by deciding whether you’ll mainly use the vacuum for quick clean-ups or a full clean. Then choose between a bag and a bin, based on the maintenance you prefer.
Consider it: if you’ll get the vacuum out often and have limited storage space, particularly for quick clean-ups on hard floors.
Bear in mind: running time depends on the mode and brush you use. The maximum battery life advertised may not reflect how you’ll clean your home.
Consider it: if you want to clean your home in one session with a mains-powered vacuum, and have room to store the body, hose and tube.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace compatible bags as you use them.
Consider it: if you want a mains-powered vacuum and would rather empty a bin than replace bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters, as well as find enough room to store the vacuum and its accessories.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage and frequent cleaning | Measure the space available and check how the vacuum can be stored, as well as how much weight you’ll be carrying while using it. | When I clean a small area often, I want to be able to get the vacuum out and put it away easily. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Full cleans and floor coverings | Look for tests of the exact model on your floors and check which brush is included. For a stick vacuum, also consider battery life in the configuration you’ll use. | If I clean the whole home in one go, particularly rugs or carpets, I want to know how the vacuum performs on them. This would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Maintenance and consumables | Check the bag reference for a bagged cylinder vacuum, or how easy it is to access the bin and filters on a bagless model. | I prefer to make an informed choice between replacing bags and emptying and maintaining a bin. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this routine. |
| Battery and repairability | For a stick vacuum, check whether the battery can be replaced. Whatever the type, find out about spare parts and repair options. | If I plan to keep my vacuum for a long time, I want to look into repair options before a fault means I have to replace it. Around 17% of consumers would put this need first. |
A running time quoted for Eco mode and handheld use may not reflect how long the vacuum will last with a motorised brush on the floor.
Compare the running times listed for the mode and accessories you’ll use, then check whether a replacement battery is available for the model you’ve chosen.
If you’re considering a second battery, check that it’s compatible and whether it’s sold separately.
Watts or Air Watts alone won’t tell you how well a particular configuration cleans each type of flooring. Que Choisir assesses suction in its tests, alongside other factors relating to use.
Look for results for the exact model on your floors, then confirm which brush is included with the version on sale.
There’s no bag to replace, but you’ll still need to empty the bin and maintain the filters according to the model’s instructions.
Before buying, check how to remove the bin, where you can empty it and what maintenance the filters require.
A fault doesn’t necessarily mean you need to buy a new vacuum straight away. ADEME lists repair and collection schemes among the options to consider.
Find out what’s wrong, look into repair options and ask the seller about arrangements for taking back your old appliance if you replace it.
The X-Force Flex range can be a useful point of comparison when choosing a cordless stick vacuum, particularly if battery type, advertised running time and accessories are important to you.
Miele’s bagged cylinder vacuums are worth considering if you’re looking for this type of cleaner and comparing the brushes included.
Philips bagless cylinder vacuums let you compare bin capacity, size and brushes by model.
These models illustrate the three options covered here: cordless stick vacuums for frequent cleaning, a bagless cylinder vacuum and a bagged cylinder vacuum for those considering a mains-powered model. Compare each one with your floors, maintenance routine and available storage space.
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Worth considering if you want a stick vacuum for regular cleaning and a freestanding design for storage.
The product name advertises up to 65 minutes of battery life and an anti-tangle brush. Check the running time with the brush and mode you’ll use, as well as how much space the vacuum needs when stored upright.
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Consider it if you prefer cordless cleaning and want to compare a freestanding storage option.
The product name advertises 50 minutes of battery life and a removable battery. Check which mode this running time applies to and whether the dimensions will fit your storage space.
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Compare it if you’d rather empty a bin than replace bags after your cleaning sessions.
The product name lists a 900 W motor, which isn’t enough to tell you how it will perform on your floors. Check which brush is included, look for test results for this model and find out how to maintain the filters.
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Worth considering for cordless cleaning if you’d like to be able to stand the vacuum up without a wall mount.
The product name advertises 45 minutes of battery life and an anti-tangle brush. Check the conditions for this running time, the storage dimensions and how it performs on your floors.
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Consider it if you prefer a bagged cylinder vacuum for cleaning your home in one session.
Check the bag reference and availability, how much space you’ll need to store the hose and accessories, and how this model performs on your floors.
No. The advertised power alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean a rug or carpet. Look for tests of the model and brush you’re considering. Que Choisir’s test methods assess suction in use, alongside other factors.
Read it alongside the mode and configuration it applies to. For example, Rowenta advertises up to 1 h 20 for the X-Force Flex 15.60 in Eco mode when used as a handheld vacuum. Compare this figure with the time you’ll need when using the brush and setting you have in mind.
The legal guarantee of conformity allows you to seek redress from the professional seller if the product does not conform to the contract. The DGCCRF states that you have two years to make a claim under this guarantee. This remedy for a non-conforming product is separate from returning an item simply because you’ve changed your mind.
First, see whether it can be repaired, then find out about the seller’s take-back scheme or a suitable collection service. ADEME lists repair, donation and drop-off as options to consider, depending on the appliance’s condition.