If you’re looking for a main vacuum cleaner to regularly clean floors, rugs and upholstery, start by comparing cylinder vacuums on the floor coverings in your home rather than focusing solely on motor power. Choosing between a bag and a dust container mainly affects how you empty and maintain the appliance. Next, make sure the floor head and compatible accessories suit the surfaces you need to clean. Que Choisir highlights the importance of floor-head design and assesses cylinder vacuums against several practical criteria.
If you regularly move between different floor coverings, check which floor head is included and how well it performs on each surface. As Que Choisir points out, motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans.
For sofas, cushions and awkward corners, check which nozzles and brushes come with the exact model. Miele and Philips describe accessories for these tasks on specific products, but that doesn’t mean they’re included with every vacuum they make.
Your choice depends on the routine you prefer: replacing a compatible bag or emptying a dust container, then maintaining the filters as instructed. Also check that you can get hold of the parts you’ll need for the model you choose.
Start with the surfaces you need to clean, then compare models based on their accessories and the maintenance routine you’re happy to follow day to day.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Floor cleaning | Compare performance on hard floors, rugs and carpets using the same test method, and check which floor head is actually included. | My rooms have a mix of hard floors and rugs, so I want my main vacuum to clean every surface. Around 36% of consumers prioritise floor cleaning. |
| Upholstery, hair and pet hair | Check whether a fabric nozzle, crevice tool or mini brush is included and compatible with the exact model. | If hair or pet hair gets caught on cushions and in awkward corners, cleaning the floors alone isn’t enough for me. Around 29% of consumers put this need first. |
| Dust collection and filtration | Look at the bag or dust container, how it’s emptied, which filter is fitted and what maintenance the instructions recommend. | I prefer to decide in advance whether to replace a bag or empty a dust container, as it’ll be part of my regular cleaning routine. Around 21% of consumers prioritise dust management. |
| Maintenance and ease of use | Check how to clean the brush and get compatible consumables. Only compare noise levels when they’re measured on a like-for-like basis. | For longer cleaning sessions, I want to be able to remove fibres from the brush and maintain the appliance without too much hassle. Around 14% of consumers prioritise easy maintenance. |
Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean a rug or hard floor. Que Choisir also highlights the role of the floor head.
Look for tests carried out using the same method, and check which floor head comes with the model you’re considering.
A floor head isn’t necessarily suited to cleaning a sofa, cushions or a narrow crevice.
Make a list of the surfaces you need to clean, then check which accessories are included and whether they’re compatible with the exact model.
A fabric nozzle or mini brush may need to be bought separately.
A reusable dust container needs emptying and its filters need looking after. A bagged model, meanwhile, requires compatible bags.
Compare the maintenance steps in each model’s instructions before choosing a dust collection system.
Que Choisir recommends regularly removing any hair, fibres and pet hair caught in the brush to help prevent a drop in performance.
Check how easy it is to access the brush, and include cleaning it in your regular maintenance routine.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum with accessories designed for hard floors.
Worth considering among bagless cylinder vacuums for homes with a mix of hard floors and rugs.
Worth considering if you prefer a bagless cylinder vacuum and want to check which accessories are available for furniture.
This selection includes bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums to consider as your main appliance, as well as cordless stick vacuums. For the latter, check the runtime in the mode you’ll use and how well they perform on your surfaces before choosing one for a thorough clean.
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This cylinder vacuum is worth comparing with other bagged models for regular floor cleaning. If upholstery is also a factor in your decision, check which brushes come with this model and whether compatible bags are available.
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Worth considering if you’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags. Check which brushes and furniture accessory are included, as well as how to maintain the filters. The stated power for this model alone isn’t enough to judge how well it will clean your floors.
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The hose and pet brush listed in the product name are designed for cleaning beyond floors. For a thorough clean, check the runtime in the mode you plan to use and look for comparable performance results on your rugs and hard floors. The stated power figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering as your main appliance for floor cleaning. If sofas and cushions are part of your cleaning routine, check which upholstery accessories are included with the exact model. Also check that compatible bags are available.
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The cordless design may appeal if you value freedom of movement, but that alone doesn’t show whether it’s suitable as your main vacuum. The stated runtime is up to 45 minutes; check how long it lasts in the mode you need and confirm what’s included in the box, particularly for upholstery.
Compare how they perform on the same types of flooring using the same test method, then look at their accessories and maintenance needs. Que Choisir says it tests cylinder vacuums in the laboratory under conditions that are close to everyday use. A stated wattage alone isn’t enough to compare their cleaning performance.
You won’t need to replace bags, but you will need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed. Before choosing, check how to empty the container and access the filters on the specific model.
Check whether a brush or nozzle designed for upholstery is included or compatible with your vacuum. Philips offers a turbo mini brush for pet hair on upholstery, but that doesn’t mean it’s compatible with every model.