If you often need to clear crumbs or dust from a small area, a cordless stick vacuum makes quick touch-ups easier; a compact corded model avoids recharging, if you don't mind the cable. If you also need the appliance to handle a full clean, particularly on carpets or in floorboard gaps, keep a cylinder vacuum or check how the stick vacuum you're considering performs on those surfaces. Que Choisir reports mixed results and reduced run time at high power.
For picking up crumbs, dust or pet hair between cleans, a cordless stick vacuum can be handy if you only need to cover small areas. Check how long it runs in the mode you'll use: Que Choisir notes that run time drops at high power.
If your regular cleaning includes carpets, floorboard gaps or embedded dirt, don't replace your main vacuum based on manoeuvrability alone. Que Choisir's tests show that stick vacuum performance varies between models and surfaces.
If you plan to keep a cordless stick vacuum for a long time, note down its exact model number before looking for a compatible battery, filter or brush. Rowenta France and Dyson France catalogues show that parts are listed for specific models.
First decide whether you need the appliance just for quick touch-ups or for a full clean too. Then consider how easy it is to grab, its run time, if relevant, and how much maintenance it needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility and manoeuvrability | Weight in the configuration you'll use and where you'll store it; bin capacity if you'll be picking up debris often. | If you need to clear crumbs without getting out a bulky appliance, ease of use and storage matter more than long run time. Around 36% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Useful run time | Advertised run time in the mode you need, with the brush you'll use; the model number of a compatible replacement battery, if replacing it matters to you. | To clean several areas without stopping to recharge, you need enough run time at the power you'll actually use. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Full-home cleaning | How the model performs on your carpets, rugs or floorboard gaps, rather than just its advertised power. | If quick touch-ups are in addition to regular cleaning on tricky surfaces, the appliance needs to handle the job or you may want to keep a cylinder vacuum. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this ability to clean the whole home. |
| Maintenance and parts | How to maintain the filter and empty the bin or change the bag; whether parts are available for the exact model. | If emptying the bin, maintaining the filters or replacing a part affects how easy the appliance is to use day to day, these tasks should factor into your choice. For around 14% of consumers, being able to maintain and keep their appliance is the priority. |
The maximum run time advertised is generally based on a low-power setting. In its tests, Que Choisir finds an average of around ten minutes at maximum power; this average isn't a guide to how long any particular model will run.
Compare run times for each mode and, if possible, with the brush you'll use on your floors.
For longer cleaning sessions, a second battery can be useful, as long as it's compatible with your chosen model and available.
A stick vacuum that's handy for quick clean-ups won't necessarily clean carpets or floorboard gaps as well. Que Choisir finds that many models struggle to pick up dust lodged in these gaps.
If these surfaces are part of your regular cleaning routine, check test results for the exact model before making it your only vacuum cleaner.
A battery or brush listed for a product range won't necessarily fit every model in that range. Rowenta France and Dyson France list parts by compatible model.
Make a note of the appliance's full model number, then check that the parts you need are compatible and available.
A full bag or blocked filters can reduce suction in a bagged cylinder vacuum, as Miele France points out for the models concerned. Bagless models also need their bins emptied and maintained.
Before choosing, check how to empty the bin or replace the bag, and how to maintain the filter and brush on the exact model.
Worth considering for some X-Force Flex and X-Pert cordless stick vacuums if access to replacement parts is important to you.
Worth considering if you want to be able to identify a replacement battery or charger for a specific stick vacuum.
Worth comparing for some Unlimited stick vacuums that use an 18 V POWER FOR ALL battery.
Worth considering if you're keeping a bagged cylinder vacuum as your main appliance, perhaps alongside a quick-clean model.
These cordless models are designed for quick household clean-ups: the stick vacuums are for floors, while the handheld vacuum is for small areas above floor level. If you're choosing an appliance for a full clean too, check how it performs on the surfaces you usually clean.
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Worth considering for quick floor clean-ups if you'd like to be able to stand the appliance upright between uses. It's described as freestanding, with up to 50 minutes of run time. Check how long it runs in the mode and with the brush you'll use.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups in different rooms if a stick vacuum suits you. The product title states up to 65 minutes of run time; check how long it runs in the mode and with the brush you plan to use. The suction figures quoted for this model differ, so don't rely on them alone when comparing it.
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Worth considering if you switch between quick clean-ups and areas that need a different setting. The product title states that it has two speeds; check the run time for each with the brush you'll use, as well as the model number of any replacement battery.
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Worth considering for quick floor clean-ups if you'd like a model that's described as freestanding. It claims up to 60 minutes of run time, but this doesn't confirm how long it'll last in your set-up. Check the model's specifications too, as the suction figures quoted for it differ.
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Worth considering for crumbs on a sofa or in a car, rather than regular floor cleaning. The product title lists two power settings, a 500 ml bin and a charging dock. Check the run time for each setting; the suction figures quoted for this model differ.
Usually not: Que Choisir says the maximum advertised run time is generally for the lowest power setting, and its tests find an average of around ten minutes at maximum power. When choosing, compare the model's run time in each mode and with each accessory you'll use.
It may be enough for quick clean-ups, but first check how the exact model performs if you need to clean carpets, rugs or floorboard gaps. Que Choisir finds differences in performance between stick vacuums and describes cylinder vacuums as offering better suction.
Follow the model's instructions for emptying the bin or replacing the bag, and for maintaining the filters and brush. For the relevant bagged cylinder vacuums, Miele France notes that a full bag or blocked filters can reduce suction.
Take it to a suitable collection point. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition lists supermarkets, electronics and DIY shops, some town halls and recycling centres among the options.