For cleaning hard floors and carpets yourself, start by choosing a vacuum to suit the length of your cleaning sessions and the brush supplied with the exact model: a canister vacuum is well suited to cleaning several rooms in one go, while a cordless stick vacuum is handy for short, frequent cleans. Check the battery life in the mode you’ll use on carpets, how much maintenance it needs and how much storage space it takes up. A robot can clean some accessible areas, but it cannot replace manual cleaning on its own.
If the fibres trap hair or pet fur, check which floorhead is supplied for these surfaces and whether it’s also suitable for your hard floors. Miele France, for example, distinguishes between brushes according to floor type and intended use.
An appliance that’s easy to take out and put away matters more if you tend to vacuum for short periods. For a cordless stick vacuum, though, compare the battery life in the mode you’ll need for carpets, rather than relying on the maximum run time alone.
A robot can take care of some routine cleaning in clear areas. Check how it handles your carpets, navigates around obstacles and, if it also mops floors, manages its wet components.
When choosing your main appliance, focus on how a canister vacuum and a cordless stick vacuum fit the way you clean. A robot is more of an additional option. If you also need to vacuum dry or wet dirt in utility areas, consider a wet and dry vacuum, with accessories suited to the surfaces in question.
Consider it: if you clean several rooms in one session and can choose the right brushes for each floor type.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move the main unit and hose around; a bagged model also requires compatible bags.
Consider it: for short, frequent cleans, if you have somewhere to store and charge it.
Bear in mind: run time depends on the power setting, so you may need to recharge it before finishing a longer cleaning session.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Brushes for mixed flooring | Which surfaces the supplied floorhead is designed for; whether the version you’re choosing comes with a brush suitable for carpets. | If I have both carpets and hard floors, I want to be able to clean each with the right accessory. Around 36% of consumers make this a priority. |
| Quick cleans | How easy it is to manoeuvre when fully assembled; where to store and charge the appliance. | To vacuum often without having to prepare for a long session, I prefer an appliance that’s easy to grab and put away. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cleaning several rooms | Reach or battery life in the mode you’ll use; capacity of the dust container or bags. | If I’m cleaning several rooms in a row, I want to avoid interruptions to recharge or empty the appliance. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this uninterrupted cleaning. |
| Automated cleaning | How it navigates around obstacles; how it handles carpets and mopping components, if applicable. | When the accessible floors in my home need regular cleaning, I want to automate some of it without giving up on areas that need to be cleaned by hand. Around 14% of consumers prioritise automation. |
A run time quoted for Eco mode or a lightweight configuration won’t necessarily reflect use with a floorhead and power setting suited to carpets.
Compare the run times for each mode, the conditions under which they were measured and the charging time for the model you’re considering.
A parquet brush, an all-floor brush and a turbo brush are designed for different uses. What’s included can vary between versions.
Check the accessories listed for the exact model and make sure the brush intended for your carpets is compatible.
If the brush you need is sold separately, you’ll also need to check that it’s compatible with the appliance.
Mapping, navigation and the way it handles carpets or mopping components vary by model.
Check the thresholds, passageways and carpets in your home, then compare them with the features listed for the specific robot.
The DGCCRF distinguishes between an optional commercial warranty and the statutory guarantee of conformity: the former does not replace the latter.
Before taking out a commercial warranty, check its exclusions and terms, and distinguish them from the statutory rights that apply to your purchase.
The brand offers bagged canister vacuums and a range of brushes for hard floors, carpets and specific uses.
The brand’s cordless stick vacuums come with different brushes and stated uses, depending on the version.
The X-Force Flex and X-Pert cordless stick vacuum ranges include different brush and battery configurations.
The brand offers robots whose navigation, carpet-cleaning and mopping features vary by model.
These models are options for choosing a main appliance for hard floors and carpets: a bagged canister vacuum for cleaning several rooms in one go, followed by cordless stick vacuums for more frequent cleans. Compare the brush supplied with the version on sale and, for stick vacuums, the run time in the mode you’ll use.
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Worth considering if you prefer a bagged canister vacuum for cleaning several rooms. Check that the brushes supplied with this model are suitable for your hard floors and carpets, and check which bags are compatible.
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Worth considering for frequent cleans on hard floors and carpets, provided you check which floorhead is included. The listing states suction power of 60.000 Pa and a run time of up to 65 minutes. Check which mode that run time applies to, especially for carpets.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum for regular cleaning. The listing mentions a detachable battery and a run time of up to 60 minutes. Compare the run time in the mode you’ll need for carpets, and check the weight of the fully assembled appliance.
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Worth considering for cordless cleaning, particularly if you also need to vacuum hair or pet fur from carpets. The listing states that it has an anti-tangle brush and a run time of 45 minutes. Check which accessories are included and the run time in the mode suited to your floors.
Check which surfaces the brush supplied with the exact model is designed for. An all-floor brush may be intended for both types of flooring, while a turbo brush or motorised floorhead may suit other carpet-cleaning needs. Just because an accessory is available in a range doesn’t mean it comes with every version.
You can’t tell from the maximum run time alone: it depends on the configuration and mode used. Rowenta France, for example, quotes 60 minutes for the X-Force Flex 13.60 in Eco mode when used as a handheld vacuum. It’s better to compare the run time for the floorhead and power setting you’ll need for your carpets.
Follow the instructions for your model when cleaning the filter, brush and dust container or replacing the bag. Dyson France recommends washing the filter monthly for the cordless vacuum cleaners covered by its guidance; this frequency may not apply to another appliance.
No. For a vacuum cleaner bought from a professional seller in France, the DGCCRF distinguishes between the statutory guarantee of conformity and an optional commercial warranty, which does not remove your statutory rights. Check the terms of any commercial warranty separately.