Households looking for a main vacuum cleaner
You regularly clean several types of flooring, including rugs or fitted carpets, and want to clean your whole home rather than just pick up visible dirt between proper cleans.
Which type is right for you?
People who do frequent quick clean-ups
You want an appliance that’s easy to take out and put away when you need to pick up dust, crumbs or pet hair. UFC-Que Choisir generally describes cordless stick vacuums as suitable for this kind of occasional use.
Households looking to automate routine cleaning
You’re considering a robot vacuum to take care of some regular cleaning, while keeping rugs, furniture, edges and corners in mind. These areas are also included in UFC-Que Choisir’s robot vacuum test protocol.
Which features should you prioritise?
First decide whether you need a vacuum for your main household cleaning, quick touch-ups or automating some routine cleaning. Picking up liquids and larger debris is a separate need from these everyday household tasks.
Bagged or bagless cylinder vacuum
Consider it: for your main clean across several floor types, without relying on a battery. UFC-Que Choisir identifies this type as suitable for thorough cleaning.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move the appliance around and manage its cable; with a bagged model, you’ll also need to buy replacement bags.
Cordless stick vacuum
Consider it: if you mainly want something easy to take out for frequent quick clean-ups.
Bear in mind: how long you can use it depends on the setting you choose, and you’ll need to recharge it between sessions.
Robot vacuum
Consider it: to automate some routine cleaning if your home’s layout is suitable.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to prepare the space and maintain the robot, and shouldn’t assume it will clean every area equally well.
Wet and dry vacuum
Consider it: if you also need to pick up liquids or larger debris, for example in a workshop or car.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to factor in the tank and storage space if you plan to use it around the home every day.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Main clean across mixed flooring | Comparable performance on your floor coverings, with suitable heads for rugs and delicate floors. | If my rugs and hard floors need a thorough regular clean, I prioritise an appliance that can handle both. Around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Quick clean-ups | Run time on the setting you use, and how easy the appliance is to take out, handle and put away. | If I often need to pick up crumbs or pet hair between proper cleans, I want an appliance that’s easy to use. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Automated cleaning | How well it navigates your home and performs on rugs, along edges and in corners. | If I want to automate some regular cleaning, I need to be able to let the robot move around the rooms in question. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this automation. |
| Liquids and larger debris | Whether it can handle liquids, which filter is required and how much space the tank needs. | If I also clean a car or workshop, the mess I need to deal with goes beyond everyday household dust. Around 14% of consumers would put this specialist need first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the maximum run time is how long you can clean for
The stated run time for a cordless stick vacuum is often based on its lowest-power setting. UFC-Que Choisir gives an average of around ten minutes at full power for this category, but this figure doesn’t predict how long any particular model will last.
Compare the run time on the setting and with the brush you plan to use, especially on carpets, as well as the charging time.
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Choosing based on a power rating alone
The motor’s wattage or a single suction figure doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean wood, tiles or carpets. The floorhead and type of dirt matter too. UFC-Que Choisir’s robot vacuum test protocol, for example, assesses different floor coverings, edges and corners separately.
Look for tests on the surfaces in your home and check which brushes are actually included.
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Overlooking emptying and consumables
A bagged cylinder vacuum needs compatible bags, while emptying a dust container involves a different process. UFC-Que Choisir notes that bagged models expose you to less dust during emptying than bagless containers.
Choose a dust collection system that suits you, taking into account the availability of bags or filters, how often they need replacing and how you prefer to empty the appliance.
Replacing bags adds another item to your shopping list over time.
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Choosing a wet and dry model when you don’t need one
Kärcher recommends this category for tasks involving wet mess, larger debris and uses such as cleaning workshops or cars. The tank, filters and storage space are all factors to consider.
If you mainly clean the floors in your home, start by deciding what you need the vacuum to do — provide your main clean, handle quick clean-ups or automate some cleaning — before considering this specialist type.
Brands to know
Miele
Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum for large areas of hard flooring.
- Miele lists a 41 cm XL parquet brush for the Guard L1 Parquet XL, a feature specific to this model.
- Check that the floorhead suits your rugs, consider the size of the cylinder vacuum and make sure the bags are compatible with the model you choose.
Dyson
Worth considering if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum, particularly for quick clean-ups.
- A cordless design makes it easy to move and store between thorough cleans.
- For the model you’re considering, check the run time on the setting you need, which brush is included and the capacity of the dust container.
Rowenta
Worth comparing if you’re after a rechargeable stick vacuum for hard floors and carpets.
- For the X-Force Flex 13.60, Rowenta lists a brush designed for these floor types and up to 60 minutes of run time as a handheld vacuum in Eco mode.
- This stated run time won’t necessarily apply when using a powered brush at a high setting, so check the conditions for the exact model.
iRobot
A robot vacuum brand to consider if you want to automate some everyday cleaning.
- The Roomba range includes models with an automatic-emptying station.
- Navigation and an emptying station alone don’t tell you how well it will vacuum your rugs, edges or corners.
Kärcher
Worth considering if your cleaning also involves liquids or larger debris, particularly outside your main living areas.
- Kärcher offers a wet and dry range for tasks including cleaning workshops and cars.
- Check the filter, accessories and storage space required for the model and the types of mess you need to clean up.
Vacuum cleaners for different needs
These models suit different ways of cleaning hard floors and carpets: a cylinder vacuum for your main clean, a stick vacuum — rechargeable or corded — for quick clean-ups, and a robot for partially automated cleaning. Choose based on what you need it to do, then check the accessories and performance on your floor coverings.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG, bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner
One to consider for your main clean if you’re happy with a corded appliance and replacing bags.
Before choosing it for carpets or delicate wooden floors, check which brushes are included and how it performs on these surfaces.
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Eureka E20 Plus, robot vacuum with emptying station, black
A way to automate some cleaning if your home has space for the station and room for the robot to move around.
The product name lists up to 180 minutes of run time, 3D obstacle detection and 8,000 Pa suction. These figures and features don’t show how well it cleans rugs, edges or corners, so check its performance on your floors.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5, cordless stick vacuum
Worth considering for frequent quick clean-ups if you’re looking for a rechargeable stick vacuum.
The product name lists up to 65 minutes of run time and an anti-tangle brush. Check the run time on the setting you use with this brush, and how well it performs on your rugs, before relying on it as your main vacuum.
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iRobot Roomba Combo 115 AE, white robot vacuum and mop
A way to automate some regular cleaning if you have space for the robot and its base.
This model combines vacuuming and mopping. If you have rugs, check how it handles them while mopping, then compare its vacuuming performance on rugs, along edges and in corners.
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MONSGA HQ1, purple corded stick vacuum
A stick-style option if you prefer mains power to recharging a battery.
The product name lists 600 W and 65 kPa, but these figures alone don’t tell you how well it cleans carpets. Also check how easy it is to handle in the configuration you’ll use and whether the cable will reach your power sockets.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cordless stick vacuum replace my main vacuum cleaner?
A cordless stick vacuum can do the job in some smaller homes, depending on the model and the floors you need to clean, but it isn’t automatically a like-for-like replacement. UFC-Que Choisir generally describes it as suitable for quick clean-ups. For larger areas or several rugs, compare its run time on the setting you need and its performance on each floor type with that of a cylinder vacuum.
Why isn’t the motor’s wattage enough to help me choose?
The motor’s wattage alone doesn’t measure how effectively a vacuum cleans floors. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of useful suction power and floorhead design. Look for performance results on the floor types in your home and check which brush is included.
What should I check before buying a robot vacuum for a home with rugs?
Check its performance separately on rugs and hard floors, then along edges and in corners. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol covers these surfaces and areas. Mapping or a suction rating alone won’t tell you how well it will clean your rugs.
What warranty applies to a vacuum cleaner sold by a professional in France?
The legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual, as the French Ministry of the Economy explains. If your vacuum has a lack of conformity that existed when it was delivered, keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller. Their legal obligations are separate from any commercial warranty that may also apply.
Is the repairability index useful when comparing vacuum cleaners in France?
Yes. According to the French ministry responsible for ecological transition, vacuum cleaners are among the product categories covered by the repairability index. Compare the index shown for the specific models you’re interested in, rather than assuming every product from a brand has the same score.