For a thorough clean of hard floors, rugs and upholstery in one session, a cylinder vacuum is worth considering first if you want to clean without being limited by battery life, provided you choose the right floor heads for your surfaces. A stick vacuum can work as your main appliance if its battery life in the mode you need and its accessories cover your whole cleaning routine. A robot is better suited to scheduled maintenance of accessible floors than to cleaning upholstery and stairs.
If you move between wooden or tiled floors and rugs or carpets, check which heads are designed for each surface rather than relying on the ‘all floors’ label alone. Que Choisir includes performance on different floor types among its criteria for choosing a cylinder vacuum. Miele France and Rowenta France also describe brushes intended for different uses.
For sofas, cushions or carpeted stairs, check that the model you choose comes with an upholstery tool or a suitable small brush. Accessories shown as part of a range, including by Miele France, are not necessarily included with every model.
A cordless stick vacuum means you don’t have to move a cable around, but whether it works as your main appliance depends on how long it can run in the mode you need. Que Choisir advises distinguishing between battery life at full power and the maximum runtime advertised. You should also check that the head and accessories are suitable for rugs and upholstery.
Start with the most challenging surfaces in your home, then check whether the appliance can handle a full cleaning session and reach upholstery and awkward corners.
Consider it: for a thorough clean of different floor types without relying on battery life, with brushes suited to rugs and hard floors.
Bear in mind: the cable restricts how far you can move, while choosing between a bag and a dust container affects how you maintain the vacuum.
Consider it: if the runtime in the mode suited to your rugs is long enough for a full clean, and the necessary upholstery accessories are included.
Bear in mind: the maximum runtime advertised may not reflect how long the vacuum lasts in a powerful mode.
Consider it: for scheduling routine cleaning of floors the model can access.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need another solution for sofas, stairs and other areas the robot can’t reach.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Floor coverage | Whether it includes heads suited to hard floors and rugs, and whether it is designed for carpets or deep-pile rugs if you have them. | When I move between wooden floors and rugs, I want to choose a head suited to each surface. Around 36% of consumers would put floor coverage at the top of their list. |
| Upholstery and awkward corners | Whether an upholstery tool, crevice tool or small brush is actually included and compatible with the model. | If sofas and stairs are part of my big clean, upholstery accessories become my top priority; around 29% of consumers would give them this level of priority. |
| How the cleaning session fits together | For a stick vacuum, battery life in the mode you need and charging time; for a cylinder vacuum, weight and reach. | I’d rather clean the whole home without stopping to recharge or struggling to move the appliance around. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this ease of use. |
| Maintenance and lifespan | Access to filters and brushes, availability of consumables, and whether the relevant parts can be replaced. | When choosing an appliance for regular use, I want to be able to maintain its parts and find replacements when needed. Around 14% of consumers would make this their main priority. |
A brush for wooden floors, a head for rugs and a tool for sofas all serve different purposes. The general product description doesn’t always tell you what’s included with the specific version on sale.
Make a list of your floor types, then check which accessories are included with the exact model and what each one is designed for.
In its stick vacuum tests, Que Choisir reported an average runtime of around ten minutes at full power in October 2025. So a maximum runtime advertised for a different mode isn’t enough to judge whether it can handle a demanding clean.
Check the runtime in the mode you’ll use on your rugs, and whether the battery on the model you’re considering can be replaced.
If the battery needs replacing later, it’s worth checking in advance that one is available for the exact model.
A bagged cylinder vacuum needs compatible bags. A bagless model needs its dust container emptied and the parts specified in its instructions maintained. The choice affects what you’ll need to do after each cleaning session.
Before choosing, check the reference for any consumables and how easy it is to access the dust container, filters and brushes.
Scheduling floor cleaning won’t take care of cushions, stairs or areas the robot can’t reach. Whether it can clean your rugs also depends on the model’s features.
Plan to use another appliance or accessories for these surfaces, and check the robot’s stated capabilities for your floors separately.
These examples of product ranges and models can help you identify which accessories to compare. Always check the configuration of the specific model you’re considering.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to compare brushes for hard floors, rugs and upholstery.
Worth considering among cylinder vacuums if you want to compare accessories for different floor types.
Worth considering if you prefer a cordless stick vacuum for hard floors and some upholstery.
This corded stick vacuum may be worth considering for a home with a mix of hard floors, rugs and upholstery. The cable means you don’t have to worry about recharging, but you’ll need to check that the brushes are suitable for your specific floor types.
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Worth considering if you want to clean hard floors and rugs with a corded stick vacuum, and use a separate attachment for some upholstery. The product description for this model lists a motorised floor brush, a motorised mattress brush, a 7 m cord and washable filters.
The figures 65KPA and 600W appear in the product name; on their own, they don’t demonstrate how well it will perform on your rugs. Before choosing, check that the brush is suitable for any delicate wooden floors or deep-pile rugs in your home, and that replacement filters and accessories are available.
Look for a head suited to delicate hard floors and one designed for the rugs in your home. If you’re cleaning a sofa too, check for an upholstery tool or a suitable small brush; a crevice tool is useful for narrow spaces. Check which accessories come with the exact version you’re buying.
Yes, if its battery life in the mode you need is long enough to finish your cleaning routine, and its heads and accessories are suitable for your rugs and upholstery. For a long cleaning session, compare its runtime with the continuous use of a cylinder vacuum: in October 2025, Que Choisir reported that the stick vacuums in its tests lasted an average of around ten minutes at full power.
Check how to access the bag or dust container, filters and brush roller, then follow the instructions for the model you’ve bought to maintain them. Before buying, also find out which consumables you’ll need and which parts can be replaced for that specific model.