For frequent, quick clean-ups, a cordless stick vacuum is convenient, provided its battery lasts long enough on the setting you’ll actually use and it isn’t too noisy for the other occupants. For carpets, rugs or a deeper clean, it’s worth comparing a cylinder vacuum despite its weight and cord: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the trade-off between cleaning performance and manoeuvrability. A robot vacuum can keep clear floors clean between manual cleans, but results vary by model and floor type, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
If you want to quickly clear crumbs from a hard floor without having to move a bulky appliance, consider a cordless stick vacuum. Be sure to check how long it runs on the setting you’ll use, as well as how noisy that setting is.
If these surfaces need a thorough clean regularly, compare a stick vacuum with a cylinder model. UFC-Que Choisir describes cylinder vacuums as effective at picking up dirt, but heavier and less manoeuvrable than stick models.
On clear floors, a robot vacuum can clean between manual sessions. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results depend on the model and floor type, so also check how it moves around furniture and how easy the dust container is to maintain.
Consider it: for frequent, short clean-ups when it matters that the vacuum is easy to take out and put away.
The trade-off: battery life depends on the setting. In the tests cited by UFC-Que Choisir, stick vacuums last around ten minutes on average at full power.
Consider it: when rugs, carpets or longer cleaning sessions matter more than ease of carrying the vacuum around.
The trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the weight and reduced manoeuvrability of cylinder vacuums. You’ll also need to allow for the cord and storage space.
Consider it: to schedule cleaning on clear floors between manual sessions.
The trade-off: according to UFC-Que Choisir, suction performance varies by model and floor type. You’ll also need to consider obstacles and maintenance.
Once you’ve chosen the type of vacuum, compare how it performs on your flooring and on the setting you’ll actually use.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | For a stick vacuum, compare its running time on the usual and maximum settings, and check how long it takes to charge if you’ll be using it for back-to-back cleaning sessions. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the maximum running time quoted is usually for a low-power setting. | I want to finish the planned clean without having to stop halfway through a carpet or rug to recharge the vacuum. |
| Noise | Compare noise levels on the useful setting, based on tests carried out under similar conditions, and check which settings are available. A decibel rating on its own, without details of the conditions, doesn’t tell you how disruptive a vacuum will be. | When other people are around, I want to be able to clean without always having to use the most powerful setting. |
| Performance on your floors | Look for tests on the types of flooring you have, using comparable settings. Check the vacuum head and any accessories for rugs, gaps or corners instead of choosing based solely on the quoted watts or kPa. | My hard floors, rugs or carpets should guide my choice: a vacuum that’s easy to get out isn’t enough if it doesn’t clean these surfaces well. |
| Handling and maintenance | Check the weight of the complete vacuum, how much storage space it needs and the capacity of its dust container or bag. If you’re buying a new vacuum in France, also check the repairability index that applies to vacuum cleaners, as noted by the ministry responsible for the ecological transition. | If several people will use the vacuum, I’d prefer carrying it, emptying it and putting it away to be simple day to day. |
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the maximum running time quoted for a stick vacuum is usually based on a low-power setting. Its tests found an average of around ten minutes at full power.
Compare the running time on the setting you need for your floors with the length of your usual cleaning sessions. If several people will use the vacuum, check how long it takes to charge too.
Figures in watts or kPa don’t, on their own, tell you how well a vacuum will clean a rug, carpet or the gaps between floorboards.
Look at tests carried out on the same types of flooring and check which vacuum head or brush comes with the model you’re considering.
In its test of around 40 robot mops, UFC-Que Choisir rated the mopping function as mediocre on the majority of models tested. This finding doesn’t tell you how a particular model will perform just because it has a docking station or mopping function.
Check how it performs on your flooring and the types of dirt you need to clean, and keep a manual option for tougher marks.
Emptying the dust container, replacing bags or filters when needed and accessing spare parts all affect how easy a vacuum is to use regularly.
Before choosing, check which consumables fit the exact model, what information is available about its parts and its repairability index.
These brands offer a range of vacuum types to explore. Choose based on the features and performance of the specific model, not just its name.
A brand to consider when looking at rechargeable stick vacuums.
A brand to consider when comparing stick, cylinder and robot vacuums.
A brand to consider if a cylinder vacuum is a better fit for your needs.
A brand to consider for scheduled cleaning with a robot vacuum.
Another brand to consider when looking at robot vacuums.
These cordless models are suited to frequent manual clean-ups. To choose between them, compare their advertised features with the running time, flooring and noise levels that matter in your home. Comparing them with a cylinder or robot vacuum is a separate decision.
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Its cordless, self-standing design could suit quick clean-ups in shared rooms. The product description lists settings for hard floors and carpets, along with a 1,8 L dust container. The quoted 45-minute running time doesn’t specify the setting, so check how long it lasts on the setting you plan to use, as well as its weight and noise level, before choosing it for shared accommodation.
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The advertised settings for hard floors, carpets and turbo are worth considering if your rooms have different types of flooring. The product description lists a 700 mL dust container, a weight of 3,3 kg and up to 65 minutes of running time in standard mode. Check the battery life on other settings too. The quoted noise level of 75 dB isn’t a substitute for a like-for-like test on the setting you’ll use.
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It can be converted into a handheld vacuum for small clean-ups as well as floors. The product description mentions a removable battery and up to 60 minutes of running time, but doesn’t give timings for each setting. A spare battery is listed as sold separately. The 1,4 kg weight applies to handheld mode, not the complete vacuum, so check the full weight and noise level under comparable conditions.
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Switching from stick to handheld mode means you can use the same vacuum for floors and furniture. The quoted 40-minute running time isn’t linked to a specific setting, so check whether it will last for your cleaning sessions, as well as the weight, settings and noise level on the mode you need.
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This cordless model is worth comparing for dry cleaning around the home. The 65 dB figure in the product description isn’t enough to assess how noisy it will be. Check a comparable noise measurement, along with battery life on the setting you’ll use, charging time and weight. The product description specifies dry vacuuming only, so don’t use it on liquids or damp debris.
No. According to UFC-Que Choisir, it usually refers to use on a low-power setting. In its tests of dozens of stick vacuums, average battery life at full power was around ten minutes. Compare the running time on the setting you’ll use for your floors too.
No. If your home has rugs, carpets or several rooms that need a thorough clean, compare it with a stick vacuum. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the suction performance of cylinder vacuums, as well as their weight and reduced manoeuvrability. You should also check how noisy the specific model is.
Don’t assume it will be suitable for a home that also needs a thorough clean or where you need to reach awkward areas. UFC-Que Choisir notes that robot vacuum performance varies by model and floor type. Compare tests on your flooring, how well it navigates around obstacles and how easy the dust container is to maintain.
Check whether the app is compatible with your phone and what update support is available for the model you’re considering. Also look at how it navigates around your rooms, how noisy it is during scheduled cleans and what maintenance the occupants will need to carry out.
It helps you assess how easy the appliance is to repair: the ministry responsible for the ecological transition includes vacuum cleaners among the products covered by this index. Compare the ratings of the specific models you’re interested in, but don’t confuse repairability with suction performance, noise or battery life.