For frequent clean-ups of small messes, a cordless stick vacuum is handy, provided its battery lasts long enough for the cleaning mode you use. If you regularly clean several types of flooring, rugs or furniture, consider a cylinder vacuum instead. According to UFC-Que Choisir, bagged models vacuum more effectively than bagless ones and expose you to less dust, but you’ll need to replace the bags. A robot vacuum can keep floors clean between manual cleans; check how well it performs on your flooring, along edges and in corners.
If crumbs, hair and dust mean you’re often reaching for the vacuum for a few minutes at a time, a cordless stick vacuum makes those quick clean-ups easier. UFC-Que Choisir describes it mainly as a handy additional vacuum; check how long the battery lasts at the power setting you need for your floors.
If you need to clean hard floors, rugs and furniture, a cylinder vacuum is worth considering for a thorough clean. Compare its performance on each of your floor types and the accessories included, rather than looking only at the motor’s wattage, as UFC-Que Choisir recommends.
A robot vacuum can clean automatically between manual cleans. However, UFC-Que Choisir notes that results vary depending on the flooring. Check how it performs on your floors, along edges and in corners, and consider how much maintenance it needs.
Start with the task you do most often, then check the performance and practical considerations of the model you’re interested in.
Choose it for: quick, frequent clean-ups with a vacuum that’s easy to get out and put away.
Keep in mind: battery life is limited, and performance on more demanding tasks should be checked, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Choose it for: regular cleaning across different surfaces, especially if you’d prefer to handle less dust.
Keep in mind: it needs to be plugged in and the bags must be replaced; UFC-Que Choisir reports that it exposes you to less dust than a bagless model.
Choose it for: the corded cylinder format without the need for bags.
Keep in mind: you’ll need to empty the container and maintain the filters; UFC-Que Choisir reports greater exposure to dust than with a bagged model.
Choose it for: automating regular floor clean-ups between manual cleans.
Keep in mind: the robot needs maintenance, and performance varies depending on the flooring, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning performance on floors | Look for test results on your types of flooring and the dirt you need to tackle: hard floors, gaps in floorboards, rugs or fibres. Check which brush was used, too. UFC-Que Choisir points out that its design matters, not just the motor’s power. | I want to pick up crumbs from the tiled floor and clean the rug too, so performance on both matters. |
| Stick vacuum battery life | Check the running time at the power setting you’ll use and with the brush you’ll need. The maximum stated battery life may not reflect how long it will last during a demanding clean. | I need to finish my cleaning without recharging, including when I use a more powerful setting. |
| Bags, container and filters | Check how to remove the bag or empty the container, and how to maintain the filters and brushes. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a bagged cylinder vacuum exposes you to less dust than a bagless one. | If I want to handle less dust, emptying the vacuum matters just as much as the cleaning itself. |
| Reaching different areas | Check for accessories suited to furniture and narrow spaces, how easy the vacuum is to manoeuvre and, for a robot, how well it cleans along edges and in corners. | My furniture and corners need attention too, so cleaning only the middle of each room isn’t enough. |
| Spare parts and future maintenance | Check that filters, brushes and other parts are compatible with the full model number. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition lists vacuum cleaners among the products covered by the repairability index. | I want to be able to find parts that fit the vacuum I buy and check its repairability index. |
That figure may apply to a lower power setting than you need for rugs or heavily soiled areas.
Compare the running time at the setting and with the brush you’ll use against the time your usual clean takes.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, effective suction power and the design of the vacuum head both affect cleaning performance. Results also depend on the flooring and the type of dirt.
Look for tests on your type of flooring and check which brushes are included.
UFC-Que Choisir says bagless models expose you to more dust than bagged cylinder vacuums.
If this matters to you, compare emptying the container with changing a bag, and check how easy it is to access the filters.
UFC-Que Choisir finds that robot vacuum performance varies depending on the flooring and isn’t always convincing.
Check how the model performs on your flooring, along edges and in corners before relying on it to replace your manual cleaning.
These ranges offer a useful starting point for comparison. A brand appearing here is no guarantee of performance or of a particular model being available.
Depending on the model, Rowenta’s range of cordless stick vacuums includes features such as a removable battery or a flexible tube.
Miele France offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, as well as cordless stick vacuums.
Dyson France offers accessories and parts for a range of cordless machines.
These models suit three of the needs covered here: thorough cleaning with a bagged cylinder vacuum, quick clean-ups with a cordless stick vacuum and extra floor care with a robot. Compare each model with the surfaces in your home and the practicalities of your space.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum is suited to thorough cleaning across different surfaces. Check that the brushes included are right for your floors and find out which bags fit the model.
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This cordless design is suited to frequent quick clean-ups. Compare its battery life at the setting you use and check how it performs on the surfaces you clean.
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This robot vacuum and mop with station can help with floor cleaning between manual cleans. Check how it performs on your rugs, in corners and along edges, and make sure you have room for its station.
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This robot is an option for keeping floors clean between more thorough cleans. Check how it performs on your flooring and how much maintenance the robot and its station need.
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This robot can help keep floors clean between manual cleans. Check how it performs on your floors and make sure you have enough room to set up its station.
No. UFC-Que Choisir says that effective suction power and the design of the vacuum head both affect cleaning performance. Compare results on your flooring and the accessories included, rather than looking only at the motor’s wattage.
Not necessarily: the maximum running time may apply to a lower power setting than you’d use on a rug. Check how long the stick vacuum lasts with the brush and setting you’ll need.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is better suited to this need: UFC-Que Choisir says it exposes you to less dust than a bagless model. However, you’ll need to replace the bags. Check how well the model performs on your floors, too.
Not automatically. According to UFC-Que Choisir, robot vacuum performance varies depending on the flooring. Before relying on a robot alone, check how well it cleans your floors and rugs, along edges and in corners, and consider which areas you’ll still need to clean by hand.
Yes, it’s worth checking for the model you’re considering. The Ministry for Ecological Transition lists vacuum cleaners among the products covered by this index. Also check that parts for the exact model are available and compatible.