Homes with mixed flooring and rugs
If your regular cleaning takes you from wooden floors to hard floors, then on to rugs or carpets, compare vacuuming results on each surface and check which brushes are included.
Who is this choice for?
People who want to handle less dust
Removing a bag may be a better fit for this need than emptying and cleaning a dust container. Que Choisir highlights the difference in handling between the two systems.
Homes looking for a stick vacuum as an extra
A cordless stick vacuum can be useful for quick cleans between full sessions. If you plan to use it as your only vacuum, check its performance on your floors and its runtime at the setting you’ll need.
Which criteria should you compare?
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Consider it: for regular cleaning across different floor types, especially if you want to minimise contact with dust when emptying the vacuum.
The trade-off: compatible bags need replacing, so check which ones fit your chosen model.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Consider it: if you’d rather not buy replacement bags and are happy to maintain the dust container.
The trade-off: according to Que Choisir, emptying and cleaning the container exposes you to more dust than removing a bag.
Cordless stick vacuum as an extra
Consider it: for quick cleans when ease of handling matters more than a long cleaning session.
The trade-off: to replace a cylinder vacuum, its runtime at the setting you need and its performance on carpets must be sufficient for a full cleaning session.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on different floors | Compare tests on hard floors, wooden floors with gaps, and rugs or carpets. If pet hair is a concern, look for tests on carpet fibres too. Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses these different surfaces. | At home, my vacuum needs to go from a smooth floor to a rug, and I don’t want the wattage on the label to be my only guide. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Check how to remove the bag or empty the dust container, then find out how to maintain the filters. Look for tests that take account of a partly full bag or container, as Que Choisir’s testing protocol does. | If I want to avoid handling the dust collected, the way the vacuum is emptied will influence my choice. |
| Runtime and manoeuvrability | For a cordless model, check the runtime at the required setting and the charging time. For a cylinder vacuum, look at its operating radius, dust capacity, ease of moving it around and included accessories. | I want to finish a cleaning session across several rooms without too many interruptions, while still being able to move the vacuum around easily. |
| Repairability | In France, check the repairability index displayed for the exact model and find out about spare parts and documentation. Economie.gouv.fr explains the criteria used for this index. | Before replacing my vacuum, I also want to know whether the model I’m considering can be maintained or repaired. |
What should you watch out for?
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Choosing based on motor power alone
The wattage shown doesn’t, by itself, tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from carpets, wooden floors with gaps or hard floors. Que Choisir also highlights the role of the vacuum head.
Compare separate test results for the flooring in your home, including when the bag or container is filling up.
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Forgetting that a bagless model needs emptying
The dust container needs to be emptied and cleaned. According to Que Choisir, this exposes you to more dust than removing a bag.
If you’re concerned about handling dust, look at the emptying mechanism and filter maintenance instructions, or compare it with a bagged model.
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Replacing your cylinder vacuum without checking the stick vacuum first
An easy-to-handle stick vacuum may not be suitable for a long cleaning session: Que Choisir notes that runtime at maximum power can be short.
Before making it your only vacuum, check the runtime at the setting you need, the charging time and its performance on your rugs or carpets.
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Leaving repairability out of the comparison
Two vacuums suited to the same floors can differ in how easy they are to take apart and how accessible their spare parts are. These are among the criteria used by economie.gouv.fr for the repairability index.
Check the index for the exact model, then look up information about its spare parts and maintenance before deciding between the vacuums.
A few brands to consider
These examples relate to specific ranges or models. They don’t guarantee how every vacuum will perform on your floors, or that it will be included in the selection below.
Rowenta
The Silence Force Effitech range of bagged cylinder vacuums offers features worth considering if dust capacity and moving between rooms matter to you.
- For the RO7473EA, Rowenta lists a 4.5 L bag, a 12 m operating radius and a noise level of 57 dB(A).
- These listed specifications don’t replace test results for vacuuming your floors and rugs.
Miele
Miele offers a range of bagged cylinder vacuums, among other products. Check the filtration features of each individual model.
- Miele presents the Guard L1 Allergy with an AirClean HEPA filter and a HyClean Pure bag.
- The product description doesn’t establish an individual health benefit or mean that every model in the range has the same configuration.
Bosch
Bosch’s ProHygienic range includes different configurations. Compare the dust collection system and filter on a model-by-model basis.
- Bosch describes HEPA filters in this range and recommends checking how the bag is handled to limit contact with dust.
- Check which filter comes with the model you’re considering, how to maintain it and how the vacuum is emptied. Don’t assume its name indicates a health benefit.
Vacuum cleaners to consider on Joybuy
This selection includes a bagged cylinder vacuum and corded and cordless stick vacuums. For a thorough clean across different floor types, compare their dust collection systems, how easy they are to move around and how they perform on your flooring before you choose.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG, bagged cylinder vacuum
This bagged cylinder vacuum could suit you if you’re looking for a main vacuum and want to handle less dust when emptying it. Check its performance on your carpets and hard floors, as well as which bags are compatible, before choosing this model.
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MONSGA HQ1 Gold, 65KPA 600W corded stick vacuum
This corded stick vacuum won’t need recharging during a cleaning session, but you’ll need to work around sockets and the cable. The 65KPA and 600W figures appear in its product name; compare test results on your floors and rugs to assess its suction instead. You’ll also need to handle the collected dust when emptying the container.
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Daynee XL618E-8, 55 kPa cordless stick vacuum
This model is described as a cordless option with a hose and a brush for pet hair. The 55 kPa figure in its product name doesn’t show how well it performs on carpets, so check results for different surfaces and the runtime at the setting you’ll need.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5, cordless stick vacuum
This stick vacuum is described as having an anti-tangle brush and a claimed runtime of up to 65 minutes. To find out whether it can handle a full clean, check how long it runs at the setting you need on carpets and how well it performs on different floor types.
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Monsga M100, cordless stick vacuum
The M100 is described as a self-standing stick vacuum with an anti-tangle roller and a claimed runtime of 45 minutes. This figure doesn’t show how long it lasts at each setting. Compare it with the area you need to clean and check its performance on your carpets before considering it as your main vacuum.
Frequently asked questions
How can I compare performance on hard floors and carpets?
Look for separate test results for the surfaces in your home rather than comparing motor wattage alone. Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses vacuuming on tiles, wooden floors and carpet, and includes some results for when the bag or container already contains dust.
Bagged or bagless: which means less handling of dust?
With a bagged model, you can remove and dispose of the full bag. A bagless model needs its dust container emptied and cleaned; Que Choisir notes that cleaning it can expose you to more dust. Also check the filtration system and the maintenance steps for the model you choose.
Can a cordless stick vacuum handle all my cleaning?
It depends on the area you need to cover, your flooring and the runtime at the suction setting you need. Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as easy to handle but generally better suited to smaller areas. Before replacing a cylinder vacuum, check their carpet test results and charging time too.
Where should I dispose of a full vacuum cleaner bag in France?
ADEME advises putting the full bag and collected dust in your household rubbish, preferably inside a sealed bag.