For a quick clean-up of everyday mess in a small home, a cordless stick vacuum that can also convert into a handheld is usually the most straightforward choice. Check the battery life in the mode you’ll actually use, how it charges, where you’ll store it and how well it cleans your floors. A compact cylinder vacuum is also worth considering if carpets or embedded dirt are more of a concern, while a robot vacuum is better suited to automating regular cleaning.
Whether you’re vacuuming up crumbs after a meal or dirt by the front door, a cordless stick vacuum or a two-in-one model can save you from getting out a bulky appliance. You’ll still need an accessible place to store and charge it.
If your home has hard floors, gaps between floorboards and carpets, check the cleaning results for each surface and the brush supplied. Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately: power figures alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean each one.
A robot vacuum is designed for regular cleaning rather than an immediate clean-up of a small area. Measure your thresholds, note where your carpets are and make sure you have a permanent spot for its dock before choosing a model.
For occasional cleaning, first decide whether you want to clean straight away or schedule regular runs. Then compare how easy each option is to store, its power requirements and how it performs on the floors in your home.
Best for: quick clean-ups on floors, with a handheld unit for furniture and smaller areas too.
Bear in mind: the stated battery life is often based on low power and drops in maximum mode, as Que Choisir points out.
Best for: cleaning up crumbs and localised messes.
Bear in mind: check whether you’ll also need a floor brush to clean the whole floor regularly.
Worth considering: if you have carpets or embedded dirt and want to compare cleaning performance on these surfaces.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to get it out, plug it in and put the cable and hose away.
Best for: scheduling regular cleaning, provided your home and the position of the dock are suitable.
Bear in mind: thresholds, carpets and the set-up of some mopping features need to be checked for the specific model.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to use | Everyday storage spot, detachable handheld mode and accessories included. | After a meal, I want to vacuum up crumbs without getting the whole appliance ready. Around 36% of consumers might prioritise having it ready to use quickly. |
| Cleaning performance on floors | Brush supplied and results on different floor types, especially carpets and gaps between floorboards. | With wooden floors and a carpet, I want to avoid making repeated passes over hard-to-reach dirt; around 29% of consumers would prioritise this level of cleaning performance. |
| Battery life and storage | Run time in each mode, charging time and space needed for the stand or dock. | If I clean several times a day, I want to find the vacuum charged and ready without it taking up too much room. Around 21% of consumers might prioritise having it ready when they need it. |
| Automation | Threshold height, space for the dock and the model’s guidance on carpets. | I’d rather leave regular floor cleaning to a robot than get the vacuum out every time; around 14% of consumers would put this need first. |
Que Choisir notes that the advertised run time for a stick vacuum is often based on low power and drops significantly in boost or maximum mode. You may need to stop and recharge before finishing the clean.
Compare battery life in each mode with the way you usually clean, then check the charging time and where you’ll charge the vacuum.
A power figure on its own doesn’t show how well a vacuum picks up dirt from hard floors, gaps or carpets. Que Choisir assesses these surfaces separately.
Identify the floor types in your home, check which brush is included and look at test results for the surfaces you need to clean.
A threshold it can’t cross or a poorly positioned dock can limit which rooms it can reach. iRobot says Roomba models can cross thresholds up to 1.6 cm high; some Combo models have different guidance on dock placement and mopping.
Measure your thresholds and check the instructions for the robot you’re considering, including advice on the dock, carpets and no-mop zones.
Frequent cleaning means emptying the vacuum regularly. Que Choisir notes that emptying a bagless model can expose you to more dust than removing a bag.
Check how the dust container opens, its capacity and what’s involved in cleaning the container and filter.
Worth looking at if you want a cordless stick vacuum that can also be used as a handheld, and a wall-mounted dock suits your home.
Worth comparing if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum with a charging base and handheld unit.
Worth a look if you’re choosing between the convenience of a two-in-one stick vacuum and the mains-powered performance of a compact cylinder model.
Worth considering if you’d rather schedule regular cleaning than deal with a specific area straight away.
These models are mainly suited to quick clean-ups with a cordless stick vacuum. The robot is better for anyone who wants to schedule regular floor cleaning. Choose based on the space you have and the surfaces you need to clean.
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The stick design and handheld mode are handy for cleaning floors and smaller areas, with space needed on the wall for the charging mount.
The product details state up to 55 minutes in hard-floor mode, a 0.7 l dust container, a removable battery and a wall-mounted charging dock. Compare battery life in other modes and cleaning performance on your floors before choosing.
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This stick vacuum converts into a handheld, making it an option if you need to clean both floors and smaller, localised areas.
The product details state up to 65 minutes in standard mode, a detachable battery and a 700 ml dust container. Check the charging time, battery life in other modes and how much space you’ll need to store it.
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The charging dock with automatic emptying will appeal most to anyone looking to reduce the need to empty the vacuum by hand after cleaning.
The product details describe a self-standing vacuum and state up to 45 minutes in Eco mode. Check that you have enough room for the dock and compare battery life in the mode suited to your floors.
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Its handheld mode and self-standing design could be useful for spot cleaning if you don’t want to attach a wall mount.
The product details state that it has a detachable battery and offers up to 60 minutes of use, but don’t specify the mode. Check the charging time and cleaning results on your floors too.
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This robot is designed for scheduling regular cleaning rather than vacuuming up crumbs straight away in a specific spot.
The product details mention app control and a self-emptying dock, with a stated run time of up to 180 minutes. Before setting it up, check how much room you’ll need for the dock and the height of the thresholds this model can cross.
Compare how long each lasts in the mode you’ll actually use, then check how long each takes to recharge. Que Choisir points out that stated battery life is often based on low power and drops in boost or maximum mode. Also check where you’ll be able to charge each vacuum between cleaning sessions.
It may be, if its battery life and cleaning performance suit your floors and the dirt you need to clean. A small home doesn’t guarantee that it will be enough. Que Choisir assesses performance on hard floors, gaps between floorboards, carpets and rugs, so check the results for the model you’re considering. Compare it with a compact cylinder vacuum if you have a lot of carpets or embedded dirt.
Measure your thresholds and the space for the dock, then check the model’s guidance for carpets. iRobot support says Roomba models can cross thresholds up to 1.6 cm high; for some Roomba Combo models, the dock needs to be placed on a floor without carpets and no-mop zones need to be set up.
Old vacuum cleaners can be taken to French collection points for electrical and electronic equipment. For batteries, the Ministry for Ecological Transition lists collection points at supermarkets, electronics and DIY shops, as well as some town halls and recycling centres. Check what’s available near you.