For regular cleaning of dust, hair and pet hair across different floor types, start by choosing a floorhead suited to your surfaces and how often you vacuum. UFC-Que Choisir generally found that bagged cylinder vacuums offer more effective suction and lower dust exposure than bagless models, although this does not guarantee the performance of any individual model. A cordless stick vacuum makes frequent cleaning easier if its battery life suits the mode you use. A robot can help maintain accessible floors, but it won’t replace cleaning surfaces beyond its reach.
If you want to remove fibres embedded in rugs or carpets, compare test results on fibres and check which brush is included rather than relying on the advertised power alone. UFC-Que Choisir tests cylinder vacuums on fibres in particular.
If you want to get your vacuum out easily to pick up hair and pet hair throughout the week, bear in mind that UFC-Que Choisir says the maximum battery life advertised for a stick vacuum is generally measured at low power. Check the battery life for the mode that suits your needs.
If you vacuum regularly and want to minimise contact with dust when emptying the appliance, think carefully about choosing a bag or a dust container, and how each needs to be emptied and maintained, as highlighted in UFC-Que Choisir’s comparisons.
Start with your floor types and how much carpet you have, then compare bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums and stick vacuums in terms of emptying, accessories and useful battery life. A robot is best considered as an extra for accessible floors.
| Feature | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair on carpets | Test results on rugs or carpets; a brush specifically designed for these surfaces included with the appliance. | If pet hair gets caught in my carpets, I look at fibre test results and the brush designed for the job. Around 29% of consumers prioritise removing pet hair from carpets. |
| Frequent cleaning | Battery life in the mode you plan to use; charging time and ease of emptying. | If I want to quickly pick up hair and pet hair throughout the day, I check the battery life in the mode I need. Around 23% of consumers prioritise quick clean-ups. |
| Long cleaning sessions and different floors | Accessories suited to each floor type; operating radius or battery life in the mode you need. | To clean several rooms and floor types in one session, I compare the floorheads supplied and the appliance’s reach. Around 18% of consumers prioritise covering several floor types. |
| Dust collection | Bag or dust container and how it is emptied; filter maintenance instructions. | Contact with dust matters to me when I empty the appliance. Around 18% of consumers want to minimise dust exposure when emptying their vacuum. |
| Automated cleaning | Results on the floors in your home; access to areas that need cleaning and brush maintenance. | If I want to automate the upkeep of accessible floors alongside manual cleaning, I check which areas the robot can reach and what maintenance it needs. Around 12% of consumers prioritise automated floor cleaning. |
How well a vacuum collects dirt varies depending on the floorhead, flooring and type of dirt. Carpets are tested for fibre removal separately, as set out in UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol.
Check which accessories are supplied with the exact model you’re considering and, where possible, look for test results on fibres and each of your floor types.
The maximum battery life advertised is often for a low-power mode. Battery life may be shorter when you use a more powerful mode, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Compare the advertised battery life in the mode you’re likely to use with the length of your cleaning sessions.
A bag needs replacing; a dust container, filters and brushes also need regular maintenance. A robot won’t necessarily meet every cleaning need in your home.
Check which consumables are compatible and what maintenance the model needs, then consider which surfaces it can’t reach.
Results vary depending on the floors and the model. A robot won’t clean furniture or surfaces beyond its reach, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Identify the areas it can access and compare its results on your floor types before relying on it for regular floor cleaning.
The features below relate to the specific models mentioned, not every product made by each brand.
The Silence Force 12 Smart, animal model, is an example of a bagged cylinder vacuum designed for cleaning several types of surface.
The Guard M1 Cat & Dog is an example of a bagged cylinder vacuum with a turbo brush and Active AirClean filter.
The Série 6 ProAnimal BGS41PET1 is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum with a turbo brush and mini turbo brush.
The V15 Detect Absolute is an example of a cordless stick vacuum with floorheads designed for different floor types.
The Qrevo Edge S5A is an example of a robot vacuum designed to complement manual cleaning.
This selection includes a robot vacuum for extra help, bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, and cordless stick vacuums, so you can choose according to your floors and cleaning routine.
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This robot can help maintain accessible floors between manual cleans, alongside a vacuum cleaner for other surfaces.
The product listing specifies an automatic-emptying station, an anti-tangle brush and up to 180 minutes of battery life. Surfaces beyond its reach will still need to be cleaned another way.
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For cleaning several rooms in one session, this bagged cylinder vacuum offers a corded option to compare with your needs when moving around.
It has a 4 L bag and an advertised operating radius of 9,5 m. The product listing specifies a brush for hard floors and carpets, a mini turbo tool and a washable HEPA filter. The bag needs replacing.
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If you’d rather avoid bags and don’t mind emptying a dust container, this bagless cylinder vacuum comes with accessories for different surfaces.
It has a 2 L dust container and an advertised operating radius of 9,5 m. The product listing specifies a mini turbo brush for pet hair, a parquet brush and a washable EPA filter. The dust container, filter and brushes need regular maintenance.
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If you want to clean frequently without a cord, check that the advertised battery life applies to the mode you need for your floors.
The product listing specifies 600 W, 65 kPa and up to 75 minutes of advertised battery life, as well as a removable battery, a 1,6 L dust container and an anti-tangle brush. The dust container and filter need regular maintenance.
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For cleaning carpets and hard floors without a cord, compare the battery life of each mode with how long you usually clean for.
The product listing specifies 45 kPa suction power, a 0,5 L dust container and an anti-tangle brush. Advertised battery life is 15 minutes in high-power mode and 40 minutes in low-power mode; the stated charging time is 4 to 5 hours.
No. Compare test results for fibre pick-up on carpets and check which floorhead is supplied. UFC-Que Choisir reports these results separately; they can’t be inferred from motor power alone.
Check which mode the advertised battery life applies to and look for battery-life information for the mode you need for your floors. UFC-Que Choisir says maximum figures are generally achieved at low power, and battery life falls at maximum power.
Follow the model’s instructions to remove hair caught in the brush, replace the bag or empty the dust container, then clean or replace the filters as directed. For a robot, remember to check its dust container and brushes too.
No. The presence or name of a filter alone doesn’t prove a medical benefit. To compare appliances, look for test data on dust re-emission where available, as well as the emptying method. Don’t treat a manufacturer’s claim as proof of a medical benefit.
Yes. The DGCCRF states that the mandatory repairability index applies to corded household vacuum cleaners, battery-powered cordless vacuum cleaners and household robot vacuums. Compare the index for the model you’re considering, but don’t confuse it with a measure of cleaning performance.