If you regularly need to pick up crumbs and dust in several rooms, a cordless stick vacuum is usually the most versatile choice, provided its runtime in the mode you need and its storage options suit your routine. A handheld vacuum is better suited to small, localised messes, while a robot is designed for scheduled cleaning on suitable floors. It won’t necessarily clean carpets, edges or messes that need dealing with straight away.
The size of the areas you need to clean and when you want to tackle them will help you decide which type to choose.
If you regularly need to pick up dust, crumbs and debris in several rooms, a stick vacuum that’s easy to grab can be a good fit. If you’ll be cleaning carpets too, check the runtime and suction performance in the mode you need, rather than relying on the maximum runtime quoted.
A handheld vacuum takes up less room when messes are confined to small areas. If you also need to clean floors, check how much space the stick vacuum needs, whether it stands securely when stored and how easy it is to access the charging point.
A robot is suited to regular floor cleaning if your rooms are easy for it to navigate. Que Choisir Ensemble points out, however, that results vary by floor type, so carpets, corners and edges need to be checked separately.
First decide whether you want to clean straight away or schedule a session. Then consider your floors, how long you need to clean for and where you’ll store the appliance.
Choose this: for frequent manual cleaning in several areas, especially if you also need to reach the floors.
Keep in mind: runtime depends on the mode you use, and the bin, brush and filter need regular maintenance.
Choose this: for crumbs on a table, sofa or small patch of floor when a compact design is your priority.
Keep in mind: it’s less practical than a stick vacuum for regularly cleaning several rooms.
Choose this: to schedule cleaning on floors the robot can navigate.
Keep in mind: check its performance on your surfaces, and be prepared to get the rooms ready and maintain the appliance.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime and charging | For a stick vacuum, compare the runtime in the mode you’ll use on your floors with the charging time. According to Que Choisir Ensemble’s laboratory tests, the average runtime of the stick vacuums tested drops to around ten minutes at maximum power. This average isn’t a prediction of how a specific model will perform. | I want to finish cleaning my carpets or heavily soiled areas without having to stop and recharge the appliance. |
| Floors and messes | Look for separate results for hard floors, gaps between floorboards and carpets, according to the surfaces in your home. For a robot, check edges and corners too: Que Choisir Ensemble notes that results vary by floor type. | Crumbs on my tiled floor aren’t my only cleaning need: I also need to know how the appliance performs on the other surfaces in my home. |
| Ease of use and storage | Check the weight, grip, how securely the stick vacuum stands when stored and how much room its mount or docking station needs. A handheld model is mainly suited to small areas. | For a quick clean, I’d rather have an appliance I can take out, use and put away without having to get ready for a full cleaning session. |
| Maintenance and battery | Check how easy it is to access the bin, filter and brush, then find out how to replace the battery and parts for the exact model. A removable battery doesn’t, by itself, guarantee that a replacement will be available. | I want to maintain the appliance regularly and know what options are available if the battery or another part needs replacing. |
This figure usually refers to the lowest power setting. Que Choisir Ensemble reports an average runtime of around ten minutes at maximum power in its laboratory tests of stick vacuums, so a more intensive clean may last far less than the advertised maximum.
Compare the runtime in the mode you’ll use with the charging time. Also check whether the appliance can charge where you plan to store it.
Good suction on tiles doesn’t mean you’ll get the same results on carpets or in gaps between floorboards. Que Choisir Ensemble tests these conditions separately.
Make a note of your usual floors and messes, then look for results for those specific situations before choosing a brush or power setting.
According to Que Choisir Ensemble, a build-up of dirt can increase energy use while reducing suction performance.
Before you buy, check that these parts are easy to access and that the right replacement parts or consumables are available for the model. Then maintain the appliance according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Que Choisir Ensemble says robot vacuum performance varies by floor type and assesses edges and corners separately. A scheduled cycle also won’t deal with crumbs that need picking up straight away in the same way.
Use a robot for scheduled cleaning if your rooms are suitable. Check its performance on your carpets, and keep a manual option for areas or messes it doesn’t handle as you’d like.
These brands are a starting point based on the type of appliance you’re looking for. Your choice should come down to the features and performance of the specific model, not just its name.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a stick vacuum for manual cleaning.
Another brand to consider for a cordless stick vacuum.
Depending on your needs, the brand is worth comparing for both stick vacuums and robots.
A brand to consider when looking for a stick vacuum.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a robot for scheduled cleaning.
These options include stick vacuums for manual cleaning in several areas and robots for scheduled cleaning. If you need to pick up crumbs in a small, specific area, check whether the handheld function offered on some stick vacuums will suit your needs.
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Designed for manual cleaning in several areas, this stick vacuum is described as freestanding and convertible into a handheld model. The product listing quotes up to 65 minutes of use. Check the runtime in the mode you need for your floors, the charging time and how easy it is to access the filter and brush.
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This freestanding stick vacuum is designed for hard floors and carpets, and converts into a handheld model for smaller areas. The quoted runtime of 60 minutes doesn’t tell you how long it will last in a high-power setting. Check the runtime for each mode, the charging time and its performance on your surfaces.
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This model is designed for cleaning hard floors and carpets, and can be used as a handheld vacuum for smaller areas. Its quoted runtime is 45 minutes. Check which mode this applies to, the charging time and the availability of filters and replacement parts.
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This robot is designed for scheduled floor cleaning and is listed with a docking station and up to 180 minutes of operation. Scheduling requires an app and a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Check its performance on your carpets, edges and corners, how much room the station needs and the exact dust collection setup, which is described inconsistently in the product listing.
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This robot features a mopping function and an OMNI station, making it better suited to scheduled cleaning than picking up a mess straight away. The product listing quotes suction power of 25 000 Pa, but this figure alone doesn’t demonstrate how well it performs on carpets or near edges. Check its performance in these areas, the space needed for the station and the app requirements.
Not necessarily: the maximum runtime usually refers to the lowest power setting. Que Choisir Ensemble reports an average runtime of around ten minutes at maximum power in its laboratory tests. If you need to clean carpets or heavily soiled areas, look for the runtime measured in the mode you’ll use.
On a lightly soiled hard floor, first check whether a lower-power setting gives you the results you need. A carpet or heavily soiled area may require a higher-power setting, which will reduce the runtime. Compare the model’s performance and runtime in these conditions.
A robot can clean on a schedule, but it won’t automatically replace targeted cleaning. Que Choisir Ensemble says performance varies by floor type, so check how the model performs on carpets, along walls and in corners, and remember to maintain its bin or docking station.
Clean the bin, filters and brush according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Que Choisir Ensemble notes that a vacuum clogged with dirt may use more energy while delivering poorer results. Before you buy, check that these parts are easy to access on the model you’ve chosen.