For regular cleaning throughout a large home, a bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering if you want effective suction across different floor types and an easy way to dispose of dust. According to UFC-Que Choisir, bagged models vacuum more effectively than their bagless counterparts. A bagless model may suit you if you’re happy to maintain the bin and filters; a stick vacuum or robot is better suited to quick cleans between deep cleans. Whatever you choose, compare how the model performs on your floors and check that it has the right accessories for carpets, furniture and upholstery.
If you regularly move from hard floors to parquet, then on to rugs or fitted carpets, compare how well each model cleans all these surfaces. UFC-Que Choisir tests them separately, so a result on smooth floors alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans a rug.
For sofas, corners, the tops of furniture and bedding, check which nozzles, brushes, tubes or hoses come with your chosen model. A robot designed for floors won’t take care of these jobs.
A stick vacuum can be useful for quick, targeted cleans, while a robot can keep floors tidy between bigger cleaning sessions. If your home has rugs and upholstery, check the stick vacuum’s battery life or the robot’s performance on those surfaces before considering it as a replacement for your main vacuum.
Consider it: as your main vacuum for regularly cleaning several rooms, floors and fabrics, with the right accessories.
Bear in mind: the weight and effort of moving the vacuum, the need to plug it in and the cost of replacing compatible bags. UFC-Que Choisir describes cylinder vacuums as heavier and less manoeuvrable than stick vacuums.
Consider it: if you’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags, and the model’s test results suit your flooring.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. UFC-Que Choisir says that bagged models vacuum more effectively than their bagless counterparts, whatever the floor or type of dirt considered in its guide.
Consider it: for stairs or a quick clean between more thorough sessions.
Bear in mind: battery life depends on the mode you use. In UFC-Que Choisir tests of dozens of stick vacuums, average battery life at full power is around ten minutes. The organisation also found that they often have less suction than cylinder vacuums on rugs and thick carpets.
Consider it: for frequent floor cleaning, if your home’s layout allows it to move around freely.
Bear in mind: results vary depending on the type of flooring, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. You’ll still need another cleaning method for furniture, bedding and higher-up areas.
| Priority | What to check | How it suits my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Suction on different floors | Compare test results on hard floors, parquet and rugs similar to those in your home. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing covers these surfaces separately and also looks at the effect of dirt building up in the bag or container. | I have rugs and parquet flooring: a result based on tiles alone isn’t enough to guide my choice. |
| Accessories | Check for brushes suited to delicate floors and rugs, as well as the nozzles or brushes needed for furniture and corners. Make sure you know what’s actually included or compatible. | To clean my sofa and hard-to-reach areas too, I need to be able to use the right accessories for those jobs. |
| Getting around | Check the operating range, hose, weight when carrying it and how easy the floorhead is to manoeuvre. For a stick vacuum, compare battery life in the mode you’ll use. | I want to avoid interruptions when cleaning several rooms or using the stairs, without choosing a vacuum that’s awkward to move. |
| Maintenance | Find out how to replace the bag or empty the bin, and how to access the filters and brushes. Note down the consumable reference numbers for the exact model. | I’d rather know in advance what regular maintenance I’ll need to do. |
| Measured performance | Don’t rank models by wattage alone: the European Commission explains that higher power consumption doesn’t always mean better cleaning. Compare tests carried out on the same surfaces. | If two product listings show different wattages, I want to judge how well they clean the floors in my home, not just compare motor figures. |
| Repairability | For a new vacuum covered by the scheme in France, check the model’s repairability index. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition explains that this score out of 10 indicates how easy or difficult it is to repair. Also check which spare parts you may need. | I plan to keep the vacuum for a long time, so being able to get the right consumables and parts for its model matters to me. |
The European Commission points out that higher power consumption doesn’t guarantee better cleaning. The floorhead and type of flooring also affect the results.
Compare test results on the types of flooring in your home and check which brushes come with each model.
You’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing also looks at loss of efficiency caused by dirt building up in the bag or filters.
Before choosing, check how easy it is to access the bin and filters. For a bagged vacuum, find out which compatible bags you’ll need.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, stick vacuums often have less suction than cylinder vacuums on rugs and thick carpets, while robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor. A robot won’t clean furniture or bedding.
Decide what you want your back-up vacuum to do, and keep a suitable option for any surfaces and fabrics it can’t handle.
With a bagged vacuum, you’ll need to find the right bag size. Filters and brushes must also be compatible with the exact model. For eligible products in France, the repairability index provides separate information about how easy the product is to repair.
Note down the exact model reference, check which consumables and parts you’ll need, then look up its repairability index if one applies.
These two bagged cylinder vacuums are options for a main vacuum in a large home. To decide between them, check how well they perform on your rugs and upholstery, which accessories are included and which bags are compatible.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum could be a good choice for cleaning several rooms. If you need to vacuum rugs, furniture or bedding, check the EB61C4OG’s test results on these surfaces, which accessories are included and whether compatible bags are available.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum is another option for cleaning a large home. Its stated power of 550 W doesn’t tell you how well it will vacuum: compare test results on your floors and rugs, then check which accessories and bags are compatible with the EB61C2GRN.
Check whether a brush suitable for parquet, a floorhead for rugs and a nozzle or brush for furniture are included or compatible. Then check how well the model performs on your flooring: having a particular accessory doesn’t, by itself, prove how well it cleans.
No. As the European Commission explains, power consumption doesn’t guarantee better cleaning. When comparing two vacuum cleaners, prioritise tests carried out on the same types of flooring and consider which floorhead was used.
Note down the compatible references for the exact model, then check the availability of bags, filters, brushes and, where applicable, the battery and any parts you may need. For a new vacuum covered by the scheme in France, also check the repairability index: according to the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, its score out of 10 indicates how easy or difficult the product is to repair.
Don’t assume that it can. UFC-Que Choisir says that robot vacuum results vary depending on the type of flooring; furniture and bedding also need to be cleaned by hand. If you’re considering a robot, check how it performs on your rugs and keep another option for surfaces it can’t clean.
No. The European Commission says that delegated regulation (EU) no 665/2013 on energy labelling for vacuum cleaners no longer applies. When choosing a model, look instead at its cleaning results on the relevant surfaces, how much maintenance it needs and any applicable repairability information.