For your main clean across hard floors, rugs and carpets, a bagged cylinder vacuum is worth prioritising if you want to minimise contact with dust. Que Choisir reports that bagged models pick up more dust and expose you to less of it than bagless models. A bagless vacuum needs its bin emptied; before replacing a cylinder with a cordless stick vacuum or robot, check how well it performs on the flooring in your home.
If you regularly vacuum hard floors, rugs and carpets, compare results for each surface rather than relying on a single power figure. For rugs that pick up pet hair, look for a test that assesses how well the vacuum cleans fibres, too.
How dust is collected matters just as much as the filtration claimed. Que Choisir reports that bagged cylinder vacuums expose you to less dust than bagless models. Also check how the bag seals and how well the model is filtered.
In a busy home or one with several rooms, check the stated noise level, operating radius and weight of the exact model. A long operating radius alone doesn’t tell you how easy the vacuum will be to move around.
Best for: your main clean across mixed flooring, especially if you want to minimise contact with dust when disposing of it.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags and move a corded appliance around.
Worth considering: if you’d rather avoid buying bags and don’t mind emptying the bin and maintaining the filters.
Worth checking: Que Choisir reports that bagged models pick up more dust and expose you to less of it than bagless models, so check the specific model’s results on your floors.
Best for: quick clean-ups or stairs with a stick vacuum; a robot can take care of some of the cleaning between deeper cleans.
Check first: if you’re considering either as your main vacuum, check its performance on rugs and carpets. Also consider the stick vacuum’s battery life or the robot’s navigation, depending on your home.
| What to compare | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up on different surfaces | Compare results separately for hard floors, parquet gaps, and rugs or carpets. If needed, look for a test on fibres and results with a full bag or bin. | I have several types of flooring to clean, or need to remove hair from rugs: one measurement isn’t enough to judge how well the vacuum will handle all these tasks. |
| Dust collection and filtration | Check how the bag seals or the bin empties, then look at the filtration of the whole appliance and filter maintenance. A HEPA claim doesn’t tell you how much dust you’ll handle when emptying it. | I want to minimise the dust I handle when disposing of what the vacuum has collected. |
| Noise and manoeuvrability | Compare stated noise levels on a like-for-like basis. Also check the operating radius, weight, wheels and brushes supplied. | If I’m cleaning several rooms without frequently changing sockets, the operating radius matters. If I’m carrying the vacuum up and down stairs, its weight matters too. |
| Maintenance and repair | Check the product codes for compatible bags or filters, brush maintenance requirements and repairability information for the model in question. | I want to maintain my vacuum regularly and be able to find the parts I need to keep using it. |
This figure doesn’t directly measure how much dust is removed from each surface. The vacuum head and brush you use also affect the results.
Look for separate results on hard floors, in gaps and on rugs or carpets, using the brush that suits your needs.
Filtering the air that comes out of the vacuum and handling the dust it collects are two different things. Que Choisir reports that bagged models expose you to less dust than bagless models.
Check how the bag seals or the bin empties, as well as the filters and their maintenance requirements for the exact model.
A cylinder vacuum needs its dust collection system, filters and brushes maintained. Compatible parts vary by model.
Before choosing, check the product codes for consumables and accessories, as well as the repairability information for the appliance.
The range includes the bagged 800 EB81U1DB and 600 EB61C4OG cylinder vacuums, as well as the bagless EL61A4UG.
The Silence Force Effitech range includes bagged cylinder vacuums designed with their stated noise level in mind.
The Performer Silent range includes the bagged cylinder vacuum FC8780/19R1.
These two bagged Electrolux models are options if you’re looking for a cylinder vacuum for your main clean. If rugs and carpets are an important part of your decision, check the results for each model rather than assuming how well it will perform based on its type.
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Worth considering for a main clean that includes rugs or carpets. Electrolux states that the EB61C4OG removes 84.8% of dust from these surfaces; this manufacturer figure is no substitute for an independent test. Check that the brushes and bags available for this model are right for your needs.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum is an option for regular floor cleaning. Its product name specifies a 550 W motor, but that doesn’t tell you how well it will pick up dirt from rugs or carpets. Look for results for the EB61C2GRN on the surfaces in your home.
Consider a bagged cylinder vacuum if a thorough clean and less contact with dust are your main priorities. Que Choisir reports that bagged models pick up more dust and expose you to less of it than bagless models. If you’d rather avoid bags, check how well a bagless model performs on your flooring and how its bin empties.
Look for separate results on hard floors, in parquet gaps, and on rugs or carpets. If you have pet hair to deal with, look for a test on fibres, too. Check which brush was used and whether performance was measured with a full bag or bin.
The motor’s wattage alone isn’t enough to determine how well a vacuum will pick up dirt. When choosing a cylinder vacuum, compare results on the surfaces you need to clean and check which brush comes with the model.
Check which bags, filters and brushes are compatible with the exact model. In France, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition lists vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by the repairability index. Check the index displayed for the model you’re considering.