For quick clean-ups in smaller areas, a cordless stick vacuum is handy if you can store it easily and its battery lasts long enough on the setting you use. If you have carpets or need to clean your whole home, consider a compact cylinder vacuum instead, as long as you’re happy to deal with its cord and storage space. A robot vacuum can cut down on manual cleaning if your floors, obstacles and docking-station location are suitable, but you’ll still need to maintain the appliance.
In a small home, how often you clean isn’t the only factor. Your flooring, available storage space and whether you want to automate cleaning all affect which option is right for you.
If you want to grab the vacuum for a small area and put it away straight afterwards, a stick model is worth considering. Que Choisir describes it as easy to manoeuvre and suitable for quick clean-ups, while also noting that battery life and suction can be limiting factors.
If your carpets or rugs need more thorough cleaning, you may be happy to put up with a cord and less convenient storage. Que Choisir says cylinder models generally offer better suction, but you should still check how the specific model performs on your flooring.
If you want to cut down on manual cleaning, check whether a robot can move between your furniture, reach the areas that need cleaning and has room for its docking station. Que Choisir’s tests assess how well models perform on different floors, in corners and around obstacles.
Consider it: for quick clean-ups when you want a vacuum that’s easy to grab.
Bear in mind: the quoted battery life on the lowest setting may not reflect how long it lasts on the setting you’ll need.
Consider it: for regular, thorough cleaning, particularly if carpets and rugs are a priority.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to handle and store the body, hose and cord, even with a compact model.
Consider it: to automate regular cleaning in areas the robot can reach.
Bear in mind: performance varies depending on the floor, and the dustbin, brushes and any docking station still need maintenance.
| Priority | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Easy access and storage | Find a suitable, stable place for the vacuum and check how much room it takes up when stored. If you choose a cordless stick model, make sure you can also access a power socket. | I want to clean a small area without a lengthy set-up, then clear the space again; around 40% of consumers would put easy access above all else. |
| Thorough carpet cleaning | Check how the model performs on your flooring and whether the included floor head is suitable. Then check the cord’s reach and how much storage space you’ll need. | When carpets need regular, thorough cleaning, I’d rather be able to finish the job than prioritise going cordless; around 30% of consumers would put deep cleaning first. |
| Automation that suits your rooms | Check the routes between rooms, obstacles and floor types. Also make sure there’s room for the docking station and that you can access the dustbin. | I want to cut down on manual cleaning, as long as the robot can move around my home effectively; around 30% of consumers would make this kind of automation their priority. |
According to Que Choisir, battery life is generally quoted for the lowest power setting; the organisation says it can be around ten minutes at full power. So the maximum figure alone won’t tell you how long it will last during a more demanding clean.
Compare the quoted battery life for each setting with how long your usual cleaning takes.
Floor area alone doesn’t tell you about objects on the floor, routes between furniture or how well the robot performs on each surface. Que Choisir takes these factors into account in its robot vacuum tests.
Check for rugs, obstacles, low furniture and a suitable place for the docking station, then compare these with the features and test results for the specific model.
A cordless stick vacuum still needs its accessible parts maintained. A robot also needs to be emptied and looked after, even if it comes with a docking station.
Check how to access the dustbin, filter and brushes, and make sure you have enough room to carry out these tasks at home.
This selection includes cordless and corded stick vacuums for manual cleaning, as well as a robot vacuum for automated cleaning. To compare them for a small home, focus on the power sockets available, storage space and how easily they can move around your floors.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups without plugging in, if you have a suitable place to store it upright.
Battery life quoted at up to 65 min; check how long it lasts on the setting you’ll use.
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Worth considering if you’d rather not recharge between regular cleaning sessions and can plug the vacuum in easily.
5 m cord and upright storage; check that the reach between your sockets and rooms works for you.
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Worth considering if you want to switch between cleaning floors and using it as a handheld vacuum, as long as the cord won’t get in your way.
Rated at 550 W, with a 0.5 L dustbin and a 4.5 m cord. Check how much space you’ll need to store it.
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Worth considering for automated cleaning if the robot can reach your floors and you have room for its docking station.
Battery life quoted at up to 180 min, with obstacle avoidance. Check how it performs on your flooring and how much space you’ll need around the docking station.
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Worth considering for small areas and above-floor surfaces if you want to switch from stick to handheld mode.
Battery life quoted at up to 40 min, with no indication of the setting used; check the storage dimensions too.
Compare it with the setting you plan to use, rather than relying only on the maximum figure. Que Choisir says the maximum is measured on the lowest power setting and that battery life can be around ten minutes at full power. How long it lasts in practice therefore depends on the setting you choose for your cleaning.
Don’t assume it will suit your home without checking your flooring and layout. Que Choisir reports that performance varies depending on the surface, and also assesses edges, corners and obstacles. The dustbin also needs regular attention.
Make sure you can access and clean the parts listed in the stick vacuum’s instructions, particularly the dustbin and filter. With a robot, check the dustbin and brushes too. A docking station may reduce how often you need to carry out some tasks, but it won’t eliminate maintenance.
Before buying, check that the app is compatible with your devices and find out about its updates. For a connected robot, the CNIL also advises checking the information and settings relating to personal data.