For regular, thorough cleaning across mixed flooring and carpets, start by comparing bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums. Unlike a cordless stick vacuum, they won’t limit how long you can clean for. According to Que Choisir, a bagged vacuum reduces contact with dust, while a bagless model saves you buying bags but means you’ll need to empty the canister. A stick vacuum is also an option if its runtime in the mode you’ll use and its brushes are right for your floors.
If your home has rugs, wooden flooring and hard floors, look for cleaning results on each surface and brushes to suit. Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes separate tests for carpet, tiles and parquet flooring.
When you’re cleaning several rooms in one go, runtime, dust capacity, reach and maintenance matter just as much as ease of use. Que Choisir assesses these aspects in its vacuum cleaner comparisons.
Your choice also depends on whether you’d rather replace a bag or empty a canister, as well as how much storage space you have. A stick vacuum means no cable to deal with while cleaning, but you’ll need to plan for recharging.
For regular, whole-home cleaning, start with your floor types and how long each cleaning session takes. Then compare models for dust collection and manoeuvrability.
Consider if: you clean your whole home frequently and want to minimise contact with dust when emptying the vacuum.
Bear in mind: you’ll have a cable and a vacuum to store, and will need to replace the bags.
Consider if: you want to clean without worrying about battery life and would rather not buy bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the canister and maintain the filter, and check how well the specific model performs on your carpets.
Consider if: cable-free manoeuvrability matters to you and the usable runtime is enough to clean your whole home.
Bear in mind: runtime varies by mode and brush. Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power for stick vacuums.
| Feature | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning on mixed flooring and carpets | Compare test results for your floor types and check which brushes are included, particularly for parquet flooring or upholstery. | If my carpets trap fibres and I also have hard floors, I want a vacuum that works well on both; around 36% of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
| Runtime and coverage | For a cylinder vacuum, check its operating radius and dust capacity. For a stick vacuum, check the runtime in the mode you need and how many batteries are included. | When I clean several rooms in a row, having to stop to recharge or empty the vacuum can make all the difference. Around 29% of consumers would put uninterrupted cleaning first. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Check how to replace the bag or empty the canister, and read the filter maintenance instructions. | If I want to minimise handling dust, how the vacuum is emptied is an important part of my decision; this would be the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Manoeuvrability and storage | Compare the weight in use, storage space required, whether there’s a cable and where a stick vacuum can be charged. | If I need to move the vacuum around often and find somewhere to store it, how easy it is to handle can guide my choice; around 14% of consumers would prioritise ease of use. |
The electrical power rating on its own doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean carpets. Que Choisir tests cleaning performance separately on carpet, hard floors and parquet flooring.
Compare results for the floor types in your home and check the model’s floorhead and accessories.
The power mode and brush you use can affect how long the battery lasts. Que Choisir reports that the stick vacuums it reviews run for an average of around ten minutes at full power.
Work out how long you need to clean your rooms, then check the stated runtime with the mode and brush you plan to use.
According to Que Choisir, a bagged vacuum exposes users to less dust than a bagless model. Bagless vacuums save you buying bags, but you’ll need to empty the canister.
Check how to empty the canister or replace the bag, and how to maintain the filters on the specific model.
A vacuum intended for frequent whole-home cleaning should also be easy to maintain. ADEME recommends considering repair rather than automatically replacing an appliance.
Check the repairability index if one is displayed, and find out about spare parts and repair options.
Worth considering among bagged cylinder vacuums for whole-home cleaning. Compare the features of the model you’re interested in.
A brand to compare if you prefer a bagless cylinder vacuum and don’t mind emptying a canister.
Worth considering among bagged cylinder vacuums when operating radius, capacity and brushes are important to your comparison.
Worth comparing among cordless stick vacuums if manoeuvrability matters, while keeping the length of a whole-home clean in mind.
Worth considering among cordless stick vacuums if a configuration with two batteries could suit longer cleaning sessions.
This selection includes two bagged cylinder vacuums and three cordless stick vacuums. Compare the cylinder models if you want to clean your whole home without recharging. For stick vacuums, check usable runtime and performance on your carpets before choosing one for your whole home.
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Worth considering if you want to clean several rooms without having to stop to recharge a battery.
This is a bagged cylinder vacuum. If you have a lot of carpets at home, compare the EB61C4OG’s cleaning results on your floor types and check which brushes are included.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum for whole-home cleaning.
The model name lists a 550 W motor. This figure alone isn’t enough to assess how well it will clean carpets. Check which accessories are included if you need a turbo brush.
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Worth comparing if you want to clean without a cable and have accessories for other surfaces.
The product title lists 55 kPa, as well as a flexible hose and pet brush. For whole-home carpet cleaning, check the runtime with the brush and mode you need. The stated suction figure isn’t a substitute for testing the vacuum on your floors.
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Worth considering if going cable-free and having a self-standing vacuum for storage suits your needs.
The product title mentions an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of runtime. Check how long it lasts on the setting you need for carpets: maximum runtime won’t necessarily cover a full cleaning session on this floor type.
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Worth considering if you prefer a cordless stick vacuum that can stand upright while you take a break from cleaning.
The product title mentions an anti-tangle rotating brush and a touchscreen. Before relying on this model to clean your whole home, check the runtime for each mode and compare its cleaning results on carpets.
Look at the model’s results on each of these floor types, rather than focusing on its electrical power alone. Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes separate tests for carpet, hard floors and parquet flooring. If you have pets, also look for tests on fibres and check which accessories are included.
Yes, if its runtime in the mode you need, its brushes and its dust capacity are sufficient for a full cleaning session. Que Choisir reports that stick vacuums run for an average of around ten minutes at full power, so don’t confuse the maximum runtime advertised with the time available for cleaning your carpets.
Choose a bagged cylinder vacuum if minimising contact with dust when emptying is your priority: Que Choisir says it exposes users to less dust than a bagless model. A bagless vacuum saves you buying bags, but you’ll need to empty the canister and maintain its filter.
If it’s still in working order, consider having it repaired, donating it or selling it on, as ADEME recommends. If it needs to be disposed of, ask a retailer about taking it back or find a local collection point for electrical equipment.