For a thorough clean across several rooms, a cylinder vacuum is generally the best place to start. Que Choisir describes it as particularly well suited to larger homes, while a cordless stick vacuum is better for quick top-ups. When choosing between a bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum, focus on which dust collection and maintenance routine suits you best. Then check how the model performs on your flooring and whether it comes with the right accessories for your soft furnishings.
If you regularly move from room to room, cleaning hard floors and carpets as well as the sofa and furniture, look at the areas each model can cover and the accessories included. Que Choisir describes cylinder vacuums as suitable for larger homes and these kinds of tasks when they come with the right accessories.
If fibres, human hair or pet hair on soft furnishings are a key factor in your choice, look for specific results on rugs and carpets. Que Choisir’s testing procedure assesses dust pick-up and fibre removal from carpets separately.
A cordless stick vacuum can be a handy extra for stairs, furniture or small areas that need cleaning between full cleans. Que Choisir recommends it mainly for top-ups, so check its battery life in the mode you plan to use.
First decide which vacuum will handle your full cleaning sessions, then compare models based on your floors, how they collect dust and how easy they are to move around your home.
Consider it: as your main vacuum if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags and check they’re compatible with your chosen model.
Consider it: if you want a cylinder vacuum as your main appliance without using bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed for your model.
Consider it: as an extra for quick cleans and areas that are tricky to reach with a cylinder vacuum.
Bear in mind: battery life in the mode you need may limit longer sessions; Que Choisir highlights this drawback when using full power.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and soft furnishings | Compare results on every type of flooring in your home and check which brushes are included. | I regularly need to clean hard floors, rugs and the sofa with my main vacuum; doing a good job on just one surface isn’t enough. Around 33% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Check how to replace the bags or empty the dust container, and how easy it is to access the filters. | If dealing with dust is part of every clean, I want a collection system that suits my routine. This would be the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Moving and storage | Check the weight of the fully assembled vacuum, its reach and how much storage space it needs. | When cleaning several rooms or stairs, I need to be able to move and store the vacuum without too much effort. Around 20% of consumers would put ease of handling first. |
| Fibres and pet hair | Look for test results on fibres or pet hair on carpets, and check how to maintain the brush. | If hair or pet fur builds up in my rugs, I want to know whether the vacuum can remove it, not just pick up dust from the floor. Around 20% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
Motor watts, volts and air watts don’t tell you on their own how well a vacuum will clean your flooring. Que Choisir assesses suction performance on different surfaces, among other things.
Where possible, compare test results on your floors and check which brush comes with the exact model you’re considering.
Being easy to grab doesn’t guarantee it can handle a full clean throughout your home. Que Choisir reports that at full power, many stick vacuums struggle to run for more than around ten minutes.
If a stick vacuum will be your only one, check its battery life in the mode you need, how long it takes to recharge and how well it performs on your flooring.
A bagless model saves you from replacing bags, but emptying it and maintaining its filters are still part of regular use, as Darty points out.
Check the reference for compatible consumables or, for a bagless model, the emptying and cleaning procedure in the instruction manual.
Results on hard floors aren’t enough to judge how well a vacuum removes fibres from carpets: Que Choisir tests these tasks separately.
If pet hair or human hair is an important factor in your choice, look for the relevant results and check how to clean the brush.
Worth considering for cylinder vacuums designed for regular, thorough cleaning, and stick vacuums you might use as an extra.
A brand to consider when choosing a main cylinder vacuum or an additional stick vacuum.
Worth considering if carpets and fibres are important when choosing a cylinder vacuum, or if you’re comparing stick vacuums for quick cleans.
Worth considering mainly for a cordless stick vacuum to use between full cleans.
This selection includes a bagged cylinder vacuum for regular, thorough cleaning, as well as corded and cordless stick vacuums to consider for different areas and cleaning sessions. The figures in product names aren’t a substitute for test results on your flooring.
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Worth considering as your main cylinder vacuum for cleaning several rooms; check that the brushes included are also suitable for your rugs and soft furnishings.
The model name indicates 550 W. Check the reference for compatible bags and compare results on your flooring before choosing this model.
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Worth considering if you prefer a stick vacuum with a power cord for cleaning several rooms without relying on a battery.
The name indicates 65KPA and 600W, but that doesn’t establish how well it performs on carpets or wooden floors. For longer sessions, check the weight of the fully assembled vacuum, cord length and results on your floors.
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Worth considering for quick cleans on floors and carpets, especially if you’d like to store the vacuum upright.
The name claims up to 65 minutes of use and an anti-tangle brush. If you plan to clean a large area, check how long it lasts in the mode you need and how well it performs on carpets and fibres.
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Worth considering as an extra for stairs, furniture or small areas between full cleans.
The name claims 55 minutes of use and includes a charging stand. This figure applies to the hard-floor mode described for the model; check battery life in carpet mode separately if carpets cover a large part of your home.
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Worth considering for quick cleans on floors and soft furnishings if the hose and pet brush are suitable for the areas you need to clean.
This is a cordless model, and its name indicates 55 kPa, which isn’t enough on its own to judge how well it removes pet hair. For full cleaning sessions, check its weight, battery life in the mode you need and results on carpets.
Start by considering a cylinder vacuum if you need a main appliance for several rooms and types of flooring: Que Choisir describes it as particularly well suited to larger homes. A cordless stick vacuum is better for quick cleans. If it will be your only vacuum, check its battery life in the mode you need and how well it performs on every type of flooring in your home.
Choose the dust collection system that suits you best: replacing compatible bags or emptying a dust container and maintaining its filters. Then compare the results for specific models on your flooring, rather than assuming how well they’ll clean based solely on their collection system.
Look for separate results on hard floors, wooden floors, rugs or carpets, and fibre removal from carpets. Que Choisir tests these separately: picking up dust from one type of flooring doesn’t prove that a vacuum will remove pet hair from another. Also check which brush is included and how easy it is to clean.
Yes, when an individual buys a vacuum from a professional seller in France: the French Ministry of the Economy states that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. It covers cases such as an appliance not matching its description; it should not be confused with a retailer’s returns policy for a change of mind.
If it can be repaired, doing so gives you the option of using it again, as the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition points out. Otherwise, find out how to recycle electrical equipment and, for a cordless stick vacuum, how to dispose of its battery.