For longer cleaning sessions on your floors, a cylinder vacuum cleaner with the right attachments is worth considering. If you often switch between floors and furniture without changing sockets, compare convertible stick vacuums and their battery life in the configuration you’ll actually use. A handheld vacuum is better suited as an extra for car seats and awkward corners: check how it’s powered and which accessories are included before choosing.
You’re looking for a main vacuum for your floors, with accessories that can also be used on the sofa, fabrics and awkward corners. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the different uses of convertible stick vacuums and cylinder vacuums with attachments.
You regularly move from floors to furniture or higher-up areas. The weight in handheld mode and the battery life with your chosen attachment and setting are important factors in your decision.
You’re mainly looking for an extra appliance for car seats and tight spaces. You’ll need to choose between a model that plugs into a car socket and one with a rechargeable battery.
Worth considering: for longer floor-cleaning sessions, especially in a large home. Check that it has the right attachments for fabrics and awkward corners.
Bear in mind: the cable and moving the appliance around can make stairs or car cleaning more awkward. A bagged model also requires replacement bags.
Worth considering: if you often move between floors, furniture and areas without a nearby socket, and the model you choose comes with the accessories you need.
Bear in mind: the maximum advertised battery life may apply to handheld mode on the eco setting, rather than cleaning floors with a motorised brush.
Worth considering: if your floors are already covered and you mainly need to clean seats, door pockets or gaps.
Bear in mind: a handheld vacuum designed for cars can’t replace a main vacuum for your home’s floors. Check whether it needs a compatible car socket.
For cleaning several surfaces by hand, the right type of vacuum depends mainly on whether you prioritise longer floor-cleaning sessions, cordless manoeuvrability or occasional car cleaning.
| Feature | What to check before buying | Who cares most about it |
|---|---|---|
| Attachments for different surfaces | Check separately whether the kit for the model being sold includes an upholstery tool, a mini brush and a crevice tool for tight spaces. | I want to move from the sofa to seats and awkward corners without finding out that the right attachment is missing. Around 33% of consumers prioritise multi-surface attachments. |
| Floor-cleaning sessions | Compare results on your floor coverings. For a stick vacuum, check the battery life with the motorised brush and on the setting you plan to use. | If I clean my floors in one session, I want to know whether the type I choose will last as long as I need it to. Around 27% of consumers prioritise longer floor-cleaning sessions. |
| Cordless manoeuvrability | Check the weight of the handheld unit, how it detaches and the battery-life conditions with the attachments you plan to use. | I often move between floors, furniture and high-up areas, and want to be able to handle the vacuum in each configuration. Cordless manoeuvrability is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Car cleaning | Choose between a 12 V car socket and a battery-powered model. Check the cable reach or battery life, and whether it comes with a narrow crevice tool or flexible hose. | If my floors are already taken care of, I mainly want to reach car seats and tight spaces. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this kind of extra cleaning. |
The advertised battery life may apply to handheld use on the eco setting. UFC-Que Choisir reports that average battery life at maximum power drops to around ten minutes for the stick vacuums it tested; this overall finding isn’t a measure of any one model.
Compare battery life under the same conditions, using the brush and setting you’ll actually need for your floors.
You may have to stop and recharge, or split your cleaning session into shorter stages.
What’s included varies between models: a mini brush for fabrics and a crevice tool for gaps serve different purposes.
Check the full model reference, the list of included accessories and their compatibility before ordering.
The BLACK+DECKER PD1200AV-XJ is designed for awkward corners in cars and runs from a 12 V car socket. It’s not designed to do the same job as a main vacuum for your floors.
If you also need to clean your home’s floors, choose a suitable main vacuum and keep the handheld model for extra jobs.
The floor head, accessories and ease of use all matter when choosing an appliance for the surfaces you need to clean.
Look for test results on your type of flooring and check the weight, attachments, emptying and maintenance requirements of the model you’re considering.
The BGB41BA1 bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering as a main appliance.
The X-Force Flex 14.80 Animal is a convertible stick vacuum whose listed kit includes several accessories for furniture and awkward corners.
The V8 Advanced is a cordless convertible stick vacuum featured on Dyson’s French website.
The 700 EP71AB14UG is a convertible stick vacuum worth considering if you care about cleaning fabrics and using the handheld unit.
The PD1200AV-XJ and BCHV001C1-QW handheld models are two extra options for small spaces.
These cordless stick vacuums are presented as options for moving between floors, furniture, fabrics and tight spaces, depending on the uses listed for each model.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a vacuum described as suitable for floors, carpets, sofas and car interiors.
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Worth considering if you want to move between floors, sofas, awkward corners and your car, and if the flexible tube suits your needs for cleaning low-down areas.
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Worth considering if you want a convertible stick vacuum described as suitable for floors, carpets, furniture, car seats and awkward corners.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a convertible stick vacuum described as suitable for floors, carpets, furniture and hard-to-reach areas.
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Worth considering if you want to clean floors and carpets before moving on to furniture or tight spaces; the product description also mentions upholstery.
For fabrics, look for a compatible upholstery tool or mini brush that’s actually included. For gaps, check for a narrow crevice tool and make sure the flexible hose or cable is long enough. Rowenta and BLACK+DECKER list different kits.
Compare battery life with the motorised attachment and setting you plan to use on your floors. According to tests by UFC-Que Choisir, average battery life at maximum power drops to around ten minutes for the stick vacuums tested; this overall finding isn’t a measure of the model you’re considering.
Follow the instructions for your model to clean the filters, brush and dust container. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a clogged appliance can use more energy while delivering poorer results. If you choose a bagged cylinder vacuum, also check which replacement bags are compatible.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a private individual. For new goods, the French Ministry of the Economy says you have two years to claim under the guarantee. During this period, consumers don’t have to prove that the fault existed on the date of sale. Claims should be made to the seller.
The French Ministry of the Economy says that vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index, which is scored out of 10. The index gives an indication of how repairable a product is; on its own, it can’t tell you whether a model is right for your surfaces or accessories.