Homes with a mix of hard floors and rugs
You’re looking for a main appliance to clean hard floors, rugs and carpets regularly. A corded model could still be an option if its reach and manoeuvrability suit your home.
Which households is it for?
People who consider ongoing maintenance
You’re deciding between removing a bag and emptying a dust container. How often you’ll need to do this, how the filters are maintained and whether replacement supplies are readily available will all affect your choice.
Homes where storage matters
You want an appliance that’s easy to get out and put away, or the convenience of automated cleaning. Just make sure that convenience doesn’t mean rugs and carpets get left out of your cleaning routine.
What should you look for?
Start by checking how well it cleans the floor coverings in your home, then consider the dust collection system, reach and manoeuvrability in relation to your routine. Que Choisir advises against judging a cylinder vacuum’s performance on motor wattage alone.
Cylinder vacuum with a bag
Consider it if: you want a main appliance where dust is collected in a removable bag.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to keep compatible bags in stock and move a corded appliance around.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Consider it if: you’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags.
Bear in mind: emptying and cleaning the container involves regular handling.
Cordless stick vacuum
Consider it if: you value manoeuvrability, as a second appliance or if the model can genuinely handle all your cleaning.
Bear in mind: the stated battery life may not reflect how long it lasts on the setting you use for carpets.
Robot vacuum
Consider it if: you want to automate regular cleaning in clear areas.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, results vary depending on the floor type. Don’t assume it can replace deep-cleaning your carpets.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning different floor coverings | Compare test results for the exact model on hard floors, rugs and carpets, and check which brushes are included. | When I have both hard floors and rugs, I want to clean every surface as part of the same routine; around 36% of consumers prioritise this ability to clean multiple surfaces. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Look at how to empty the dust container or replace the bag, as well as which filters and replacement supplies are compatible. | If I want to dispose of dust without too much handling, maintenance is an important part of my decision; for around 29% of consumers, it’s their top priority. |
| Reach and storage | Check the cylinder vacuum’s operating radius or the stick vacuum’s battery life on the setting you’ll use for carpets, and how much storage space it needs. | To clean several rooms while keeping the appliance easy to move and store, I need a design that suits my home; around 21% of consumers put manoeuvrability and storage first. |
| Automated cleaning | Check how the robot performs on your rugs, whether it can get over thresholds and how to maintain its dust container. | If I want to schedule cleaning in clear areas, I’m looking to cut down on manual work without neglecting rugs; around 14% of consumers prioritise this automation. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on wattage alone
Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from wooden floors, tiles, rugs or carpets. Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately as part of its cylinder vacuum testing process.
Look for test results for the exact model on your floors and check which brushes are included.
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Assuming ‘bagless’ means ‘maintenance-free’
A dust container needs to be emptied and cleaned. Filters and brushes need maintenance too, whether or not the vacuum uses a bag.
Before you buy, check the maintenance instructions for the model you’ve chosen and which replacement supplies are compatible.
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Assuming the maximum battery life applies to carpets
The stated battery life for a stick vacuum may be based on a different setting from the one you’ll need for your carpets. So it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to clean your whole home in one go.
Compare the battery life on the setting you plan to use with the area and time needed for your usual cleaning routine.
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Assuming a robot can replace all your cleaning
Que Choisir points out that performance depends on the type of floor. Rugs, thresholds and cluttered areas can all affect how suitable a model is for your home.
Check its performance and limitations in these areas before making it your only vacuum cleaner.
Brands to know
Rowenta
Rowenta offers cylinder vacuums with and without bags, cordless stick vacuums and robots.
- The range includes several designs to suit different ways of organising your cleaning routine.
- For the model you choose, check its performance on rugs, the accessories included and which filters are compatible.
Miele
Miele France offers a range that includes cylinder vacuums with bags.
- This design is worth considering if you prefer to collect dust in a bag.
- Check the operating radius, brushes and filters for each model.
Dyson
Dyson France offers a range of cordless vacuum cleaners.
- A stick design may suit you if manoeuvrability and easy storage are priorities.
- Check the battery life on the setting you need and the exact model’s performance on rugs. Its stated maximum battery life won’t tell you how well it meets these needs.
Roborock
Roborock is a brand to consider if you’re looking at a robot for regular cleaning.
- A robot may suit you if you want to automate some of your cleaning.
- Check the model’s performance on rugs, how it navigates around obstacles and how to maintain its dust container.
Vacuum cleaners available on Joybuy
This selection includes cylinder vacuums with and without bags, as well as cordless stick vacuums to consider for cleaning floors and rugs. For each model, compare the stated specifications with its performance on your floor coverings and the needs of your home.
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Philips FC9556/09 5000 Series, bagless
Worth considering if you want a bagless vacuum as your main appliance for cleaning different floor coverings.
- Stated motor power: 900 W; this figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it performs on rugs.
- Check test results for your floor coverings, as well as maintenance requirements and the availability of suitable filters.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG, cylinder vacuum with bag
Worth considering if you prefer to collect dust in a bag as part of your regular cleaning routine.
- Cylinder vacuum with bag.
- Check its performance on rugs and carpets, and the type and availability of compatible bags.
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Monsga M100, self-standing cordless stick vacuum
Worth considering if easy manoeuvrability and storage matter to you, provided it can last for your usual cleaning routine.
- Anti-tangle brush; 45 minutes’ battery life stated in the product title.
- Check the battery life on the setting you’ll use for rugs, and its cleaning performance on rugs and carpets.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5, self-standing cordless stick vacuum
Worth considering if you prefer a stick vacuum that can stand upright for storage, once you’ve checked how it performs on your rugs.
- Anti-tangle brush; up to 65 minutes’ stated battery life.
- Check the battery life on the setting you need for rugs, and its cleaning performance on rugs and carpets.
Frequently asked questions
How can I compare cleaning performance on floors and rugs without relying on wattage?
Compare test results for the exact model on each type of floor covering in your home, and check which brush was used. According to Que Choisir, motor power alone doesn’t describe cleaning performance; its testing process looks at surfaces including carpet, tiles and wooden floors.
What maintenance is needed for models with and without bags?
A model with a bag needs compatible bags that you’ll have to replace; a bagless model needs its dust container emptied and cleaned. In both cases, check the care instructions for the filters and brushes on the model you’re considering.
Can a cordless stick vacuum handle all the cleaning?
It can be your main appliance if its performance on your floor coverings and its battery life on the setting you need are enough for the area and duration of your usual cleaning routine. Que Choisir generally presents stick vacuums as secondary appliances, so don’t assume it can clean all your rugs based on the maximum stated battery life alone.
Can the repairability index help me compare two vacuum cleaners?
Yes, alongside cleaning performance and ease of use. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition includes vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by this index. Compare the scores for the exact models you’re considering rather than applying one score to an entire brand.