To choose a vacuum cleaner for hard floors, carpets and everyday dust, start with the most demanding surfaces and how often you’ll use it. Check its performance on carpets and which brush is included, or prioritise manoeuvrability for quick clean-ups. In its comparisons of cylinder vacuum cleaners, Que Choisir found that bagged models had an advantage in the results observed and exposed users to less dust when emptying the vacuum. This doesn’t guarantee the same results from every appliance. Bagless models save you from buying bags, but you’ll need to empty the dust container. A wet and dry vacuum is worth considering mainly if you also need to pick up larger debris or small amounts of water.
If hair or fibres cling to your carpets and upholstery, check how well the vacuum performs on carpets and whether the version you’re considering actually includes a suitable brush. Que Choisir describes tests across different types of flooring.
If you often clean parquet or tiled floors, consider how easy the vacuum is to handle, whether its brush is suitable for your floors, and what’s involved in maintaining the dust container or bag.
How you empty the vacuum, its filtration and the consumables it needs can matter just as much as how well it cleans your floors. Que Choisir highlights the trade-offs between bagged and bagless vacuum cleaners.
Consider it: for regular cleaning across several surfaces, particularly if you want to minimise contact with dust when emptying the vacuum.
Bear in mind: you’ll need compatible bags, filter maintenance and to move a corded appliance around.
Consider it: if you’d rather not buy bags and have the right brushes for your floors and upholstery.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container regularly and maintain the filters.
Consider it: for frequent clean-ups in small areas, when being able to get the vacuum out and put it away quickly matters.
Check: the run time in the mode you’ll use and which brush is included if you have carpets or pets.
Consider it: if your everyday cleaning also involves larger debris or small amounts of water.
Consider: how much space it takes up and whether the supplied floor nozzle is suitable for the floors in your home.
| What matters | What to check | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Dust and pet hair in carpets | Performance on carpets and fibres; whether a suitable brush is actually included. | If my carpets trap dust and pet hair, I want to check how well the vacuum performs on these fabrics and which brush comes with it. Around 29% of consumers prioritise cleaning carpets and removing pet hair. |
| Dust collection and disposal | Bag or dust container, emptying method, filters and compatible consumables. | I’d rather know how dust is disposed of and which consumables or maintenance tasks are needed. Around 29% of consumers put managing collected dust first. |
| Quick clean-ups on hard floors | A brush suited to the floor; run time in the mode you’ll use for a cordless stick vacuum. | For frequent clean-ups in small areas, I prioritise a vacuum that’s easy to get out and put away, while still checking how long it will run in the mode I need. Around 21% of consumers prioritise quick cleaning on hard floors. |
| Cleaning several rooms | Operating range, bag or dust container capacity, and the weight of the appliance. | When I’m cleaning several rooms in one go, I want to minimise interruptions and check how much dust the vacuum can hold. Around 14% of consumers prioritise longer cleaning sessions. |
| Larger debris or small amounts of water | Approved uses for the exact model, and the filter and nozzle supplied. | If I also need to pick up larger debris or a little water, I check that the model is designed for this and that its accessories are suitable. Around 7% of consumers prioritise these additional needs. |
The stated run time depends on the mode you use. For the Rowenta RH2078WO, Rowenta states up to 45 minutes in handheld and Eco mode. This doesn’t represent a high-power carpet-cleaning session.
Compare the run time in the mode and with the brush you’ll actually use. You may need to pause a cleaning session to recharge the vacuum, and battery replacement could matter in the long term.
A bagless vacuum needs its dust container emptied and its filters maintained. Emptying it can also bring you into contact with dust.
Before choosing, check how it’s emptied, which filters are compatible and whether parts are available for the model you’re considering.
Cleaning or replacing the filters may be part of regular maintenance, depending on the model.
A vacuum’s stated ability to handle wet dirt or debris doesn’t prove that it will clean carpets or pet hair more effectively. Que Choisir notes that some wet and dry vacuum floor heads can be fairly basic.
If carpets make up a significant part of your home, check how the vacuum performs on carpets and which nozzle is actually included. You may need to buy an additional, more suitable brush.
The European Commission states that the former EU energy labelling regulations for vacuum cleaners no longer apply. An energy rating shown in a listing is therefore not enough to establish how well a vacuum cleans.
Compare the features that matter for your floors, and check the repairability index separately where it applies to the vacuum cleaners concerned in France.
The Pure D8 PD82-4ST is an example of a bagged cylinder vacuum designed for different types of flooring.
The Série 6 ProAnimal BGS41PET1 bagless cylinder vacuum has a dust container and accessories listed for different floors and fabrics.
The X-Force Flex 9.60 range includes stick vacuums. The RH2078WO « Modèle animal » model is listed with a mini power brush.
The WD 3 S V-19/4/20 is an example of a wet and dry vacuum designed for dust, debris and small amounts of water, as a complement to everyday cleaning.
The Complete C3 Cat & Dog is an example of a bagged cylinder vacuum with a turbo brush, designed for homes with pets.
This selection focuses mainly on corded and cordless stick vacuums for hard floors and carpets. It also includes a wet and dry vacuum for wet cleaning or picking up debris.
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The description states that it can be used on carpets and hard floors, and includes an automatic emptying station for collected dust.
The product listing mentions 170 AW suction power, up to 80 minutes of run time, an anti-tangle brush and LED dust detection.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a corded vacuum for carpets, hard floors and pet hair, and don’t mind staying close to a socket.
The title lists 65KPA and 600W. The description mentions a 1.8 l dust container, seven-stage filtration, a 7 m cord, and motorised brushes for floors and mattresses.
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Consider this model for the stated wet and dry uses or for picking up debris, rather than relying solely on claims about carpet cleaning.
The title lists 2000W, a blower function, a 20-litre tank and a washable HEPA filter.
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The description states that it can be used on hard floors and carpets, with a swivel head to reach awkward areas.
It lists a motorised brush, a reusable HEPA filter, a dust container emptied at the touch of a button, and a stated run time of 30 to 45 minutes in standard mode.
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The description states that it can be used on carpets and hard floors, and has an anti-tangle brush and an automatic emptying station.
The title lists 750W, 75KPA, up to 80 minutes of run time and a 1.8 l dust container.
No. The motor’s power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will perform. When choosing between models for carpets, pet hair or hard floors, Que Choisir recommends considering tests on the relevant surfaces and the design of the floor head.
Check exactly what’s included in the box and follow the instructions for the model you’ve bought when fitting the bag or dust container, choosing a brush and maintaining the filters. For a stick vacuum, also check the charging instructions and the run time in the mode you need.
Allow for compatible bags and filters or dust-container maintenance. For a stick vacuum, also check the battery maintenance requirements. In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory for goods sold by a business to a private individual and is claimed through the seller under the legal terms. The Ministry of the Economy distinguishes it from an optional commercial guarantee.
No. According to the European Commission, the former EU regulations requiring energy labels for vacuum cleaners no longer apply. Don’t confuse an old rating shown in a listing with the repairability index that applies to the relevant categories of vacuum cleaners in France.