If you want one appliance for regular cleaning of hard floors, rugs, carpets and furniture, a canister vacuum is worth considering first, provided its brushes and tools are suitable for the surfaces in your home. A cordless stick vacuum makes quick clean-ups easier, but its runtime in the mode you need must be sufficient. A robot can take care of some accessible floors, although it won’t necessarily replace manual cleaning.
You move between hard floors, rugs and carpets, and also want to clean furniture, skirting boards and awkward corners. When choosing a main vacuum, check which floorheads and accessories are included, as well as how much storage space it needs.
You often clean small areas or want to put the vacuum away easily after use. A cordless stick vacuum may suit you if its runtime in the mode you need and its accessories also meet your needs on rugs and furniture; Que Choisir considers it more of a secondary appliance.
You want to keep accessible floors cleaner more regularly. Before considering a robot, check thresholds, rugs, the space available for its dock and which tasks you’ll still need to do by hand.
Worth considering: for thorough cleaning with a main vacuum, if you’re happy with a corded model.
Bear in mind: compatible bags need replacing, and the appliance takes up storage space.
Worth considering: if you’d prefer a canister vacuum without bags to replace.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain it regularly.
Worth considering: if being able to get the vacuum out, use it and put it away easily matters most for frequent clean-ups.
Bear in mind: runtime may be shorter on higher power settings, as Que Choisir points out.
Worth considering: to delegate some cleaning of accessible floors, if your home’s layout is suitable.
Bear in mind: furniture and awkward corners may still need a manual vacuum.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Floor types and accessories | A floorhead suited to rugs or carpets and a brush for hard floors, plus the tools supplied for furniture and crevices. | If I move from a wooden floor to a rug and then on to the furniture, I want accessories suited to each task. Around 31% of consumers would put this versatility first. |
| Thorough cleaning and maintenance | The capacity of the bag or container, the operating radius of a canister vacuum and the maintenance required for the model. | To clean my whole home in one session, I want to minimise interruptions and choose which maintenance tasks I’m happy to take on. This would be the main priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Manoeuvrability and storage | How much space the vacuum takes up when stored and, for a stick vacuum, its runtime in the mode you need and charging time. | When I do short, frequent clean-ups, I want to be able to get the vacuum out and put it away easily. Around 23% of consumers would prioritise this ease of use. |
| Automating floor cleaning | Thresholds and rugs in your home, space for the dock and the scheduling features of the robot you’re considering. | If I want to delegate cleaning in accessible areas, I still need to be able to clean the other surfaces. This would be the main need for around 15% of consumers. |
This figure alone isn’t enough to judge whether a vacuum is suitable for your flooring. Que Choisir also highlights the importance of the floorhead’s design.
Check the brushes and tools supplied with the version you’re considering, and make sure they suit your floors, rugs, furniture and awkward corners.
For a cordless stick vacuum, the quoted runtime may refer to the lowest power setting, Que Choisir points out.
Check the runtime in the mode you’ll need for rugs or carpets, as well as the charging time if you plan to clean your whole home in one go.
A bagged canister vacuum needs compatible bags, which must be replaced over time.
Note down the exact reference before buying and check that you’ll be able to get the right bags.
How it handles rugs, navigates and responds to controls depends on the model and your home’s layout. Furniture and certain areas that need targeted cleaning should also be considered separately.
Measure your thresholds, check your rugs and decide where to put the dock, then work out which tasks will still need a manual vacuum.
A brand to consider among bagged canister vacuums if accessories for hard floors and compatible bags are important to your choice.
A brand with bagged canister vacuums in configurations designed for parquet and other household surfaces.
A brand to consider if you’re looking at cordless stick vacuums and prioritise manoeuvrability and accessories for different surfaces.
A brand to consider if you want a robot to supplement manual cleaning of accessible floors.
These models include corded and cordless options for cleaning different floor types. A bagged canister vacuum suits a different preference for collecting dust than a cordless stick vacuum. Before choosing a main vacuum, compare the accessories supplied with each model and any practical considerations.
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Worth considering if you prefer a corded vacuum for moving between hard floors and rugs without worrying about recharging. The title lists 65KPA and 600W. If you have delicate parquet, check the floorhead supplied and the usage instructions rather than relying on these figures alone.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups if the self-standing design suits your storage needs. The title claims up to 45 minutes of runtime and an anti-tangle brush. Check the runtime in the mode you’ll need for your rugs, as well as which accessories are supplied for furniture.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum for rugs and hard floors. The title claims up to 65 minutes of runtime and an anti-tangle brush. Check the runtime in the mode you’ll use and whether it has the accessories you need for surfaces above floor level.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum with a removable battery. The title claims up to 60 minutes of runtime. Check how long it lasts in each mode and on different floor types, and whether a replacement battery is available if you plan to clean for longer periods.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged canister vacuum as your main appliance for different floor types. Check that the brushes supplied are suitable for your floors, then check the reference and availability of compatible bags.
Yes, if its runtime in the mode you need, rug floorhead, container capacity and accessories are sufficient for your regular cleaning. However, Que Choisir considers cordless stick vacuums more of a secondary appliance. If you want it to be your only vacuum, compare its usable runtime with the length of your cleaning sessions, rather than relying on the quoted maximum runtime alone.
Choose a floorhead designed for both types of flooring, or check that the version you’re considering comes with the right brushes. For a canister vacuum on hard floors, Que Choisir recommends extending the brush bristles to help reduce noise and the risk of damaging the floor. Also check whether you need a parquet brush for your flooring.
Note down the reference for compatible bags and check how to get and replace them. Also check the maintenance instructions for the filters and brushes, as these tasks are part of regular use.
Some models can, but the controls available vary from one appliance to another. Roborock’s support information says the Qrevo S can start complete or targeted cleaning sessions without Wi-Fi, while connecting it gives you access to features such as scheduling and power selection. Check the functions available on the specific robot you’re considering.