If your vacuum cleaner has lost suction or stopped working, first find out whether it can be repaired rather than replacing it straight away. If another appliance would suit you better, choose a style that matches your flooring, how often you clean and the space you have available. Then check how easy it is to repair and, if buying second-hand or refurbished, the condition of the item being sold.
Your vacuum cleaner isn’t working as well as it used to, or has broken down, and you want to know whether it’s worth getting it repaired before buying another one. ADEME recommends considering a repair, especially before choosing a replacement appliance.
You clean a large area or several types of flooring and need an appliance suited to longer cleaning sessions. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the suction performance of cylinder vacuum cleaners, while advising you to consider their size and manoeuvrability.
You want to grab a cordless stick vacuum for a quick clean or schedule a robot to do the work. According to UFC-Que Choisir, battery life for stick vacuums and how well robots perform on different floor types are both worth checking before you choose.
Start by finding out whether your current appliance can be repaired. If you decide to replace it, first consider the cleaning you need to do and the space you have available. Then compare the models and the condition of the appliance on offer, whether it’s new, refurbished or second-hand.
| Priority | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Repair before replacing | Ask for the fault to be assessed, then check whether you may be eligible for repair assistance. | When my vacuum cleaner starts to lose power or breaks down, I want to know whether a repair would let me keep using it. Around 36% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Everyday cleaning | Compare the type of vacuum, the brushes actually included and how well they suit your floors. Also make sure you have enough storage space. | For regular cleaning across a large area or several floor types, I need a main appliance that’s up to the job. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Quick cleans | For a cordless stick vacuum, check the battery life in the mode you’ll use, as well as access to the battery and the parts that need maintenance. | If I clean often in short bursts, I want an appliance that’s easy to get out and put away. I won’t assume that the maximum battery life applies in every mode. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this ease of use. |
| Scheduled cleans | For a robot vacuum, check how well it suits your floors, what maintenance is still required and whether it’s compatible with the app it needs. | I want to schedule regular cleans and am happy to prepare the areas to be cleaned and maintain the robot. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this automation. |
ADEME describes faults that may be repairable. However, the Repair Bonus offered by ecosystem depends on the appliance, the fault and the repairer. Routine maintenance and removable accessories should not be confused with an eligible fault.
Have your vacuum cleaner assessed and ask whether the proposed repair meets the scheme’s conditions before deciding to replace it.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that the advertised maximum battery life is based on operation at low power. It doesn’t necessarily indicate how long the battery will last in the mode you need.
Compare the runtime you’ll need for your cleaning sessions and check whether the battery can be maintained or replaced for the model you’re considering.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a robot vacuum’s performance varies depending on the floor type. Even with an auto-emptying station, you’ll still need to prepare the areas to be cleaned and maintain the appliance.
Check your floor surfaces, the maintenance required and the space you’ll need. If an app is required, make sure it’s compatible before choosing a robot as your main appliance.
As explained by the French Ministry of the Economy, a refurbished product is a second-hand item whose functions have been tested and which has been restored if necessary. The label “second-hand” alone doesn’t tell you whether these steps have been carried out.
Check the condition of the item being sold, which accessories are included and the seller’s status, which matters in particular for the legal guarantee of conformity.
Check the commitments on parts and repair services for the specific model you’re considering buying.
Rowenta offers stick, robot and cylinder vacuum cleaners, as well as parts and repair services.
A brand worth considering if access to spare parts is an important factor in your choice of vacuum cleaner.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum and value support tailored to your model.
These Joybuy models suit three ways of approaching cleaning after replacing an appliance: quick cleans with a cordless stick vacuum, everyday cleaning with a bagged cylinder vacuum, or scheduled cleans with a robot. Your choice will also depend on the maintenance and storage requirements of each type.
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Its cordless, self-standing design could suit quick cleans when easy storage is important.
The product listing states up to 50 minutes of battery life and a removable battery. Check the runtime in the mode you’ll use and whether you can get a replacement battery.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering if you’re looking for a main appliance rather than a model designed mainly for quick cleans.
Check that the included brushes suit your floors, that you have enough storage space and that compatible bags are available for this model.
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This robot is worth considering if you want to schedule regular cleans and have room for its dock.
The product title mentions LiDAR navigation, a mopping function and automatic emptying. Check how well it suits your floors, whether the app is compatible and what maintenance you’ll still need to carry out.
You may be eligible if a QualiRépar repairer confirms that your out-of-warranty vacuum cleaner has a qualifying fault, subject to the conditions set out by ecosystem. A loss of suction alone isn’t enough: ask them to identify the cause, as routine maintenance and removable accessories may not be covered by the scheme.
In France, a refurbished vacuum cleaner is a second-hand item that has undergone full functional testing and has been repaired or restored if necessary, as explained by the French Ministry of the Economy. Read the description of the item being sold to find out about its condition and which accessories are included.
Yes, when a second-hand or refurbished vacuum cleaner is sold by a business to an individual in France. The same guarantee doesn’t apply in the same way to a sale between private individuals. The French Ministry of the Economy and the DGCCRF advise consumers to distinguish between these situations, so check the seller’s status before buying.
Check the repairability index for the model you’re considering, then look at the information on parts and maintenance. ADEME presents this index as a guide for vacuum cleaners. Compare models covered by the index, but don’t assume that a rating alone tells you how well they’ll clean your floors.
A robot can handle regular cleans, but whether it’s suitable as your only appliance depends on your floors and the cleaning you need to do. UFC-Que Choisir says performance varies across surfaces, so also consider hard-to-reach areas, emptying and maintenance before deciding not to buy another type.