For quick pick-ups between cleans, choose a cordless stick vacuum if its battery life on the setting you use is enough for the job. A robot vacuum is better suited to a scheduled routine, provided it can navigate your thresholds and rugs and has room for its docking station. If you have rugs or carpets, or need a deeper clean, keep or choose a cylinder vacuum as your main or secondary cleaner: UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes this use from the quick clean-ups that stick vacuums are generally suited to.
If you want to pick up crumbs or small bits of dirt without getting out a bulky appliance, a cordless stick vacuum can be handy for quick clean-ups. However, UFC-Que Choisir notes that its battery life and suction power can limit it when tackling more demanding jobs.
A robot vacuum lets you schedule regular cleaning if your home has a suitable layout. Depending on the model, mapping and no-go zones can help you organise cleaning cycles. Always check your rugs and thresholds, and make sure there’s enough room for the docking station.
If quick clean-ups aren’t enough for your floors or larger areas, consider a cylinder vacuum as your main cleaner or as a complement to another appliance. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes its use from that of a stick vacuum, particularly when you need a deeper clean.
Choose one if: you need to deal with small messes quickly, and getting out a corded appliance would put you off doing a quick clean.
Bear in mind: battery life can become limiting at high power. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests found that battery life averages around ten minutes at maximum power.
Choose one if: you want to schedule regular cleans in a home where the robot can get around and return to its docking station.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to prepare the areas it will clean and maintain the appliance. Don’t assume it can handle every obstacle or every rug.
Choose one if: you need a main or secondary cleaner for rugs, carpets or a deeper clean, rather than prioritising quick, convenient pick-ups.
Bear in mind: it’s generally bulkier to store and less convenient to grab for a quick clean than a stick vacuum.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to use straight away | Storage and charging space, followed by battery life on the setting you’ll actually use. | I want an appliance that’s easy to reach for and put away quickly, so I can deal with small messes as soon as they appear; around 40% of consumers prioritise this kind of immediate clean-up. |
| Scheduled cleaning | Thresholds, rugs, the location of the docking station and the model’s scheduling features. | When I’m busy, I’d rather schedule regular cleaning than start it manually; around 30% of consumers prioritise this kind of automation. |
| Floors and tougher messes | Whether the brush suits your floors and what the manufacturer recommends for rugs and carpets. | With rugs, pet hair or more stubborn dirt, I want to be able to do more than a quick pick-up; around 30% of consumers prioritise a deeper clean. |
This figure may refer to a low-power setting. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests found that battery life drops to an average of around ten minutes at maximum power.
Compare the battery life quoted for the setting you plan to use on your floors, particularly if you have rugs or areas that get very dirty.
An unsuitable threshold or rug can interrupt a scheduled clean. iRobot says Roomba models can cross thresholds up to 1,6 cm high; this figure doesn’t apply to other brands.
Measure your thresholds and check your rugs, then compare them with the specifications of the robot you’re considering.
An auto-emptying dock or mopping function adds maintenance tasks to your routine, even if it reduces some manual work.
Before choosing a model with a dock, check its dimensions, the accessories included and the consumables it requires.
Depending on the dock, you may also need to replace dust bags or wear parts.
UFC-Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as handy for small clean-ups, but notes that they can be less effective on thick rugs, carpets and wooden floors with grooves.
If these surfaces make up a large part of your home, first consider whether a cylinder vacuum could work as your main cleaner or complement a stick or robot vacuum.
Depending on the model, Dyson’s cordless stick range includes cleaner heads and accessories designed for different floor types.
Rowenta offers stick, cylinder and X-PLORER robot vacuum cleaners, with options to suit different cleaning routines.
Roomba robot vacuums are designed for households looking to automate some of their floor cleaning.
Miele bagged cylinder vacuums are worth considering if you’re looking for a main cleaner for rugs and carpets as well as other floors.
A stick vacuum may be enough for frequent, quick pick-ups if its brush and battery life suit your floors. For thick rugs, carpets or a deeper clean, UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering a cylinder vacuum as your main or secondary cleaner.
First, check there’s room for the docking station and that the robot can navigate its route, particularly over thresholds and around rugs. Then compare these obstacles with the model’s specifications: for example, iRobot says Roomba models can cross thresholds up to 1,6 cm high, but this figure doesn’t apply to other brands.
Check the battery life on the power setting you’ll use, rather than relying on the maximum figure quoted. That usually refers to a low-power setting; in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests, average battery life at maximum power was around ten minutes.
Yes. In France, if a business sells the vacuum cleaner to an individual, the DGCCRF says this mandatory guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. It is separate from a return requested simply because you’ve changed your mind.