For regular cleaning of hard floors, carpets and upholstery, start by choosing a vacuum based on how well it performs on your surfaces and the brushes supplied, rather than on its advertised power alone. A cylinder vacuum can be your main appliance for a thorough clean; a stick vacuum makes quick clean-ups easier, but if it’s cordless, you’ll need to consider its battery life. A wet and dry vacuum is mainly useful for unusual types of dirt, depending on what the model is designed to pick up.
If you regularly move between tiles or wooden floors and carpets, the sofa and bedding, look for a main appliance with performance results broken down by surface. Que Choisir’s testing protocol, for example, distinguishes between tiles, wooden floors with gaps and carpets.
If fibres get caught in your carpets, look at tests assessing how well they’re picked up and check which brush comes with the model. A ‘pet’ label is no substitute for carpet performance results.
If you want an appliance that’s quick to get out and put away, a stick vacuum could suit your needs. For a cordless model, compare the battery life with the mode you’ll use, then check the bin capacity and how to maintain it.
Worth considering: as a main appliance for regular cleaning across several surfaces, particularly if you want to limit contact with dust when emptying it.
Bear in mind: the cord, the storage space required and the need to replace bags; pick-up performance still depends on the model.
Worth considering: if you want a corded cylinder vacuum and would rather empty a bin than replace bags.
Bear in mind: emptying and cleaning the bin may expose you to more dust, according to Que Choisir.
Worth considering: for frequent clean-ups, when ease of use and storage are particularly important.
Bear in mind: with a cordless model, how long you can use it depends on the battery and the mode selected. Que Choisir sees stick vacuums as more of a supplementary appliance than a go-to solution for deep cleaning.
Worth considering: if household cleaning also involves larger debris, building dust or liquids that the model is designed to vacuum up.
Bear in mind: these appliances are generally bulkier, and their accessories also need to be suitable for your indoor floors if you plan to clean them.
To compare these types, start with the need that matters most to you, then check the specifications and test results relevant to that use.
| Priority | What to check | What matters to consumers |
|---|---|---|
| Several surfaces | Separate results for hard floors, wooden floors and carpets; brushes suited to the fabrics you need to clean. | When floors, carpets and the sofa are all part of the same cleaning routine, I want to know how well each is cleaned before choosing a main appliance. Around 36% of consumers would put cleaning multiple surfaces at the top of their list. |
| Pet hair and fibres on carpets | Tests measuring how well fibres are picked up from carpets and the brush actually supplied. | If hair gets caught in my carpets, removing it is what determines my choice, ahead of the appliance type. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Quick clean-ups | Battery life at the setting you’ll use for a cordless model; weight in your hand and ease of storage. | For frequent, short cleaning sessions, what matters most to me is being able to get the vacuum out and put it away easily. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this ease of use. |
| Unusual types of dirt | Permitted debris or liquids, the required filter and the storage space needed. | If I also need to clean up after small DIY jobs, the type of debris matters more to me than the convenience of everyday cleaning. Handling this kind of debris would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from wooden floors, tiles or carpets. The floorhead and accessories matter too.
Compare results on your floor coverings and check which brushes come with the exact model you’re considering.
A quick clean-up and a thorough clean don’t necessarily need the same amount of running time. Que Choisir sees stick vacuums as better suited to supplementary cleaning.
Consider how long your cleaning sessions last, particularly if you have a lot of carpet, and check the battery life at the power setting you need.
How dust is collected and how quickly parts that need maintenance get dirty can affect the way you use the appliance every day.
Check the reference numbers for any bags or filters you’ll need and read the maintenance instructions for the model.
Being able to pick up certain unusual types of debris doesn’t guarantee that it has a brush suited to your carpets or that it’s easy to store at home.
Before choosing this type, check which debris it can pick up, which brushes are included, its weight and how much space you have.
Miele offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, as well as cordless stick vacuums, with models designed for specific needs, including hard floors and homes with pets.
Rowenta offers cordless stick vacuums as well as bagged and bagless cylinder models.
Kärcher’s wet and dry vacuum range is designed to tackle dry or wet dirt around the home, garden and workshop.
This selection includes stick vacuums for cleaning different surfaces, as well as a bagged cylinder vacuum for households considering this type as their main appliance. Compare the accessories and operating requirements with your floors, carpets and upholstery.
Image unavailable
If you want a stick vacuum for quick clean-ups without relying on a battery, consider whether this corded model suits the layout of your home. Its name lists 600W of power and a 65KPA rating, but these figures alone don’t show how well it picks up dirt from your carpets or wooden floors. Check that it has a brush suited to these surfaces too.
Image unavailable
If pet hair on carpets is a key factor in your choice, compare the pick-up results for this model and check which brush is included. Its stated suitability for pet hair doesn’t, by itself, tell you how well it will perform on your flooring.
Image unavailable
For cordless cleaning on hard floors and carpets, compare the length of your cleaning sessions with the battery life at the setting you’ll use. The product name states up to 65 Min and 60.000Pa of suction; these figures don’t show how well it picks up dirt from different surfaces.
Image unavailable
If you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum for regular cleaning, check how this model performs on each of your floor coverings. Before choosing, also check which brushes are included, how easy the appliance is to handle and which bags are compatible.
Compare separate results for each surface rather than looking at motor power alone. Que Choisir’s testing protocol covers tiles, wooden floors with gaps and carpets, among other surfaces. If you have pets, also look for results on how well fibres are picked up from carpets.
A bagged cylinder vacuum means you don’t have to empty a bin directly, while a bagless model needs its bin emptied and cleaned. Also check the filter for the model you’re considering and how to maintain or replace it; choosing a bagged vacuum doesn’t mean you can skip these checks.
You’ll need to empty the bin or replace the bag, and maintain the filters and brushes according to the model’s instructions. Check their reference numbers and the appliance-specific guidance before you buy.