Homes with rugs or carpets
If you want to remove embedded dust rather than give the floor a quick once-over, compare results for rugs and carpets. UFC-Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately from hard floors.
For regular cleaning of rugs, carpets and different floor types, start by looking at how well a vacuum performs on your surfaces. A cylinder vacuum cleaner with or without a bag may suit your needs, depending on whether you’d rather replace bags or empty a dust container. If fibres or pet hair cling to fabrics, check the relevant test results and the brush supplied. UFC-Que Choisir sees cordless stick vacuums as a handy extra for quick clean-ups, rather than an automatic replacement for a cylinder vacuum on thick carpets.
If you want to remove embedded dust rather than give the floor a quick once-over, compare results for rugs and carpets. UFC-Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately from hard floors.
For rugs, cushions or upholstered furniture, look at tests covering fibres and check which brushes come with the exact model you’re considering. A label aimed at pet owners doesn’t, on its own, tell you what’s included in the box.
Your choice also affects day-to-day maintenance: removing a bag or emptying a container, then looking after the filters and brushes as instructed. UFC-Que Choisir particularly notes that filters need regular maintenance.
Worth considering: if you’d rather collect dust in a bag during regular, thorough cleans.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to find compatible bags and replace them; having a bag doesn’t guarantee good results on carpets.
Worth considering: if you’d rather not use bags and can empty the container regularly.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to empty the container and maintain it and the filters.
Worth considering: for quick clean-ups between thorough cleans, when manoeuvrability matters.
Bear in mind: battery life is limited. According to UFC-Que Choisir, suction on thick carpets is often less powerful than with a cylinder vacuum.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Suction on rugs and carpets | Compare tests on embedded dust in these surfaces, as well as how well performance is maintained as the bag or container fills. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol distinguishes results by floor type. | If dust is left in my rugs after a quick clean, I want to judge performance on these fabrics, not just electrical power. Around 42% of consumers make this their top priority. |
| Fibres, hair and pet hair | Look at test results for fibres and check the list of brushes actually supplied with the model you’ve chosen. | When pet hair clings to rugs or cushions, my first priority is being able to remove it from these fabrics. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Check the collection system, the reference numbers for compatible bags or filters, and the instructions for cleaning the brushes. | I’d rather know whether I’ll need to change a bag or empty a container, and how to maintain the filters, before choosing. For around 25% of consumers, this routine is the main consideration. |
Electrical power alone doesn’t tell you how much dust a vacuum removes from a carpet. UFC-Que Choisir tests suction on different surfaces separately.
Look for a test on rugs or carpets and, if fibres matter to you, results that cover them too.
Accessories vary by model and bundle, and fibres can also become tangled around a rotating brush.
Check which accessories are included, which surfaces they’re designed for and how to clean the brush.
A bagged cylinder vacuum needs compatible bags; a bagless model needs its container emptied. In both cases, looking after the filters and brushes is important for regular use.
Check the reference numbers for any consumables you’ll need and read the model’s maintenance instructions before ordering.
An extended warranty offered by a retailer or manufacturer doesn’t replace the statutory guarantee of conformity. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that this guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual in France.
Check who the seller is and keep your proof of purchase before considering an optional extended warranty.
Miele France offers bagged cylinder vacuums in several configurations. The Guard L1 Cat & Dog Flex, for example, comes with a brush designed for pet owners.
Rowenta France offers both bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums. The brand lists a 2.5 L container and a mini turbo brush for its bagless G-Force Cyclonic Silence RO7C66EA.
Bosch Home Appliances France features the BGS41PET1, a bagless cylinder vacuum for which the brand lists a 2.4 L container and a washable HEPA filter.
These two Electrolux bagged cylinder vacuums offer the convenience of bag-based dust collection. To choose between them for a home with rugs and fibres, check the exact model against tests on your surfaces and see which accessories are included in the bundle.
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Worth considering if you’d rather collect dust in a bag for your regular cleaning. Before choosing it for rugs where fibres become embedded, compare tests on these surfaces and check which brushes come with this model.
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Worth a look if you’re after a bagged cylinder vacuum for different floor types. Its stated electrical power is 550 W. To judge how well it cleans rugs and removes fibres, look for test results on these surfaces and check which accessories are included.
Compare how they perform using the same test method on rugs or carpets, rather than looking only at their wattage. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol measures dust pick-up on these surfaces and also looks at the removal of fibres that mimic pet hair.
Not necessarily if you regularly clean rugs or thick carpets. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a stick vacuum is suited to everyday or quick clean-ups, but its battery life is limited and suction on these surfaces is often less powerful than with a cylinder vacuum. Check test results for your floors before relying on it as your only vacuum.
Follow your model’s manual for the bag or container, filters and brushes. UFC-Que Choisir notes that filters need regular maintenance. If the manual says they can be washed, wait until they’re completely dry before putting them back.
No. The French Ministry of the Economy says the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. An optional commercial warranty doesn’t replace it. Check who the seller is and keep your proof of purchase.