For frequent pick-ups of crumbs and light dust on hard floors, a cordless stick vacuum is a good choice if its runtime in the mode you need is long enough for your usual cleaning sessions. Choose a removable battery if you want the option to replace it, after checking that a compatible part is available. Consider a compact cylinder vacuum for longer sessions or more demanding floors, and keep a handheld vacuum for small areas. According to Que Choisir, the maximum runtime advertised for stick vacuums is generally measured at low power; it doesn’t indicate how long you can clean in a higher-power mode.
For quickly clearing dust and crumbs from hard floors, it helps if your vacuum is easy to take out, manoeuvre and put away. Que Choisir highlights how easy cordless stick vacuums are to handle; still, check that the runtime will cover your usual cleaning sessions.
If you want to be able to replace the battery, find its exact part number and check that it’s available for the version you’re considering. A removable battery makes replacement easier, but it doesn’t guarantee long runtime in a higher-power mode or that a replacement part will be available when you need one.
If quick clean-ups are interspersed with cleaning rugs, carpets or a larger area, compare performance on each floor type and how long the job takes. A compact cylinder vacuum can complement a stick vacuum without needing to be recharged mid-session, but its cord and storage requirements also take up space.
Start with the floors you need to clean and how long your sessions usually take. Then consider what the appliance will require day to day, including storage, maintenance and compatible parts.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable runtime | Compare the advertised runtime at each power setting and the charging time. According to Que Choisir, the maximum runtime for stick vacuums is generally measured at low power; its tests show an average of around ten minutes at full power, but this doesn’t tell you how long a specific model will last. | I want to finish my usual cleaning sessions without having to stop and recharge the appliance. |
| Floor types | Check performance separately on hard floors, in floorboard gaps, and on rugs and carpets. Check which brushes are included with the version you’re considering; a suction specification alone doesn’t show how well it will perform on every surface. | Crumbs on my tiled floor are a different challenge from dirt caught in a rug. |
| Ease of use | Check the weight of the complete appliance, how it stores and how easy it is to access the bin or bag, filter and brush. A handheld vacuum is suited to small areas, not cleaning the floors throughout a home. | Taking the appliance out for a few minutes should be simple, as should putting it away and maintaining it after use. |
| Battery and parts | For a cordless stick vacuum, identify the battery’s part number and check that it’s compatible with the exact model. Also check the part numbers and availability of filters and brushes. | If a part wears out, I’d rather know which one fits my appliance before I need it. |
| Longer sessions | Consider the area to be cleaned, the floor types and the space needed for storage. A corded cylinder vacuum avoids the need to recharge, but you’ll need to manage the cord; a bagged model requires compatible bags. | Quick clean-ups are often enough, but some sessions mean covering a larger area. |
According to Que Choisir, the maximum runtime advertised for a stick vacuum is generally based on a low power setting. Its tests found an average of around ten minutes at full power; this general finding doesn’t tell you how long each model will last.
Compare the runtime for each mode with the area and floor types you usually clean.
Being able to remove a battery doesn’t tell you whether a compatible replacement will be available for the version you buy.
Make a note of the battery’s exact part number, then check compatibility and availability before choosing your appliance.
A spare battery is a separate purchase if you want to keep a second one on hand.
Performance on hard floors doesn’t necessarily indicate how well a vacuum will work on rugs, carpets or in floorboard gaps. Que Choisir assesses these surfaces separately in its stick vacuum tests.
If these surfaces make up a significant part of your home, look for tests covering the relevant materials and consider a compact cylinder vacuum for more thorough cleaning sessions.
The bin, filter and brush on a stick vacuum need regular maintenance. A bagged cylinder vacuum, meanwhile, requires compatible bags.
Check how easy it is to reach the parts that need cleaning, look up the part numbers and check the repairability rating displayed for the appliance you’re considering. ADEME says vacuum cleaners are among the appliances covered by this rating.
Allow for the cost of replacing the consumables for the model you choose.
The features below apply to the named models, not every appliance from each brand; the runtimes given are figures advertised by the manufacturers.
The BCS711XXL is an example of a cordless stick vacuum to consider if an interchangeable battery and ease of handling matter for your regular clean-ups.
The Gen5detect Absolute is an example of a cordless stick vacuum with a click-in battery, if being able to replace this part matters to you.
The Guard S1 represents the corded, bagged cylinder option for cleaning sessions where having to recharge a battery would be inconvenient.
The Dustbuster WDA320J-QW is suited to occasional cleaning of small areas rather than floors throughout the home.
This selection includes four cordless stick vacuums for manual cleaning and a wet-and-dry floor cleaner for hard floors. The latter vacuums and washes, so it’s designed for a different need from a stick vacuum used only for dry dirt.
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Designed for frequent cleaning on hard floors, this model can stand upright on its own and has a removable battery. Its advertised maximum runtime is 50 minutes; check the runtime in the mode you’ll use and whether a compatible battery is available.
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Designed for carpets and everyday cleaning around the home, this model stands upright on its own and offers up to 65 minutes of runtime. Check the runtime for the mode you’ll use and how well it performs on each of your floors before choosing it.
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Its two speeds let you choose a setting to suit the task, and it has a removable battery. The 45 kPa figure appears in the product name, but it isn’t enough to establish how well the vacuum will perform on your floors. Check the runtime at each speed and whether a compatible battery is available.
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Its ability to stand upright on its own could be useful if you often take the vacuum out for a quick clean. The model offers up to 60 minutes of runtime and has a removable battery; check the runtime in the mode you need, as well as whether a replacement battery is available.
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Designed for hard floors, this appliance vacuums and washes when dirt needs a wet clean too. It offers up to 35 minutes of runtime and has a self-cleaning function; you’ll still need to maintain the tanks, and check that it’s suitable for your surfaces.
Not necessarily. According to Que Choisir, manufacturers generally advertise the maximum runtime at low power; its tests show an average of around ten minutes at full power. Compare the runtimes for each mode on the model you’re considering rather than assuming this average will apply to your purchase.
Not automatically. A stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups if its runtime and performance suit your surfaces. For rugs, carpets or more thorough cleaning, compare test results for those floor types and consider a cylinder vacuum too. Que Choisir distinguishes between these uses in its advice and tests.
Check how easy it is to access the bin, filter and brush so you can maintain them regularly. For a model with a removable battery, also note the exact part number of a compatible battery and check that it’s available.
Yes. In France, when an individual buys second-hand goods from a trader, the legal guarantee of conformity applies, according to the Ministry of the Economy. It also covers new and refurbished goods sold by a trader. If the vacuum cleaner doesn’t match its description, keep a copy of the description and your proof of purchase so you can explain the problem to the seller.