Though distinctly underpowered, I loved the compact design of Hoover’s cordless model, its simple controls and its easy-empty dust container. There’s no continuous power button, so you do have to keep your finger on the trigger throughout use, and it can be bulky to move around, especially when used as a handheld.

Anyone looking for something with a bit more power than a cordless stick should seriously consider the Shark ICZ300UKT. The steam mop comes with an automatic cleaning station that cleans and dries the microfibre cloths after use, which saves sticking them through the washing machine after every use.Easy to disassemble and put away, this diminutive marvel has a telescopic handle that can be detached and compressed down to a quarter of its full size. As for its actual cleaning power, it performed well on test, no matter the dirt or flooring it faced. The third is battery life: the vacuum cleaner you choose will need to last long enough to get round your home on one charge, otherwise it will take just as much effort to clean with as a corded model. Testers liked its flexible head and the crevice tool it came with but would have liked more attachments to help speed up handheld jobs such as car cleaning.

And that includes pet hair, which disappeared within two sweeps, without tangling in the brush as it went. The specially designed Vax Blade 3 Pet Dual Battery floorhead complements our powerful motor and extended runtime, ensuring optimal pick up on all floor surfaces, for longer.

If you take a more room-by-room approach and don’t mind having to empty the canister or recharge your batteries more frequently, then there’s little reason why a stick vacuum wouldn’t suit your home just as well as a corded one, if not better.