For regular cleaning of hard floors, rugs and carpets throughout your home, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners. According to Que Choisir, its tests favour bagged models over bagless ones for picking up the dirt tested on floors; bagless is still an option if you’d rather empty a bin than replace bags. A cordless stick vacuum or robot can make it easier to keep on top of cleaning between full cleans, but check its results before making it your main appliance.
You’re looking for a main appliance to clean hard floors, rugs and carpets throughout your home. Que Choisir assesses results by floor type and dirt tested, so look for tests that match your rooms rather than relying on an overall score.
If hair, fibres or pet hair cling to fabrics, check the results achieved with the brush used in the test. A turbo brush or mini turbo brush will only help on these surfaces if it suits your needs and is included with the version you buy.
You may prefer to replace a bag rather than empty dust directly from a bin, or to avoid bags altogether. Either way, check which consumables are compatible and what maintenance the specific model requires.
For a main vacuum cleaner that can tackle several floor types, first check how it performs on your floors and the kinds of dirt you usually deal with. Then choose the dust collection method you’re happy to maintain. A stick vacuum or robot may be better suited if your priority is making it easier to clean between full cleans.
Consider this: if you want a cylinder vacuum as your main appliance for hard floors and fabrics. Que Choisir’s tests favour this format over bagless models for the dirt tested.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags with compatible ones and move the cylinder from room to room.
Consider this: if you want a cylinder vacuum for full cleans but would rather empty a bin than change bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. Compare the model’s performance on your floor types.
Consider this: as an easy-to-grab extra for frequent clean-ups.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir says battery life and suction are often limited. Don’t assume it can clean your whole home on its own.
Consider this: to automate some regular cleaning, provided the robot can move around your rooms.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to maintain the bin, brushes and filter. Don’t assume that its autonomous cleaning can replace a full clean.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Hard floors, rugs and carpets | Test results by floor type and type of dirt; brushes included with the version you choose. | If I need to clean every room with the same appliance, I want it to work on my rugs as well as hard floors. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this ability to clean different floor types. |
| Hair, fibres and pet hair | Tests covering this type of dirt; whether a brush suitable for fabrics is included and how to maintain it. | When hair or pet hair clings to rugs and furniture, picking it up becomes my top priority. Around 27% of consumers would share this priority. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Compatible bag or filter reference; what’s involved in emptying the bin or changing the bag. | I’d rather know what handling dust and buying consumables will involve day to day. Around 27% of consumers would put dust collection ahead of other features. |
| Frequent clean-ups | For a stick vacuum, battery life in the mode you use; for a robot, results on rugs, edges and corners, as well as maintenance tasks. | Between full cleans, I’d like to grab a stick vacuum quickly or let a robot move around, without mistaking the convenience for a full clean. Around 13% of consumers would put this convenience first. |
Electrical power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from wooden floors, rugs and carpets. Que Choisir’s test methods assess different floor types and, depending on the test, areas such as edges and corners.
Check the results for your floors and make sure you know which brushes come with the exact model reference.
A bagged model needs compatible bags; a bagless one means emptying the bin and following the filter maintenance instructions.
Before choosing, find out the reference for the consumables and read the model’s maintenance instructions.
Factor in the cost of replacement bags for a bagged model, or the time needed to clean the bin and filters on a bagless one.
According to Que Choisir, stick vacuums often have limited battery life and suction. A robot also needs maintenance, and its results vary depending on the surfaces and areas it cleans.
If you plan to rely on one as your only appliance, check the test results for the exact model on your floors and the kinds of dirt you need to clean, as well as any limitations on how it can be used.
An old vacuum cleaner may still be repairable or suitable for reuse. If it no longer works, it should be taken to an appropriate electrical equipment collection point.
Consider having it repaired before replacing it. If it has reached the end of its life, check the collection or return options listed by ADEME.
The range includes bagged Silence Force cylinder vacuums, as well as stick vacuums and robots. Compare the features of each model rather than those of the range as a whole.
The Complete C3 range of bagged cylinder vacuums is worth a look if you want to know exactly which consumables your main appliance needs.
The PowerPro and PowerCyclone bagless cylinder vacuums are worth considering if you’d rather empty a bin than replace bags.
Dyson’s cordless stick vacuums are worth considering if you’re mainly looking for a handy extra appliance.
These two Electrolux models are bagged cylinder vacuums to consider for your main cleaning. To choose between them, compare their results on your floor types, the accessories included with the version on sale and the compatible bags.
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Worth considering as your main vacuum cleaner if you have several types of flooring. Compare its results on your rugs and carpets, then check which brushes are included and the reference for compatible bags.
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Worth considering for full cleans if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum. Its stated electrical power is 550 W, but that alone isn’t enough to judge how well it picks up dirt from your floors. Check the test results by floor type, the brushes included and the compatible bags.
According to Que Choisir, its tests favour bagged cylinder vacuums over bagless models on the floors and types of dirt tested, including dust and pet hair. Even so, compare the results for specific models, the brushes included and the consumables they need before buying.
Check that the version on sale includes a brush suitable for hard floors or wooden floors, as well as one for rugs. If you often need to pick up fibres or pet hair, also look at results achieved with a turbo brush or mini turbo brush, especially on the fabrics you need to clean.
It may be suitable as your main appliance, but only if its results and battery life in the mode you use are enough to cover your floors and the time you need to clean. Que Choisir notes that stick vacuums often have limited battery life and suction, and generally recommends them for quick clean-ups.
No. Automatic cleaning doesn’t eliminate the need for maintenance. Rowenta says you’ll need to look after the dust bin, brushes and filter. Check the instructions for the robot and any docking station to find out what’s required.
If your vacuum cleaner still works, consider repairing or reusing it. If it no longer works, check ADEME’s guidance on suitable collection options. ADEME recommends putting vacuum cleaner dust in your household rubbish, preferably in a sealed bag.