In a small home with a pet, choose a cordless stick vacuum if you clean frequently in short bursts, provided its runtime in the mode you use and its accessories suit your carpets and upholstery. A cylinder vacuum is a better fit if you regularly clean these surfaces without having to recharge, while a robot is mainly for scheduling cleaning on clear floors. A floor washer is only worth considering for compatible hard floors; it won’t replace cleaning your carpets or sofa.
If pet hair collects on your sofa, bedding or carpets as well, check which brush is supplied for each surface and how easily you can remove tangled hair from it. An appliance’s format alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for cleaning upholstery.
For regular, short cleaning sessions, how easy the appliance is to get out, handle and store matters just as much as recharging it, emptying the bin and cleaning the filters. Check where it will live between uses.
A robot can clean accessible floors if you have space for its docking station. You’ll still need a plan for cleaning upholstery, hard-to-reach corners and mess that needs to be dealt with by hand.
Start by choosing the appliance that best suits the surface you spend the most time cleaning: upholstery, floors you want to clean quickly, clear floors you want to maintain regularly, or hard floors you want to wash.
Best for: getting the vacuum out quickly and storing it in a small space.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to recharge it, and runtime depends on the mode you use, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Best for: regularly cleaning carpets and upholstery without relying on a battery, provided it has a suitable brush.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the cable and find space to store the vacuum. With a bagged model, you’ll also need to replace the bags.
Best for: scheduling cleaning on floors the robot can navigate.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for the docking station, and results can vary across different floors, along edges and in corners, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Worth considering: if your priority is wet cleaning compatible hard floors.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clean the tanks and rollers or pads. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a floor washer doesn’t replace a vacuum cleaner for dry dust or upholstery.
| Priority | What to check | What matters to different households |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair on carpets and upholstery | Check which brushes are included for your carpets and furniture, and whether they make it easy to remove tangled hair. | If pet hair stays in my carpets or on my sofa, cleaning hard floors alone won’t meet my needs; around 36% of consumers would prioritise cleaning upholstery. |
| Handling and storage | Check the weight when held, the space needed for storage and, for a stick vacuum, its runtime in the mode you plan to use. | When I clean my studio in short bursts, I want to be able to get the appliance out and put it away easily; around 29% of consumers would prioritise ease of handling. |
| Scheduled cleaning | Check which floors the robot can access, where the docking station will go and how the bin is emptied. | To avoid having to vacuum by hand every time pet hair reappears, I’d like to schedule cleaning; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this feature. |
| Wet cleaning | Check that each floor type is compatible and find out what’s involved in cleaning the tanks and rollers. | If my hard floors are compatible, my main priority is wet cleaning and I’m happy to maintain the appliance; around 14% of consumers would put this need first. |
The stated runtime is often measured in a low-power mode, while cleaning carpets may call for a different setting. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking the conditions in which the appliance was tested.
Before choosing it as your only vacuum cleaner, compare the runtime in the mode you expect to use, the charging time and whether the battery can be replaced.
If the battery isn’t removable, it may need to be replaced by the after-sales service team.
UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show that robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor covering. Floor washers also don’t replace vacuuming dry dust or upholstery.
Use a robot only on floors it can reach, and a floor washer only on compatible surfaces. Decide separately how you’ll clean your carpets and sofa.
A robot’s docking station needs a permanent spot, while a cylinder vacuum and its cable need to be stored and moved around the home.
Measure the space you have in mind and check that the appliance or its docking station won’t block walkways or make surfaces harder to reach.
UFC-Que Choisir advises against using floor washers on wooden parquet and describes the maintenance involved in cleaning tanks, rollers or pads, and filters.
Check which floor types are suitable for the model you’re considering, and allow time to empty, clean and dry it after use.
Depending on the model, you may also need to use a brand-specific cleaning solution.
A brand worth comparing if you’re looking for a cylinder vacuum for carpets and upholstery.
A brand to explore if you’re comparing robot vacuums, stick vacuums or floor washers.
A brand to include when comparing cordless stick vacuums, particularly if easy storage and quick cleaning sessions matter to you.
A brand to consider if you want to schedule cleaning on accessible floors.
A brand to explore if you’re considering a robot vacuum, including models with a mopping function.
These appliances suit two of the needs covered here: a cordless stick vacuum for frequent manual cleaning, and a robot vacuum for scheduling floor cleaning. For each one, check the accessories, suitable floor types and how much space it will take up in your home.
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Worth considering for frequent manual cleaning on floors and carpets. Its product title mentions an anti-tangle brush and handheld use for picking up pet hair. The stated 55-minute runtime applies to hard-floor mode, so check the runtime in carpet mode and the charging time.
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Worth considering if you want a stick vacuum that stands upright while you clean regularly. The product title mentions an anti-tangle brush and a maximum runtime of 60 minutes. Check the runtime in the mode suited to your carpets, the charging time and which accessories are included for upholstery.
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Worth considering if you want to schedule cleaning on accessible floors in a home with a pet. The product title mentions app control and a dust collector designed to reduce how often you need to empty it. Check how much space the docking station needs and how well it performs on your carpets before relying on it to clean them.
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Worth considering if you want to automate floor cleaning. The product title mentions LiDAR navigation and an anti-tangle system. Measure the space available for the docking station, and check the runtime per charge and whether the mopping function is compatible with your floors.
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Worth considering if you want to store a stick vacuum without a wall mount after cleaning floors and carpets. The product title mentions an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of runtime in standard mode. Check the weight of this version, its runtime in carpet mode and the charging time.
Check that the version you buy includes a brush designed for the surface in question: a brush for floors alone doesn’t tell you whether it can clean a sofa. For a robot vacuum, look for test results specifically covering carpets; UFC-Que Choisir assesses different floor coverings separately.
Compare the runtime in the mode you’ll actually use, rather than focusing only on the maximum figure. UFC-Que Choisir says maximum runtime is generally measured at minimum power and gives an average of around ten minutes at full power. Also check the charging time and where you’ll be able to plug in the appliance.
Clean the brushes and filters according to the model’s instructions. A bagged cylinder vacuum needs replacement bags, a robot needs its bin emptied or its docking station maintained, and a floor washer also needs its tanks emptied and its rollers or pads cleaned.
First, consider having it repaired or, if it still works, donating it or passing it on for reuse. ADEME says that a vacuum cleaner you no longer need can be taken to an electrical equipment collection point, including at a shop or recycling centre. Check the arrangements at the location you choose.