For your main carpet and rug cleaning, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners and their results on these floor coverings, then check for brushes suited to pet hair and grooved wood floors. A bagless model needs its bin emptied and cleaned; a stick vacuum may offer the manoeuvrability you need, provided its runtime in the mode you’ll use is long enough. A robot is best suited to regular cleaning between manual cleans; don’t assume it will replace your main vacuum cleaner.
If dust and fibres get trapped in your soft floor coverings, look for a main vacuum cleaner with documented results on carpets. Que Choisir’s tests assess performance on carpets, wood floors and tiles separately, so a good result on hard floors alone isn’t enough to judge how well a vacuum cleans a rug.
If fibres build up on rugs, furniture or stairs, check which accessories are supplied with the exact model and how easy the brush is to clean. A brush advertised as suitable for pet hair doesn’t, on its own, prove how well it will work on your fabrics.
If you move between wood floors and rugs and need to reach grooves or narrow spaces, check the wood-floor brush, crevice tool and the vacuum’s reach. Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses several types of flooring separately, as well as hard-to-clean areas.
First, choose a type of vacuum based on how you’ll use it: for cleaning soft floor coverings as your main vacuum, or for more targeted, frequent cleans. Then compare its results on your floors and check exactly what’s included with the version on sale.
Consider one if: you need a main vacuum for regular carpet and rug cleaning. Que Choisir’s guide favours cylinder vacuums for dust removal.
Bear in mind: it’s less compact and you’ll need to replace the bags. Results on soft flooring vary from one model to another.
Consider one if: you want a mains-powered vacuum for your main cleaning, without using bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty and clean the bin. Que Choisir notes that emptying bagless models exposes you to more dust than emptying bagged ones.
Consider one if: manoeuvrability matters for frequent cleaning, particularly around furniture or on stairs.
Check: how long it runs in the mode you need for your carpets. Que Choisir generally describes stick vacuums as supplementary appliances.
Consider one if: you want automated cleans between manual vacuuming sessions.
Check: the model’s results on carpets, fibres, edges and corners before relying on it for your main cleaning.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Deep cleaning of fabrics | The model’s results on rugs or carpets; the supplied head and any turbo brush. | If dust stays trapped in my rugs despite regular vacuuming, I need a main vacuum suited to soft floor coverings. Around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Hair and pet hair | A brush designed for fibres included; access to the roller for cleaning. | If pet hair gets caught in fabrics, I want to remove it without having to keep clearing the brush. This would be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Grooved wood floors and mixed flooring | A wood-floor brush and crevice tool; separate results for hard floors and soft flooring. | I move between wood floors and rugs, and also need to reach grooves. For me, a vacuum that handles all these surfaces matters more than a good result on just one type of floor. Around 21% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Routine maintenance | Availability of bags or filters, cleaning the bin and brush, and a replaceable battery where applicable. | If I vacuum often, I want to know what maintenance and consumables the appliance will need over time. For around 14% of consumers, this would be the main consideration. |
A power rating doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean your rug or reach into grooves. Que Choisir’s test protocols assess vacuum cleaners on different floors and types of dirt.
Look for a test of the exact model on the floor coverings you have, then check which heads and tools are included.
Accessories can vary between models, even within the same range. A brush shown for a product family isn’t necessarily included with the version you order.
Compare the full model number, the list of included accessories and how to clean the brush.
If the brush you need isn’t included, you’ll have to find a compatible one to buy separately.
Runtime depends on the mode you use. Que Choisir says a stick vacuum lasts around ten minutes on average at full power; this average doesn’t predict how long a specific model will run.
Check the runtime in the mode you need for your floors, and look for a carpet test before making it your only vacuum cleaner.
The station doesn’t prove how well a robot cleans carpets, edges or corners. These are among the points covered by Que Choisir’s robot vacuum test protocol.
Compare the model’s results on your floors and remember to check its brushes and station as you use it.
These models illustrate configurations worth comparing, but their features don’t tell you how other models from the same brand will clean.
The Silence Force Effitech RO7473EA bagged cylinder vacuum is an example of a model designed for mixed flooring.
The PowerPro Expert FC9747/09 is a bagless cylinder vacuum option for homes with different types of flooring.
The Gen5detect Absolute stick vacuum is worth considering for its manoeuvrability and brushes designed for hair and pet hair.
The Qrevo S5V is an option to consider as a robot vacuum for use alongside manual cleaning.
These models include bagged cylinder vacuums to consider for your main cleaning, as well as cordless stick vacuums to compare if manoeuvrability matters to you. If your home has carpets or rugs throughout, compare each model with a test on soft flooring and check which accessories are included with the version you choose.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum for your main cleaning on mixed flooring and carpets.
If fibres are getting trapped in fabrics, check which accessories come with this model and look for a test on rugs or carpets. Also check that suitable bags are available.
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Worth comparing if you want a manoeuvrable vacuum for pet hair and cleaning around furniture or on stairs.
The product name lists a hose, a pet brush and advertised suction of 55 kPa. Before making it your main vacuum, check its results on carpets and how long it runs in the mode you need.
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Worth considering if you want a bagged cylinder vacuum for a home with a mix of hard floors and rugs.
The stated 550 W power rating doesn’t tell you how well it cleans carpets. If removing pet hair trapped in fabrics is a priority, check which brushes are included and look for a test of this model.
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Worth comparing for frequent cleaning if freedom of movement matters as much as choosing the right brush.
The product name lists an anti-tangle brush, suction of 60 000 Pa and up to 65 minutes of runtime. This doesn’t necessarily reflect how long it will run in the mode needed for carpets: check the runtime for your use, as well as its results on carpets.
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Worth comparing if you want a stick vacuum for pet hair and cleaning under furniture, provided its results on carpets meet your needs.
The product name lists 550 W, advertised suction of 55 kPa, an anti-tangle brush and up to 55 minutes of runtime. Check how long it runs in the mode you use on your carpets, and plan to clean the brush and bin regularly.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering first for your main carpet cleaning if you’re happy to replace the bags. In its comparison of vacuum types, Que Choisir’s guide says bagged models perform better at vacuuming than their bagless counterparts. For a specific model, also check its results on soft flooring and which brushes are included. Bagless models do away with bags, but you’ll need to empty and clean the bin.
A turbo brush is worth looking for if fibres get trapped in rugs, carpets or fabrics, although it isn’t essential for every home. Check that it comes with the version on sale, is suitable for the surface you’ll use it on and has a roller you can clean.
It may be suitable if the model’s carpet-cleaning results, accessories and runtime in the mode you actually use are right for your home. Que Choisir generally describes stick vacuums as supplementary appliances and gives an average runtime of around ten minutes at full power. Don’t confuse the advertised maximum runtime with how long you’ll be able to use it on your carpets.
Don’t count on it as a replacement unless you’ve checked the chosen model’s results on carpets, fibres, edges and corners. Que Choisir assesses these points in its robot vacuum test protocol. If you want automated cleans between manual sessions, also check how to maintain the brushes and station.