Households that clean little and often
A cordless stick vacuum is quick to grab for crumbs and localised dust. Just check that its battery life and accessories also suit the surfaces you want to clean.
Who are these options for?
Households that regularly do a full clean
If you clean several rooms, floors, rugs, furniture and upholstery in one go, compare cylinder vacuums and stick vacuums on those specific surfaces. UFC-Que Choisir mainly describes stick vacuums as suitable for occasional cleaning.
Households looking to automate floor cleaning
A robot can take care of some routine vacuuming. Your home’s layout, floors and obstacles, as well as how the dust container is maintained, will all help you decide whether one is right for you.
What sets vacuum cleaners apart?
Start with the task you most want to make easier: a quick clean-up, a full clean, maintaining the appliance or automating floor cleaning.
| Criteria | What to check | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday manoeuvrability | Weight in your hand and battery life on the setting you use. | If you want to deal with crumbs or localised dust straight away, you’ll want an appliance that’s easy to get out and put away. Around 29% of consumers are thought to prioritise this speed. |
| Deep cleaning | Performance on your types of flooring and accessories for furniture and upholstery. | When you need to clean several rooms and surfaces in one go, run time and performance on each floor type matter more. This is thought to be the main priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Dust and maintenance | How it’s emptied, and which bags, filters or replacement parts are compatible. | If you want to handle dust as little as possible or plan ahead for replacing consumables, these practicalities will influence your choice. Around 21% of consumers are thought to put this issue first. |
| Automated cleaning | How it performs on your floors and in corners, plus maintenance of the dust container and brushes. | If you want to delegate frequent floor cleaning, you may be happy to prepare the space and maintain a robot. This is thought to be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
If you’re planning to use a cordless stick vacuum as your main appliance, don’t compare only the maximum quoted battery life. UFC-Que Choisir reports that, at maximum power, its tests found an average run time of around ten minutes. Check how long it lasts on the setting suited to your floors.
In its guide to cylinder vacuums, UFC-Que Choisir gives bagged models the edge over bagless ones for suction. This doesn’t mean you should skip comparing the performance of the models you’re considering on your own floors. A bagless model saves you buying bags, but you’ll need to empty its dust container and maintain its filters. A bagged model requires compatible bags.
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing maximum battery life with the time needed for a full clean
The quoted run time for a stick vacuum may be based on a less demanding setting than you’ll need for a rug or a particularly dirty area. UFC-Que Choisir found that average run time was considerably shorter at maximum power in its tests.
Compare the run time on the setting you’ll need to clean your rooms, rather than looking only at the maximum figure.
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Assuming a bagless model needs no maintenance
You’ll need to empty the dust container, and filters and some wear parts will vary between models.
Check the reference numbers for compatible filters and parts, then confirm they’re available for the specific appliance.
Remember to factor in the possible replacement of filters, brushes or hoses over the life of the appliance.
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Expecting a robot to replace all manual cleaning
UFC-Que Choisir reports that results vary depending on the type of floor; its testing also looks at edges and corners. A robot can’t clean furniture and upholstery on its own.
Check how it performs on your floors and consider which tasks you’ll still need another appliance to handle.
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Buying consumables without checking the exact reference
Rowenta, Dyson, Miele and Electrolux catalogues list bags, filters and parts for specific product ranges and models.
Make a note of the vacuum cleaner’s full reference number, or its PNC where relevant, before checking whether a consumable is compatible.
Brands to consider
Rowenta
Worth considering for cordless stick and bagged or bagless cylinder vacuums if access to replacement parts is a factor in your decision.
- Rowenta lists accessories and parts for these vacuum cleaner ranges in its official shop.
- Check the appliance reference and the terms and conditions that apply to any promise about parts availability.
Dyson
Worth considering for cordless stick vacuums if access to compatible batteries, filters or brushes is important to your decision.
- Dyson’s French website lists parts for several generations of cordless vacuum cleaners.
- A part listed for a range won’t necessarily be available for every model, so check the exact reference.
Miele
Worth considering for bagged cylinder vacuums if you want to identify compatible consumables before you buy.
- Miele matches bags and filters to specific series, including the Complete C2 and Complete C3.
- Choosing a bagged model means you’ll need to replace the bags with compatible ones.
Electrolux
Worth considering for cylinder vacuums, cordless stick vacuums and robots if finding replacement parts is one of your criteria.
- Electrolux’s French shop lists items including filters, batteries and chargers for its cordless vacuum cleaners.
- Check the PNC or full reference number: a range catalogue doesn’t confirm compatibility with every appliance.
Vacuum cleaners for different needs
This Joybuy selection includes a bagged cylinder vacuum for regular cleaning, cordless stick vacuums for frequent clean-ups and a robot for extra floor care.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG, bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner
Worth considering if a full clean of several rooms matters more to you than quick clean-ups. The product name identifies it as a bagged cylinder vacuum; check which brushes are included and the reference numbers for compatible bags and filters.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5, cordless stick vacuum
Its cordless design suits quick clean-ups when you want to grab the vacuum in a hurry. The product title quotes up to 65 minutes of battery life. If you plan to clean the whole home, check the run time on the setting you’ll need and make sure the accessories suit your surfaces.
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BISSELL PowerClean, vacuum cleaner
Worth comparing for frequent cleaning if you want to move from floors to furniture. Before choosing it for several rooms, check the configuration of this specific model, the accessories included and how long it runs on the setting you need.
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Monsga M100, freestanding cordless stick vacuum
The freestanding design may appeal if you tend to pause and resume your cleaning. The product title quotes 45 minutes of battery life without specifying the setting. If you also plan to use it for a full clean, check the run time on the setting suited to your floors.
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Eureka E20 Plus, robot vacuum cleaner with docking station
Worth considering if you want to automate some floor cleaning alongside cleaning furniture and upholstery. The product title quotes up to 180 minutes of operation and 3D obstacle avoidance. Check how it performs on your floors, what maintenance it needs and whether the app is compatible if you want to use it.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cordless stick vacuum be my only vacuum cleaner?
Yes, if its run time on the setting you need, performance on your floors and accessories cover all your cleaning tasks. UFC-Que Choisir mainly describes stick vacuums as suitable for occasional cleaning. If you regularly do a full clean, compare one with a cylinder vacuum rather than relying on the maximum quoted battery life.
Bagged or bagless cylinder vacuum: which should you choose?
Choose according to how you prefer to deal with dust and maintenance: a bagged model needs compatible bags, while a bagless one means emptying the dust container and maintaining the filters. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide gives bagged cylinder vacuums the edge for suction; still, compare the models you’re considering on the floors in your home.
How can you check parts and consumables before buying?
Make a note of the vacuum cleaner’s full reference number, then check with the manufacturer for compatible bags, filters, brushes and, for a cordless stick vacuum, batteries. Rowenta, Dyson, Miele and Electrolux catalogues let you search by range or model.
Does a robot mean you no longer need to clean by hand?
No. It can automate floor cleaning, but it can’t clean furniture and upholstery on its own. UFC-Que Choisir reports that results vary depending on the type of floor; you should also check how it handles edges and corners and what maintenance it needs.
Does the repairability index apply to vacuum cleaners in France?
Yes. The official economie.gouv.fr website states that vacuum cleaners sold in France must display a repairability index. Check the score for the specific model, but don’t mistake it for a guarantee that every part will be available.