Homes with a mix of flooring
If you move between hard floors, rugs and carpets, and also clean your furniture, look for a main appliance with brush heads, accessories and a run time that cover all these tasks.
Which option is right for you?
People in smaller homes or homes with stairs
If you’ll be bringing your vacuum out often, carrying it up and down stairs and reaching into awkward corners, check how heavy it feels in your hand, how easy it is to store and, if it’s cordless, how long it runs in the mode you plan to use.
Homes with rugs and pets
If you regularly remove hair or pet fur from rugs and floors, look at how well the vacuum performs on each surface, as well as the floor head and how easy the brush is to maintain.
Which criteria should you check first?
Start with the surfaces and tasks that take up most of your cleaning time. They’ll help you decide whether you mainly need a primary vacuum, a lighter model that’s easy to carry or an additional appliance. Next, compare bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums based on their maintenance needs, and choose a wet and dry vacuum for the types of waste or liquids its model is designed to handle.
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Consider it: for regular manual cleaning across several surfaces, particularly if you’d rather remove a bag than empty a dust container.
Bear in mind: it has a power cord, needs to be moved around and requires compatible replacement bags.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Consider it: if you want a cylinder vacuum as your main appliance without having to replace bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty and clean the dust container, which can stir up dust.
Cordless stick vacuum
Consider it: for frequent clean-ups, stairs or anywhere that’s easier to reach with a more manoeuvrable vacuum.
Bear in mind: run time varies depending on the mode you choose, and you’ll need to recharge it.
Wet and dry vacuum
Consider it: for a garage, workshop or car, where the mess goes beyond everyday household cleaning.
Bear in mind: consider separately whether this type is right for cleaning furniture, stairs and upholstery; wet pick-up depends on the model.
Robot vacuum as an extra
Consider it: to reduce the amount of manual cleaning needed on floors the robot can reach.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need another solution for stairs, furniture and some awkward corners.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning different floor types | A brush head suited to hard floors and rugs, plus the accessories supplied for furniture. | I want to clean the whole home with my main appliance without stopping a long cleaning session to recharge it; around 29% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Rugs, carpets and pet hair | How it performs on upholstery and carpet fibres, and how easy it is to reach the roller for maintenance. | When pet hair builds up in rugs, performance on hard floors alone isn’t enough to judge a vacuum; this would be the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
| Manoeuvrability | How heavy it feels in your hand, how easily it reaches into corners and, for a stick vacuum, its run time in the mode you use. | In a small home or between floors, I want a vacuum that’s easy to carry and store; around 21% of consumers would put manoeuvrability ahead of other criteria. |
| Maintenance and repairability | The model’s repairability rating and whether the bags, filters or parts you need are compatible. | I’d prefer to maintain my appliance and find the right parts for my model over time; around 14% of consumers would make this their main concern. |
| Automated cleaning | How it navigates rooms, how it handles rugs and how much space the docking station needs. | I want a robot to clean some of the floors it can reach while keeping another solution for the rest of the home; around 14% of consumers would put this need first. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Choosing based on motor power alone
The stated electrical power doesn’t tell you on its own how well a vacuum will clean your floors. Que Choisir also highlights the importance of the floor head.
Compare performance on the surfaces in your home and check which floor heads are included.
-
Assuming the maximum run time matches your cleaning time
For a cordless stick vacuum, the stated run time may refer to a less powerful setting than the one you’ll use on a rug. Que Choisir reports that stick vacuums run for around ten minutes on average at full power.
Check the run time in the mode you need for your floors, as well as how long it takes to recharge, before choosing a stick vacuum as your main appliance.
If that run time isn’t enough to clean your home, you’ll need to allow for breaks, a compatible spare battery or another appliance.
-
Forgetting about replacement parts
A bag, filter, brush or battery must match the exact vacuum model; compatibility with another version isn’t enough.
Make a note of the full model number, check its repairability rating and find out which consumables or parts you’ll need.
-
Confusing specialist use with cleaning the whole home
A wet and dry vacuum designed for jobs such as cleaning the garage, and a robot made to cover accessible floors, won’t necessarily handle stairs, furniture and upholstery too.
List these tasks before deciding whether a wet and dry vacuum or robot will be an extra, or whether you’ll still need a separate manual vacuum.
Brands to consider for different uses
Miele
Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to identify its consumables before choosing a model.
- Miele France lets you search for bags and filters by model, including models in the Complete C2, Complete C3, Classic C1 and Guard ranges.
- Check the exact range and model number: a consumable listed for one range may not fit every version in that range.
Rowenta
Worth considering for cylinder or cordless stick vacuums if access to parts and accessories matters to you.
- Rowenta France lists parts and accessories by appliance and says it keeps technical spare parts for almost all its products for 15 years after purchase, subject to the terms of its commitment.
- Check the model you’re considering and the part you’ll need: this general commitment doesn’t confirm that every part will be available at any given time.
Dyson
Worth considering if you prefer a cordless stick vacuum and want to compare compatible accessories.
- Dyson France lists accessories for its vacuum cleaners and states that the Cyclone V10 Total Clean Noir offers up to 60 minutes of run time.
- Compare the run time in the mode you’re interested in and check that each accessory is compatible with the model you’re considering.
Kärcher
Worth considering for garage, workshop or car cleaning jobs suited to a wet and dry vacuum.
- Kärcher France describes its WD wet and dry vacuums as suitable for dry or wet mess, depending on the model.
- Check the uses and filter for the model you choose. For the WD 6 P S V-30/8/35/T, Kärcher states that essential parts will be available for six years after production ends; this applies to this model only.
Roborock
Worth considering if you want a robot to complement your manual vacuum on accessible floors.
- Roborock support says the Qrevo S can carry out basic cleaning without Wi‑Fi.
- On this model, scheduling and some advanced settings require a connection; check the documentation for any other model separately.
Vacuum cleaners for manual cleaning
These models are suited to manual cleaning at home: three cordless stick vacuums for moving around and frequent clean-ups, followed by a bagged cylinder vacuum for regular cleaning across different floor types. Before choosing, compare their brush heads and accessories with the tasks you need to tackle.
Image unavailable
MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5 cordless stick vacuum
Consider it if you want to move quickly from floors to hard-to-reach areas with a cordless appliance.
The listing mentions an anti-tangle brush, upright storage and up to 65 minutes of run time; check how long it lasts in the mode you’ll use.
For rugs and furniture, check which accessories are included and look up the repairability rating for this model.
Image unavailable
Monsga M100 cordless stick vacuum
Worth considering for frequent clean-ups on hard floors and rugs if you prefer a cordless stick vacuum.
The listing mentions an anti-tangle brush, upright storage and a stated run time of 45 minutes. Check which mode this run time applies to.
If you also plan to clean furniture or your car, check which accessories are included and look up the M100’s repairability rating.
Image unavailable
BISSELL PowerClean vacuum cleaner
Worth considering if your main priority is carrying the vacuum between floors, stairs and furniture.
Before choosing it for these tasks, check which accessories are actually included, how long it runs in the mode you want and how often you’d need to empty it.
Also check the repairability rating for this model and whether replacement parts are compatible.
Image unavailable
Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged cylinder vacuum
Consider it if you prefer a bagged cylinder vacuum as your main appliance for manual cleaning at home.
Check that the floor heads suit your floors, how easy it is to move around on stairs and the model number of compatible bags.
Look up the EB61C4OG’s repairability rating before comparing this version with another.
Frequently asked questions
Does the repairability rating matter when choosing a vacuum cleaner?
Yes. In France, ADEME says that corded, cordless and robot vacuum cleaners are among the appliances covered by this rating. Check the rating for the exact model, then find out which parts and consumables you may need to maintain it.
What’s the difference between a bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum?
A bagged cylinder vacuum needs compatible replacement bags, while you’ll need to empty and clean the dust container on a bagless model. Emptying it can expose you to more dust. For both types, check which filters are compatible with the model.
Can a cordless stick vacuum clean the whole home?
It can work as your main appliance if its run time, dust container and brush heads suit all your surfaces. Don’t rely on the maximum run time alone: Que Choisir reports that stick vacuums run for around ten minutes on average at full power.
Can a robot replace manual cleaning?
Not for every task in a home with stairs, furniture or upholstery. A robot can take care of some accessible floors; check how it navigates around obstacles and keep a suitable solution for any surfaces it can’t reach.
Can you use a robot without Wi‑Fi?
It depends on the model and the features you want to use. Roborock support says the Qrevo S can carry out basic cleaning without Wi‑Fi, but scheduling and some advanced settings require a connection. Check these features for any other model you’re considering.