For regular, thorough cleaning in a home with a mix of hard floors and carpets, a cylinder vacuum is the first type of main appliance to consider. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes it from a stick vacuum, which is better suited to quick clean-ups, and a robot vacuum, whose results vary depending on the flooring. A bagged cylinder vacuum means less contact with dust when emptying it, while a bagless model avoids the cost of replacement bags but requires you to clean the dust container and filters. A stick vacuum can be your main appliance if its run time and cleaning performance suit your home, and a robot vacuum can help between manual cleans.
You regularly clean hard floors, rugs or carpets and want to reach other surfaces around your home too. Choosing the right floorhead and accessories matters just as much as choosing the right type of vacuum, as UFC-Que Choisir’s guides point out.
You’d prefer to handle less dust when your vacuum is full, and are happy to use bags as long as you can find the right ones for your chosen model.
Pet hair gathers on rugs and upholstery, so check the brush, upholstery attachments and how easy it is to remove tangled hair. This need applies to several types of vacuum cleaner, not just one particular category.
If your vacuum needs to handle a thorough clean throughout your home, start by considering the surfaces you need to clean and how you’d like to empty it. The easy handling of a stick vacuum and the automated cleaning of a robot vacuum suit different priorities, and don’t necessarily offer the same versatility on their own.
Consider it: as your main appliance for a variety of floors and surfaces, especially if you’d prefer to handle less dust when emptying it.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move a corded appliance around, and the bags must be compatible with your model.
Consider it: if you want a main vacuum without replacement bags and the model is suitable for your flooring.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty and clean the dust container and maintain the filters. UFC-Que Choisir says bagged cylinder vacuums perform better than their bagless equivalents.
Consider it: for quick, frequent cleans when you want to grab your vacuum and go. It can be your main appliance only if its usable run time and performance suit your cleaning routine.
Bear in mind: the battery life and dust-container capacity may not be enough for a long cleaning session, particularly in the high-power mode.
Consider it: as a supplementary appliance to automate cleans in accessible areas between thorough cleans.
Bear in mind: its performance depends on factors such as your flooring and room layout, and its dust container or docking station needs maintenance, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning different surfaces | Check the floorhead and accessories for your hard floors, rugs and upholstery, then look for test results covering those surfaces. | If I move between hard floors, rugs and furniture during the same clean, I want an appliance that can handle all those surfaces; around 36% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Check which bags or filters are compatible, and how to empty the dust container or change the bag. | I want emptying and maintenance to be manageable after every clean, whether I choose a bag or a dust container; this would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ease of use and storage | Consider how comfortable it is to handle and where you’ll store it. For a stick vacuum, compare the battery life with the mode you’ll use. | For short, frequent cleans, I want to be able to get the vacuum out, carry it and put it away without any hassle; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this convenience. |
| Automated cleaning | Check access to rooms, thresholds and rugs, as well as how to empty the vacuum and whether an app is required. | Between thorough cleans, I’d like to cut down on manual cleaning in accessible areas; this would be a priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The power rating alone doesn’t tell you how well an appliance will clean your carpets or hard floors. UFC-Que Choisir also highlights the importance of the floorhead and suction power, which is rarely stated.
Look for tests covering your flooring and check which brushes and accessories are included.
For a stick vacuum, the quoted battery life on the lowest power setting may not reflect a demanding session on carpets. UFC-Que Choisir says stick vacuums offer an average of around ten minutes at full power.
Before choosing one as your only vacuum, compare the run time in the mode you’ll use with the area you need to clean.
You’ll need the right type of bag for a bagged vacuum, while dust containers and filters need to be maintained according to the instructions. This applies whatever type you choose.
Check which consumables are compatible and see how the bag or dust container comes out before you buy.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, robot vacuum performance varies depending on the type of floor. Pay particular attention to rugs, thresholds and cluttered areas in your home.
Think of a robot vacuum as a supplement until you’ve checked how it performs on your surfaces and around your home.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to identify the right consumables.
Compare its bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums if accessories and cleaning reach are important for your home.
The ProAnimal range is worth a look if pet hair on rugs and upholstery makes the choice of brush especially important.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a robot vacuum to use alongside thorough cleans.
These models cover three needs: a bagged cylinder vacuum for your main cleaning, cordless stick vacuums whose suitability depends on your home, and robot vacuums to use as a supplement. Before choosing, compare their features with your rugs, other surfaces and cleaning routine.
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Worth considering as your main vacuum if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container. For your rugs and other flooring, check the model’s cleaning performance and which bags are compatible.
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Consider it for frequent cleans if freedom of movement is a priority. The title states up to 65 minutes of battery life and an anti-tangle brush. Before making it your main vacuum, check how long it lasts in the mode you’ll need for your rugs.
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Compare it if you want to switch between cleaning floors and occasional handheld cleaning. The title states 55 minutes of battery life and conversion to a handheld vacuum; check how long it lasts on rugs during a thorough clean.
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Consider it for quick cleans between thorough sessions. The title mentions a mopping function and anti-tangle technology; check how it handles your rugs and thresholds, as well as the maintenance it requires.
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Compare it if you want to automate quick cleans. The title lists LiDAR navigation, app control and a self-emptying dock; check the app, the dock’s consumables and whether the robot is suitable for your rugs and thresholds.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth prioritising if you want a thorough clean and would prefer to handle less dust when emptying it. UFC-Que Choisir describes it as more effective than its bagless equivalent on different floors and types of dirt. A bagless model is still worth considering if you’re happy to maintain the dust container, after checking how it performs on your flooring.
Yes, if its battery life in the mode you use, capacity and cleaning performance are enough for your whole routine. UFC-Que Choisir describes it as more of a supplementary appliance and says it offers an average of around ten minutes at full power. Don’t rely on the maximum quoted battery life alone.
No. Instead, check the brush for rugs, the upholstery attachment and how easy it is to remove tangled hair on the model you’re interested in. For example, Bosch offers ProAnimal models that are bagged, bagless and cordless, but the range name alone doesn’t establish how well they’ll perform on your surfaces.
For a new vacuum covered by the repairability index labelling requirement, check its score out of 10 and the information about maintenance and parts, in line with guidance from the ministry responsible for the ecological transition. The DGCCRF says the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. If the product is not as described or does not conform, contact the seller and provide proof of purchase.