For regular cleaning across different floor types, start by comparing cylinder vacuums on your flooring and with the attachments you’ll need. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models pick up more effectively than bagless ones, whatever the floor type or dirt; a bagless model means no replacement bags to buy, but you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. If you’re considering a cordless stick vacuum as your main cleaner, check that its battery life in the mode you need and its attachments will cover a full cleaning session.
If your regular cleaning involves hard floors as well as rugs, carpets or upholstery, compare how well each vacuum performs on every surface and check which brushes are included. UFC-Que Choisir assesses how well vacuums pick up different types of dust and fibres from a range of floors.
For a longer cleaning session, consider the operating range of a corded appliance, the capacity of its bag or dust container, its noise level and the maintenance involved. These factors matter just as much to your routine as how easy it is to reach the attachments.
UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged cylinder vacuums pick up more effectively than their bagless counterparts. A bagless model does away with replacement bags, but you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters, so factor these tasks into your decision.
Start with your flooring and how long you typically spend cleaning, then compare appliances based on their brushes and the maintenance you’re happy to do.
Consider it: for a range of floor types when strong pick-up is your priority. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models pick up more effectively than bagless ones, whatever the floor type or dirt.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags and check which types are compatible.
Consider it: if you want a corded appliance without replacement bags and don’t mind emptying the dust container.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to maintain the dust container and filters as instructed in the model’s manual.
Consider it: as your main cleaner if manoeuvrability matters to you and its brushes suit all your floor types.
Check: its battery life in the mode you’ll use and its charging time should suit a full cleaning session, not just quick touch-ups.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up on different floors | Compare tests carried out using the same method on hard floors, rugs or carpets, with dust and fibres. UFC-Que Choisir tests these different situations; motor wattage is no substitute for these results. | My home has several floor types, so I want to see results for the surfaces I actually clean, especially if fibres get left behind in my rugs. |
| Brushes and nozzles | Check for a hard-floor brush, an adjustment for rugs or carpets, and the nozzles you need for awkward corners. Check the list of attachments for the specific version on sale. | For my wooden floors, rugs or tight spaces, I need the right heads rather than a collection of attachments I won’t use. |
| Long cleaning sessions | Check that the operating range and bag or dust container capacity suit the layout of your home. Compare noise levels and manoeuvrability using tests carried out on a comparable basis. | I want to clean several rooms without constantly changing sockets, emptying the dust container or stopping to recharge the appliance. |
| Maintenance | For a bagged model, check which replacement bags are compatible. For a bagless one, consult the manual for instructions on emptying the dust container and maintaining the filters. | Would I prefer replacing a bag to emptying a dust container and cleaning its filters? I want to understand the regular tasks before I choose. |
On its own, this figure doesn’t tell you how well the appliance picks up dust and fibres from each of your floors.
Compare test results for your floor types and check which vacuum head was used during testing. UFC-Que Choisir assesses pick-up using several types of dirt and flooring.
The attachments can vary between versions. A brush for wooden floors or textile fibres affects which surfaces you can clean with the accessories supplied.
Check the exact list of brushes and nozzles before buying, especially if you have delicate flooring, rugs or awkward corners to clean.
If the brush you need isn’t included, you’ll have to find a compatible attachment separately.
You’ll still need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed in the manual.
Check how easy it is to access the dust container and filters. For vacuumed-up dust, ADEME recommends putting it in household waste, preferably in a sealed bag.
A cordless stick vacuum may be easy to manoeuvre, but that doesn’t guarantee its battery life and brushes will be enough for all the floors and upholstery in your home.
Estimate how long your longest cleaning session takes, then check the battery life in the mode you need, the charging time and the included attachments.
If one charge won’t cover the whole session, you may need to recharge part-way through or buy an extra battery.
These examples show different configurations to consider; their advertised specifications are no substitute for comparable tests on your floors.
The Guard M1 Parquet XL is a bagged cylinder vacuum to consider if you’re looking for a brush designed for large hard-floor areas.
The Silence Force Cyclonic Effitech is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum to consider when noise, dust container capacity and operating range are part of your decision.
The PowerPro Expert FC9747/09 is a bagless cylinder vacuum to consider if you’re looking for an all-round brush for your cleaning sessions.
The Gen5detect is a cordless stick vacuum worth considering if manoeuvrability and targeted cleaning of hard floors matter to you.
These options include two bagged cylinder vacuums and a corded stick vacuum. The corded stick vacuum won’t need recharging, but consider whether its cable and brushes suit the layout and flooring in your home.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum could suit regular cleaning if you prefer this type of dust collection. Check that the included brushes suit your floors, compare its pick-up results on rugs and fibres, and make sure compatible bags are available.
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This bagged model is worth considering for regular cleaning across several rooms. If rugs or fibres are important to you, check which brushes come with the version on sale and compare its pick-up results on these surfaces. Also check which bags are compatible.
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Its corded design means you can clean without stopping to recharge, provided the cable works with the layout of your rooms. Check that the brush is suitable for your flooring, especially delicate wooden floors, and compare its pick-up on your floors rather than judging by the figures in the product name.
Compare pick-up on each type of floor in your home, using different types of dust and textile fibres. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these situations in its cylinder vacuum comparison. Also consider noise, manoeuvrability and maintenance, rather than focusing only on motor wattage.
On hard floors, use a brush suited to the surface, such as one with extended bristles or a soft parquet brush, depending on the floor. For rugs and carpets, check the recommended setting and the attachments included with that version. An earlier UFC-Que Choisir test of a specific model found different results on fibres depending on whether the turbo brush or standard brush was used.
If pick-up is your priority, UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged cylinder vacuums pick up more effectively than bagless ones, whatever the floor type or dirt. A bagless model means no replacement bags to buy, but you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed in the manual.
No. Motor wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up dirt from your floors. Instead, compare tests on the surfaces you need to clean and check which brushes are included.
ADEME recommends putting vacuumed-up dust in household waste, preferably in a sealed bag. For an old electrical appliance, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition lists collection points, recycling centres and retailers among the options. You could also consider a social and solidarity economy organisation if the appliance can be reused.