To give a large home a thorough clean, start by comparing bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums. Then look at test results for your floors and the floorheads supplied with each model. A bagged model needs replacement bags, while a bagless one needs its bin emptied and maintained. A cordless stick vacuum or robot can help with regular cleaning, but may not replace manual vacuuming on carpets and upholstery.
If you need to clean large areas of hard floors, parquet and carpets, compare how each vacuum performs on these surfaces, as well as its reach and the floorheads supplied. UFC-Que Choisir notes that cylinder vacuums are well suited to large areas, although you may have to compromise on weight and manoeuvrability.
If you also need to clean carpets and the sofa, check the results for pet hair pick-up and whether the vacuum comes with a suitable upholstery tool. UFC-Que Choisir assesses carpet pick-up separately from other vacuuming criteria.
If weight, the cable, storage or maintenance affect your cleaning routine, compare these practical considerations with the type of dust container and the accessories supplied. UFC-Que Choisir describes stick vacuums and robots as options whose suitability depends, among other things, on whether you need a supplementary cleaner and the types of floor in your home.
Consider it if: you prefer to clean for longer and want to minimise contact with dust when emptying the vacuum.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags, and move the appliance around with its cable.
Consider it if: you’d rather not buy bags and don’t mind emptying the bin and maintaining the filters.
Bear in mind: emptying the bin can expose you to more dust. Going bagless doesn’t mean there’s no maintenance.
Consider it if: manoeuvrability and quick cleans between deeper cleans are especially important to you.
Bear in mind: battery life depends on the setting you use. Check it at the power level you’re likely to need.
Consider it if: you’d like to automate regular cleaning in accessible areas.
Bear in mind: results vary depending on the floors and areas being cleaned. You may still need to empty the bin and vacuum manually.
For a spacious home with a mix of floors and upholstery, your choice will mainly depend on the surfaces you need to clean, the accessories supplied and the maintenance you’re happy to do.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on different floors | Results on hard floors, parquet and carpets, and the floorheads supplied with the exact model. | If your home has several floor types, compare performance on each one rather than relying on results for a single surface. Around 36% of consumers prioritise performance across mixed flooring. |
| Pet hair and upholstery | Pet hair pick-up test results on carpets, and whether the vacuum comes with a mini-turbo brush or upholstery tool. | If you need to remove pet hair from carpets and the sofa, check that the accessories are suitable for both. Around 29% of consumers put pet hair and upholstery first. |
| Bag, bin and filters | The reference for compatible bags, or how easy the bin is to access and the filter maintenance instructions. | If you’d rather avoid emptying a bin or, conversely, buying bags, compare the maintenance involved in each option. Around 21% of consumers prioritise dust-container management and consumables. |
| Moving and storage | The weight you’ll need to carry, cable length and storage space; for a supplementary vacuum, battery life at the setting you’ll use. | If moving or storing a cylinder vacuum makes cleaning more difficult, check the practicalities before choosing a main vacuum or an extra. Around 14% of consumers prioritise manoeuvrability and supplementary cleaning. |
Results depend on the model, the surface and the floorhead. A wattage figure alone isn’t enough to compare pick-up on parquet, carpets and hard floors.
Check test results for each type of flooring and make sure you know which floorheads are actually supplied with the model you’re considering.
A bagless vacuum needs its bin emptied and its filters maintained. A bagged model, on the other hand, needs replacement bags.
Check how to empty the vacuum, the maintenance instructions and the references for compatible bags or filters.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a stick vacuum’s battery life depends on the setting you use, while a robot’s performance varies according to the floor. You may still need to vacuum carpets, furniture and upholstery manually.
First decide which appliance will handle thorough manual cleaning, then consider whether an additional vacuum would be useful for everyday upkeep.
Floorheads and filters can vary between specific models and what’s included in the box.
Check the full model reference and the list of accessories. If the right floorhead isn’t included, you may need to buy it separately.
The RO6179EA is worth considering if you need to clean different floors and upholstery.
The bagged and bagless ProAnimal models offer different accessory and maintenance setups to compare.
The Pure D8 range is worth considering if reach and switching between different floor types matter to you.
The bagless PowerPro Expert range is worth considering if you’d rather not buy bags.
The Guard L1 range includes Parquet, AllFloor and Cat & Dog models, each designed for different cleaning needs.
The options below are bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums designed for thorough manual cleaning. Floorheads, operating radius and maintenance requirements vary by model.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to clean hard floors, carpets and upholstery with suitable floorheads and tools.
The product listing gives a 2 L bin, a 9.5 m operating radius, a parquet floorhead and a mini-turbo brush. The bin and washable filter need maintenance.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for a cylinder vacuum with floorheads for different floor types and upholstery.
The product listing gives a 3.5 L bag, a 12 m operating radius, an all-floor floorhead, a parquet floorhead and a turbo brush. Replace the bag when it’s full. The washable filter must be left to dry before you put it back.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want a bagged model with separate floorheads for hard floors and parquet.
The product listing gives a 3.5 L bag and a 12 m operating radius. Replace the bag when it’s full. The washable filter must be left to dry before you put it back.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want dedicated tools for floors, carpets and furniture.
The product listing gives a 1.5 L bin, a 9 m operating radius, a TriActive+ floorhead, a turbo brush and a furniture tool. The bin and washable motor filter need maintenance.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you need to clean carpets and upholstery with a mini-turbo brush and a furniture tool.
The product listing gives a 4 L bag and a 9.5 m operating radius. No parquet floorhead is included, according to the listing. Replace the bag when it’s full.
Compare results separately for carpets, parquet and hard floors, then check which floorhead comes with each model. UFC-Que Choisir tests performance on different floor types; the motor’s electrical power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt.
Follow the instructions for your model: replace the bag or empty the bin, then maintain the filters and floorheads as directed. Check the reference numbers for compatible consumables. Bagless vacuums need maintenance too.
Factor in the cost of any bags, filters and parts for your model. In France, when a consumer buys from a professional seller, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies under the conditions set out by law. According to the DGCCRF, the time limit for taking action is two years from delivery of the goods. This is separate from any optional commercial guarantee.
ADEME states that new corded, cordless and robot vacuum cleaners covered by the rules are subject to a repairability index. This index tells you about repairability, not vacuuming performance, so check the rating for the exact model.
For a thorough clean of carpets, furniture and upholstery, a stick or robot vacuum may work better as an extra than as a complete replacement for a manual vacuum. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a stick vacuum’s battery life depends on the setting, and that a robot’s results vary according to the floor. Also check whether it can reach the areas you want to clean.