For regular cleaning across hard floors, carpets and upholstery with one main appliance, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners and the attachments actually included. UFC-Que Choisir assesses performance separately across different floor coverings and on embedded fibres. Your choice between a bagged and bagless model then comes down to the maintenance you prefer and which consumables are compatible. A stick vacuum can make quick, targeted cleaning easier, while a robot can look after accessible floors. However, neither removes the need to clean your sofa and those awkward corners.
You move from wooden or tiled floors to carpets, then on to the sofa. If you want one main appliance for cleaning, look at performance on each surface as well as the attachments included. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these floor coverings separately in its tests of cylinder vacuums.
When pet hair gets caught in carpet fibres or between sofa cushions, the carpet brush and upholstery tool matter more than a simple “pet” label on the product. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing includes a test on embedded fibres.
A lightweight stick vacuum or robot can make everyday cleaning easier. If you also need to vacuum the stairs, upholstery and corners, consider how you’ll tackle these areas by hand. UFC-Que Choisir assesses the uses of stick vacuums, cylinder vacuums and robots separately.
For a thorough clean, a bagged or bagless cylinder vacuum is the best place to start; stick vacuums and robots are better suited to targeted or regular maintenance. UFC-Que Choisir’s results show why it’s worth looking at performance on each surface separately.
Consider it: for cleaning several rooms and surfaces with one main appliance, if you’re happy to use bags compatible with its model number.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags and check they’re available. An automatic closure, such as the one Miele describes for HyClean Pure, isn’t a feature of every model.
Consider it: as your main vacuum if you’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the container and maintain the filters as instructed. UFC-Que Choisir takes clogging into account in its tests.
Consider it: for targeted cleaning, especially on stairs or in narrow spaces, if its manoeuvrability suits your needs.
Bear in mind: with a rechargeable model, check the battery life for the mode you’ll use. Being easy to manoeuvre doesn’t necessarily mean it will handle all your carpets and upholstery.
Consider it: for regular cleaning of floors the robot can reach.
Bear in mind: you’ll need a manual solution for sofas and areas the robot can’t reach. UFC-Que Choisir tests carpets, edges and corners, among other things.
In a home with at least two different types of surface or area to clean, your priorities may depend on which tasks you want your vacuum cleaner to handle.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and upholstery | Check that the included floor heads are suitable for your floors and carpets, and that there’s a tool for the sofa. | If I want to move from wooden floors to carpets and then cushions without missing any areas, versatile attachments are my priority. Around 37% of consumers prioritise this multi-surface coverage. |
| Pet hair and fibres | Look for a brush suited to carpets and an upholstery tool. Where possible, compare test results on embedded fibres. | When pet hair gets caught in the carpet or sofa, I want to know how well it can be removed from each surface. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Moving around your home | Compare the reach of a corded model or the battery life of a cordless one in the mode you’ll use, taking stairs into account. | When cleaning several rooms in one go, I don’t want to keep changing sockets or stop to recharge. Around 18% of consumers put uninterrupted cleaning first. |
| Appliance maintenance | Check the model numbers for bags and filters, whether they’re available and what maintenance the instructions recommend. | If I’d rather plan ahead for changing bags, emptying the container and cleaning the filters, I’ll choose a system that suits the way I like to maintain my appliance. For around 18% of consumers, this is the top consideration. |
A figure on its own doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans wooden floors, tiles, carpets or fibres. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these situations separately in its cylinder vacuum testing.
Look for results relevant to your floor coverings and check which brushes and nozzles come with the model you’re considering.
Bags, filters and attachments depend on the model number; what’s included with one version may not be included with another.
Before ordering, note down the full model number, check what’s in the box and identify compatible consumables.
Depending on the appliance and the jobs you have in mind, you may need bags, filters or an additional compatible attachment.
A stick vacuum’s manoeuvrability or a robot’s scheduled cleaning won’t, on its own, take care of sofas and awkward corners. For robots, UFC-Que Choisir also assesses performance on carpets, along edges and in corners.
Decide whether the appliance will be your main vacuum or an extra, then consider how you’ll clean the surfaces it can’t reach.
Worth a look if you’re after a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to identify its consumables precisely.
The range includes bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, with accessories and features varying by model number.
The ProAnimal range is worth exploring if cleaning pet hair from carpets and upholstery is a regular task.
Worth considering if you’re after a cordless stick vacuum for quick, targeted cleaning, provided you choose the right attachments.
Worth exploring for regular cleaning of accessible floors, alongside manual cleaning of upholstery.
These models suit different roles in a home with several types of surface: a bagged cylinder vacuum as your main appliance, stick vacuums for targeted cleaning and a robot for looking after accessible floors. Before choosing, compare their features with your carpets, upholstery and those awkward corners.
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For targeted cleaning on floors and carpets or around furniture, check that the included attachments are also suitable for your sofa and gaps.
The listing states up to 65 minutes of battery life in standard mode. Check the battery life for the mode you’ll use.
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If you’re looking for a stick vacuum for both floor cleaning and handheld use, check the included accessories before relying on it to clean your sofa.
The stated 55-minute battery life is for bare-floor mode. Compare the battery life in the mode you’ll need for carpets.
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If you plan to use it as your main appliance on several surfaces, check that the included brushes are suitable for your floors and carpets.
If you also vacuum the sofa, check whether an upholstery tool is included and identify which bags are compatible with this model number.
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This style could suit targeted cleaning if you prefer a corded model and have sockets within reach.
The stated cord length is 4.5 m and the dust container holds 0.5 L. Check which accessories are included and whether it has the brush you need if you have carpets.
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Worth considering for regular cleaning of accessible floors, while keeping a manual vacuum for the sofa and awkward corners.
Before relying on it to clean around carpets and furniture, check the thresholds it can cross and how well it performs along edges and in corners.
A robot on its own won’t clean your sofa, cushions or stairs; you’ll need another suitable appliance. For floors, also compare its performance on carpets, along edges and in corners. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these situations separately.
Choose based on the maintenance you’re happy with: replacing compatible bags or emptying the container and maintaining the filters. Either way, follow the instructions for your model. UFC-Que Choisir takes bag and filter clogging into account when assessing performance.
Check that the carpet brush and the attachment for your sofa are suitable for each job, rather than relying on the word “pets” alone. If test results are available for the model, those covering embedded fibres are particularly relevant. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing includes this type of test.