If your vacuum cleaner suited your home before it broke down, first look into whether it can be repaired. ADEME also suggests considering second-hand options and replacement. If you do choose a new appliance, pick a style that suits your household: a cylinder vacuum for your main clean across different surfaces, a cordless stick vacuum for quick cleans, or a robot vacuum for regular maintenance of accessible floors. When buying a used or refurbished appliance, check its condition, accessories and the seller’s status before making a decision.
If the appliance used to meet your needs, work out whether it needs maintenance or has developed a fault before deciding to replace it. ADEME recommends considering repair for a faulty vacuum cleaner.
A stick vacuum can make quick cleans easier and is simple to store in a small space. If you’ll be cleaning stairs, check its weight and the battery life in the mode you plan to use.
For your main clean, compare performance on your floors, the brushes supplied and how easy the vacuum is to move around. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes this use from the autonomous maintenance of accessible floors by a robot vacuum.
Start by assessing the condition of your current appliance, then consider the cleaning you need to do and the practicalities of your home. A different style of vacuum won’t necessarily suit the same cleaning routine.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Repair | Check the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions, then get the fault diagnosed. For a repair outside the warranty period, ask a QualiRépar repairer whether it qualifies for the Repair Bonus, as outlined by ecosystem. | My vacuum cleaner suited my home before it broke down: I want to find out whether it can be put back into service. |
| Second-hand or refurbished | Check the condition of the appliance, its filters and accessories. For a stick or robot vacuum, also check the battery and whether it can be replaced. Find out who the seller is and what the terms of sale are. | I’m open to buying an appliance that’s been used before, as long as I know exactly what’s been checked and what’s included. |
| Cylinder vacuum | Compare performance on the floor types you need to clean, as well as the brushes and capacity. Consider the weight, storage and any limitations of the power cable in your home. | My main clean covers several rooms or carpets, and I’m happy to move and plug in an appliance. |
| Stick vacuum | Check the battery life in the mode you need for your floors, how long it takes to charge and how heavy it is to carry. Check that batteries and accessories are still available for the model you’re considering. | For frequent quick cleans or stairs, I’d prefer an appliance that’s easy to get out. It needs to last for the amount of time I actually spend cleaning. |
| Robot vacuum | Check thresholds, carpets, cables and cluttered areas. Make room for any docking station and consider how you’ll maintain the bin. Compare performance on the floors in question: UFC-Que Choisir points out that results vary depending on how the appliance is used. | I’d like to automate regular cleaning of accessible floors, without assuming the robot will be enough for corners or a thorough clean. |
| Maintenance and parts | In France, ADEME and the Ministry of the Economy state that vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index. Compare the index for the specific model, then check separately that the parts and consumables you’ll need are available. | I want to be able to maintain the appliance and look into repair options if it develops another fault. |
Routine maintenance and a mechanical fault don’t call for the same solution. ADEME recommends considering a repair before getting rid of a faulty vacuum cleaner.
Check the care instructions for your model and get the fault confirmed. Then ask whether it can be repaired and, if it’s outside the warranty period, whether the work qualifies for the QualiRépar scheme.
The stated battery life won’t necessarily reflect how long it lasts in the mode you’ll need for carpets or a longer clean.
Compare battery life by mode where this information is available, then check the charging time and whether the battery can be replaced.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that robot vacuum performance varies depending on the floor type and conditions of use. Edges and obstacles are also worth considering.
Check for thresholds, carpets, cables and cluttered areas before you buy. Make sure there’s room for any docking station and consider the maintenance it requires.
An advert alone won’t tell you the condition of the battery, filters or accessories, or what terms apply to the sale.
Ask who’s selling the appliance, what checks have been carried out and which accessories are included. Keep a copy of the advert and any messages describing its condition.
The brand alone won’t tell you how well an appliance performs on your floors or whether parts are available. Always compare the specific model.
If you’re considering an iRobot robot vacuum, start by looking at the layout of the rooms you need to clean.
If you’re considering a Rowenta model, compare the style with your cleaning routine.
If you’re considering a Roborock robot vacuum, look at the floors and obstacles in your home.
If you’re considering an Ecovacs robot vacuum, think about the areas you need to clean and how much space you have.
If you’re considering a Dreame robot vacuum, check that it’s suitable for your home.
These models represent three options for replacing your vacuum: a cylinder vacuum for your main clean, a cordless stick vacuum for quick cleans and robot vacuums for regular maintenance of accessible floors. Their inclusion here doesn’t determine whether repair or a second-hand purchase is the right choice for you.
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Worth considering for your main clean across several surfaces. Check which brushes are suitable for your floors and whether compatible bags are available.
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The cordless design may suit quick cleans and stairs. The product name states a battery life of up to 65 minutes. Check how long it lasts in the mode you need for your cleaning routine, and whether the battery can be replaced.
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Worth considering for regular maintenance of accessible floors. The product name indicates that it has a mopping function. Check its vacuuming and mopping performance separately on your floor types, and make sure you have enough space for the appliance.
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This version with an OMNI station is worth considering for regular vacuuming and mopping. Check where the station will fit, whether it’s compatible with the ECOVACS Home app, and how well it’s expected to perform on your floors and around obstacles.
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Worth considering if you want to maintain accessible floors regularly with a robot vacuum. Before choosing this version, check the installation instructions for its station and whether it’s suitable for the thresholds, carpets and cluttered areas in your home.
Yes. A repair outside the warranty period may qualify if it’s carried out by a QualiRépar repairer and meets the conditions set out by ecosystem. Get the fault and the repair’s eligibility confirmed before relying on the scheme.
Yes. In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index. Compare the index for the exact model and check that any parts you may need are available too. The rating doesn’t guarantee that every fault can be repaired.
Don’t assume it can: UFC-Que Choisir notes that results vary depending on the floor type and conditions of use. A robot may suit regular maintenance of accessible floors. For carpets, corners or a thorough clean, compare its performance with the type of vacuum you’d otherwise use.
Check the condition of the appliance, its filters and the accessories included. For a stick or robot vacuum, check the battery too. Before committing, find out who the seller is, what checks have been carried out and what the terms of sale are.