How we test vacuums
Every Top Aspirateur review follows the same reproducible protocol — at least 20 hours of real use, five standardised surfaces and a calibrated mess. This page spells out exactly how we score.
Calibrated mess
We mix fine powder (150 g/m²), human hair (3 g), sand (50 g) and crumbs (20 g) across a 2 × 2 m patch of hardwood, tile, low-pile carpet and high-pile rug. Every vacuum runs two passes in Auto then Boost.
Run-time stopwatch
A decibel meter at 1 m captures the mean Auto-mode sound level. Battery life is measured full-charge, motorised brush on, until shut-off. Minutes missing vs the manufacturer spec are reported.
Filtration
For every claimed HEPA filter we check the DIN EN 1822 certification and measure 0.3 µm particle throughput in the exhaust with a calibrated sensor.
Durability
Every vacuum runs 20 hours over four weeks; we strip the brush weekly and grade de-tangle effort, visible wear and final noise level.
Transparent scoring
Five weighted criteria (power 25% / filtration 25% / battery 20% / ergonomics 15% / value 15%) produce a /10 score. Each review publishes the raw breakdown.
Editorial independence
No vacuum we test is supplied by the manufacturer. We buy everything at retail, then resell or donate post-test. Amazon links are affiliate links — we earn a commission at no extra cost to you, but the commission never influences our ranking. We recommend the best product, not the one with the fattest commission.