For regular cleaning across a large area, or on rugs and carpets, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners on your flooring. A cordless stick vacuum is better suited to quick clean-ups and easy storage, provided its battery lasts long enough. A robot vacuum can help with scheduled cleaning if its performance and navigation suit the layout of your home.
If you clean your floors thoroughly, check how well the vacuum performs on your flooring, especially rugs and carpets where fibres can get caught. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these scenarios separately in its testing protocols.
For quick clean-ups, a vacuum that’s easy to get out and put away may matter more than long battery life. Still, check how much space you’ll need to store and charge it.
A robot vacuum can handle regular cleaning if its performance on your flooring and the way it moves around your home suit you. Check how the model you’re considering handles rugs, low furniture and objects on the floor.
The right type of vacuum depends on what you need it to do: clean your whole home, handle frequent quick clean-ups or take care of scheduled cleaning. Whichever you choose, compare its performance on the flooring in your home.
Worth considering: as your main vacuum for a large home or thorough cleaning across different floor types.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the cable, move the vacuum around and replace the bags.
Worth considering: if you want a cylinder vacuum without replacement bags and don’t mind emptying its dust container.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clean the container and filters. Compare its performance on your floors with that of bagged models.
Worth considering: for frequent quick clean-ups, especially if you’re short on storage space.
Bear in mind: battery life varies depending on the mode you choose, and you’ll need to recharge it between sessions.
Worth considering: for scheduled cleaning in a home where the robot can move around freely.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clear cluttered areas and maintain the dust container, brushes or docking station.
Worth considering: for crumbs, furniture or small areas, alongside your regular floor cleaning.
Bear in mind: its compact size may not be enough for a large area or carpet.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on floors and rugs | Compare test results for each floor type, especially rugs and carpets, then check which brushes are included. Motor wattage alone won’t tell you how well it picks up dirt. | With a mix of hard floors and rugs, I want to know whether the vacuum will work well on every surface during a full clean. This could be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ease of use and storage | Check how heavy it feels in your hand, where you’ll store or charge it, and how easy it is to empty. | When I clean small areas several times a week, getting the vacuum out and putting it away should be simple. Around 29% of consumers might put this convenience first. |
| Battery life | For a cordless model, check its battery life in the mode you plan to use and how long it takes to recharge. For a cylinder vacuum, consider the cable length. | If I need to clean a large area in one go, having to stop and recharge would be frustrating. Battery life could be the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Scheduled cleaning | Check test results for your floors, the clearance under your furniture and the model’s guidance on thresholds, rugs and obstacles. | I want to schedule cleaning, but the robot needs to be able to move around my home. For around 21% of consumers, this could be the main reason for choosing one. |
The floorhead and the type of flooring affect the results. The motor’s power rating alone won’t tell you how well it will pick up dirt from a rug.
Look for test results on the types of flooring in your home and check which brushes come with the model.
The maximum battery life quoted is usually for a low-power mode. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide gives an average battery life of around ten minutes at full power for cordless stick vacuums.
Compare the battery life in the mode you need for your floors with the time your usual cleaning takes.
Depending on the model, rugs, cables, thresholds and low furniture can affect its route. Roborock’s documentation notes that, for one model, dark or thick carpets may trigger its cliff sensors.
Identify any tricky areas in your home, then check them against the manual and test results for the specific robot you’re considering.
Replacing bags, cleaning filters, emptying the dust container and maintaining a docking station all involve different tasks, depending on the type of vacuum.
Before you buy, check which consumables you’ll need and what routine maintenance the model requires.
A brand may offer several types of vacuum. It’s the specific model, tested on your floors and in the conditions you’ll use it, that you need to compare.
A brand featured among the stick and robot vacuum cleaners covered in UFC-Que Choisir’s guides.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a robot vacuum and want to compare its navigation and scheduled cleaning features.
A brand mentioned by UFC-Que Choisir in its guide to cordless stick vacuums.
These models illustrate three of the uses covered here: a bagged cylinder vacuum for thorough cleaning, a cordless stick vacuum for frequent clean-ups and a robot vacuum for scheduled cleaning. Compare their features and the conditions of use for the model that suits your home.
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Worth considering for thorough cleaning if you’re happy to move a cylinder vacuum around and replace its bags. If you have rugs or several types of flooring, compare the model’s test results and check which brushes are included.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups if storage space is important. The product name describes it as self-standing; check how much space it needs and how long the battery lasts in the mode you’ll use, especially if you plan to clean your whole home with it.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning if its route suits your home. The product name mentions an auto-emptying function; check how much space the station needs, the guidance on obstacles and how it performs on your rugs.
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Its design may suit frequent quick clean-ups if you have a suitable place to store it. The product name claims a 45-minute battery life; check which mode this applies to and compare test results on your floors before making it your only vacuum.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning if its features suit your floors. The product name claims it can manage five maps; confirm the version, station features and mopping instructions before you buy.
Compare results for each type of flooring in your home separately. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocols look at dust and fibres on rugs and carpets, as well as cleaning along edges or in corners, depending on the type of vacuum. A quoted motor power rating is no substitute for these results.
Yes, if its performance on your floors, capacity and battery life in the mode you use are enough for your cleaning sessions. If you have a large home or rugs, check these points before deciding against a corded main vacuum.
It depends on the model and the layout of your home. Measure your thresholds, check the manual for guidance on rugs and obstacles, then look for test results for the robot you’re considering. Roborock documentation notes that dark or thick carpets may interfere with the cliff sensors on some models.
No. Don’t assume that wet cleaning is suitable for every wooden floor. In its review of robot mops, UFC-Que Choisir advises against using them on wooden floors, particularly solid wood. Check the guidance for both your flooring and the robot, too.