For frequent, quick clean-ups, a cordless vacuum may be a good fit if its battery life on the setting you use is sufficient. A robot vacuum is better suited to keeping clear floors clean on a regular basis. If carpets, floorboard gaps or embedded fibres need a deeper clean, consider cylinder models too. Whatever you choose, check how it performs on your flooring, as well as how much space it needs for storage and maintenance.
You want to pick up crumbs and dust without getting out a bulky appliance. A cordless vacuum can be handy for quick clean-ups, particularly on hard floors, as long as its battery life on the setting you need works for you. Que Choisir highlights this format’s convenience for quick jobs, while also noting its battery-life limitations.
You want to clean carpets, rugs or floorboard gaps, not just pick up visible dirt from hard floors. Compare performance on these surfaces and check which brushes are included. Que Choisir notes that results vary depending on the appliance and the flooring.
You can keep floors reasonably clear for scheduled cleaning and have an accessible spot for the charging dock. A robot vacuum means less hands-on effort while it cleans, but its dustbin still needs attention and, according to Que Choisir, results depend on the type of floor.
Worth considering: for frequent, quick clean-ups, especially if you want to get the vacuum out and put it away quickly.
Bear in mind: battery life drops on the most powerful setting, so check that it will last long enough for your floors.
Worth considering: for regular cleaning on floors it can move around freely, provided you have a permanent spot for its dock.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to empty and maintain it. Que Choisir reports that results vary depending on the floor.
Worth considering: if you also need one appliance for a deeper clean of carpets or hard-to-reach areas.
Bear in mind: you’ll need a power socket and more storage space. If you choose a bagged model, you’ll also need to replace the bags.
| Feature | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Quick to get out and easy to handle | Weight of the complete appliance, ease of moving it and where you’ll store or charge it. | When crumbs appear, I want to be able to deal with them without preparing for a long cleaning session. Around 33% of consumers put this ready-to-use convenience first. |
| Cleaning challenging surfaces | Test results for your carpets or floorboard gaps, and a brush suited to the fibres you need to remove. | If my carpets trap fibres or my wooden floor has gaps, how well it cleans those surfaces matters most to me. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this deeper clean. |
| Automated cleaning | How it moves around furniture, space for the dock, and maintenance of the dustbin or docking station. | I want my floors to be cleaned regularly between manual cleans, without having to manage every run. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this automation. |
| Regular maintenance | Cleaning the filter, brush and dustbin; availability of bags or parts, depending on the model. | An appliance I use often needs to be easy to maintain, without tasks I’d put off every week. For around 20% of consumers, ease of maintenance matters more than other features. |
A cordless vacuum’s maximum battery life is usually measured on a low-power setting. In its tests, Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power.
Compare the stated runtimes for each mode with how long you’ll need to clean the areas where you’d use a higher-power setting.
Volts, watts, air watts and pascals don’t, on their own, tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from carpets, hard floors or floorboard gaps.
Look for test results that cover your flooring, then check which brushes come with the exact model you’re considering.
A robot needs an accessible spot for its dock and a route that works with the layout of your rooms. Its dustbin or docking station also needs maintaining.
Measure the space available and check that it can move around your furniture before choosing its navigation or docking features.
Filters, brushes, dustbins and bags all need different care, depending on the model. With a cordless vacuum, it’s also worth checking whether the battery can be replaced.
Read the maintenance instructions for the model you’re considering and check that its consumables and spare parts are available.
These brands feature in Que Choisir guides covering different types of vacuum cleaner. Compare individual models and how they’re intended to be used rather than assuming performance based on the brand name alone.
A brand Que Choisir lists among the established names in cordless vacuums.
A brand featured in Que Choisir guides to cordless, robot and cylinder vacuums.
A brand mentioned by Que Choisir for cordless and robot vacuums.
A brand featured in Que Choisir guides to robot and cordless vacuums.
A brand featured in Que Choisir’s guide to robot vacuum cleaners.
These cordless vacuums, robot vacuum and bagged cylinder vacuum offer different ways to keep a flat clean. Start by choosing the format that suits your floors and routine, then check the features of the model you’re interested in.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups if you’d like to be able to leave the vacuum standing upright between uses.
Stated weight of 2,2 kg, removable battery and claimed maximum runtime of 50 minutes. Check how long it lasts on the setting your flooring needs.
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Worth considering for automated cleaning if your floors are accessible and you have room to leave the docking station in place.
The product listing describes a docking station that empties the dustbin and maintains the mop pads. Check how much space it needs, what maintenance is still required and how it performs on your floors.
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Worth considering if you switch between cleaning floors and smaller surfaces using the handheld mode.
Removable battery, upright self-standing design and claimed maximum runtime of 60 minutes. The stated weight of 1,4 kg is for handheld mode, not the complete appliance; check the runtime on the setting you need too. Do not use this model to vacuum liquids.
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Worth comparing for clean-ups of varying lengths, bearing in mind which setting you’ll need for your surfaces.
The product listing states a runtime of 40 minutes on low and 15 minutes on high, as well as a removable battery. Check the weight and storage space required before choosing this model.
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Worth considering if you want a cylinder vacuum for different floor types and have space to store it.
The product listing specifies an all-floor brush, a parquet brush, a turbo brush, a 12 m operating radius and a weight of 7,2 kg. Check how it performs on your carpets and whether compatible bags are available.
Not necessarily: it usually refers to the lowest-power setting. Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power in its tests, so compare the model’s runtime on the setting you’ll use for carpets or the dirtiest areas.
A robot can clean regularly, but it won’t necessarily replace manual cleaning of difficult carpets or specific areas. Que Choisir reports that results vary depending on the floor. Also consider how easily it can move around your rooms and how much maintenance the dustbin needs.
Choose according to the cleaning you need and how you prefer to maintain your appliance. Que Choisir reports that bagged cylinder vacuums perform better than their bagless counterparts. You’ll need to replace the bag, while a bagless model needs its canister emptied and cleaned regularly.
First, check whether the appliance can be repaired and which parts are suitable for your model. If your appliance and fault are eligible, a repair bonus under the public scheme may be available through an approved repairer. If the appliance has reached the end of its life, information from the ministry responsible for the ecological transition can point you to the appropriate collection points.