Homes with hard floors and fabrics
If you switch between wooden floors or tiles and rugs, sofas or mattresses, choose a main vacuum cleaner with the right heads for each of these surfaces.
Who is this guide for?
The surfaces you need to clean and how you maintain the appliance matter just as much as its design.
Homes with pet hair and human hair to tackle
If fibres get caught in rugs and on furniture, check the rug brush and the tool for smaller fabric surfaces separately. Rowenta, for example, describes using a turbo brush on rugs and carpets.
Anyone keen to minimise contact with dust
If you’d rather not empty an open dust container, give the bagged option some thought: UFC-Que Choisir says bagged models expose you to less dust during maintenance. Also check the filter and the maintenance steps for the specific model you’re considering.
What should you check?
First choose the dust collection system you’re happy to maintain, then check that the brushes suit the floors and fabrics in your home.
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you clean several rooms and want to minimise contact with dust when emptying the appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags and check which ones are compatible.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you’d rather empty a bin than replace bags.
Be prepared for: contact with dust when emptying the bin, as well as maintaining the bin and filters. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir found that bagged models performed better overall for pick-up and minimising dust exposure.
Stick vacuum as a second cleaner
Worth considering: for cleaning the hallway, stairs or sofa between more thorough cleans.
Check: battery life with the mode and head you’ll use, as well as how to maintain the dust container.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and rugs | Identify the floor coverings in your home and check for a head suited to hard floors or wooden floors, as well as one designed for rugs. Compare test results for the same types of flooring rather than focusing on motor wattage alone. | I switch between hard floors and rugs, so I need suitable heads for both and can’t assume one brush will work everywhere. |
| Hair and fabrics | Check for a turbo brush for rugs, then an upholstery nozzle or mini turbo brush for smaller surfaces. Confirm which attachments are included and that they’re compatible with the exact model. | Hair or pet fur gets left on my rug and sofa, so I want the right tool to clean each one. |
| Bag and filtration | Compare the steps involved in replacing the bag or emptying the bin. Check the manual for the filter type and instructions on cleaning and replacing it. | I’d prefer to handle as little dust as possible, or I’m happy to empty the bin and maintain the filters regularly. |
| Use around the home | Check the operating radius, dust container capacity and how easy it is to access the brushes and filters. For a cordless stick vacuum, check the battery life in the mode you plan to use. | I clean several rooms in a row and don’t want to keep stopping; for quick touch-ups, manoeuvrability matters more to me. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on motor wattage alone
This figure alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean a rug, wooden floor or sofa. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the floorhead’s design.
Make a list of your surfaces, then check which brushes are included and look for test results covering the types of flooring you have.
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Underestimating the maintenance a bagless model needs
You’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters as instructed in the manual. UFC-Que Choisir also says bagged models expose you to less dust during maintenance.
Before choosing a bagless model, check how the bin and filter compartment open, and what maintenance the manual recommends.
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Assuming the range name tells you which attachments are included
Two vacuums marketed for pet hair may come with different attachments: Bosch lists a turbo brush and an upholstery nozzle for the BGB41PET1.
Check the box contents for the exact model number. If an attachment is sold separately, make sure it’s compatible with the vacuum.
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Forgetting about consumables and end-of-life disposal
A vacuum cleaner relies on bags, filters and maintenance parts; their product references determine what you’ll need over time.
Check which consumables are compatible before you buy. For your old appliance, see the take-back or electrical equipment collection options listed by ecosystem.
A guide to the brands
These examples show why it’s important to compare specific models and their attachments, rather than making assumptions about a whole brand.
Rowenta
The French product pages for the bagged RO6189EA and bagless RO7C32EA describe two different set-ups for floors and upholstered furniture.
- According to Rowenta France, the RO6189EA comes with a parquet brush, a wide upholstery nozzle and a mini turbo brush.
- The RO7C32EA product page lists a parquet brush and an upholstery nozzle. If you need a turbo brush, check whether it’s included or compatible with this model.
Bosch
The bagged ProAnimal BGB41PET1 and bagless BGS41PET1 illustrate the differences in maintenance and included attachments.
- Bosch Home Appliances France lists an AirTurbo Pro turbo brush and an integrated upholstery nozzle for the BGB41PET1.
- For the BGS41PET1, check which fabric and rug tools are included before choosing it based on the ProAnimal label alone.
Miele
Miele France features, among other models, the bagged cylinder vacuum Guard L1 Cat & Dog Flex and the Triflex HX3 Cat & Dog stick vacuum.
- The Guard L1 Cat & Dog Flex product information lists a brush designed for homes with pets, while the Triflex HX3 Cat & Dog information lists a pet hair tool.
- These features don’t replace comparing cleaning performance on your floors or checking the attachments included with the version you’re considering.
Options available at Joybuy
This selection includes a bagged cylinder vacuum for cleaning several types of flooring, alongside stick vacuums to consider for quick, targeted cleans. Compare the attachments before choosing a vacuum for the rugs and fabrics in your home.
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Electrolux EB61C2GRN, bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner, 550 W, black
Worth considering for cleaning several types of flooring if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a bin. For rugs covered in pet hair or upholstered furniture, check which brushes are included and whether the attachments you need are compatible.
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BISSELL PowerClean FurGuard Select stick vacuum cleaner
Worth considering for quick cleans where pet hair builds up, particularly on stairs and around furniture. Before making it your main vacuum, check which tools are included for your fabrics and how long the battery lasts with the mode and brush you’ll use.
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UNINELL HOME UV1 cordless stick vacuum cleaner, 450 W
Worth considering if you want to switch between quick cleans on floors and fabrics, provided you check that the tools suit each surface. The product title claims up to 60 minutes of battery life: check how long it lasts with the mode and head you plan to use, as well as the bin capacity.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5 cordless stick vacuum cleaner
Compare it for quick cleans on floors, stairs and fabrics, checking which attachments are actually included for each task. The product title claims up to 65 minutes of battery life: check the conditions for this figure and the bin capacity before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Bagged or bagless for a thorough clean?
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth prioritising if you want to minimise contact with dust during maintenance: UFC-Que Choisir says that, in its tests, bagged models pick up more effectively than bagless ones and expose you to less dust. Choose a bagless model instead if you’re happy to empty the bin and maintain its filters, then compare the attachments on the models you’re considering.
Which attachments should I look for to clean a rug, sofa and wooden floor?
Check for a brush suited to wooden floors, a head for rugs and an upholstery nozzle. If pet hair gets caught in the fibres, look for a turbo brush for rugs or a mini turbo brush for smaller surfaces. Always check that it’s included or compatible with the exact model.
What maintenance should I expect?
You’ll need to replace the bag or empty the bin, maintain the filters as instructed in the manual and remove fibres caught in the brushes. If a filter is washable, follow the manufacturer’s drying instructions before putting it back in place.
Is a stick vacuum enough for every room?
A stick vacuum can be a good choice for quick cleans in smaller areas, but don’t assume it’ll replace your cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean of every floor and fabric surface. Check the heads, bin capacity and battery life in the mode you’ll use on the surfaces in question.