For a thorough clean in a large home, choose a bagged cylinder vacuum if capacity and changing the bag matter more to you. Go for a bagless model if you’d rather not buy bags and are happy to empty the bin and maintain its filters. Either way, check test results for your floor coverings, the accessories included, the operating radius and the compatibility of consumables. The stated power alone isn’t enough to compare models.
Your home’s layout and the surfaces you need to clean will help you decide what to check before choosing a cylinder vacuum cleaner.
If you need to clean several rooms in one go, compare the operating radius with the position of your sockets, then check the capacity of the bag or bin. Also consider how easy the vacuum is to move between rooms or up and down stairs.
Check which brushes and nozzles are supplied for each surface. To assess suction performance, look for test results on the floor coverings you have rather than relying on the electrical power rating alone.
Make a note of the exact model reference before comparing compatible bags, filters, brushes and parts. If a repairability score is shown, check the score for the model you’re considering.
Start by deciding which type of dust collection you’d prefer to maintain, then compare each model with your floors and the cleaning route around your home.
Worth considering: if you want a larger capacity and would rather change a bag than empty a bin.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to buy compatible bags and replace the filters as instructed for the model.
Worth considering: if you want to avoid buying bags regularly and are happy to empty the dust container.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clean the bin and maintain the filters. How often you need to empty it will depend, among other things, on the model’s capacity and how you use it.
| What to check | Points to consider | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on different floors | Look for tests of the exact model on hard floors, rugs and different fibres. Que Choisir tests suction on several floor types and kinds of dirt; electrical power alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum performs. | I switch between parquet and rugs, so I want to know how the vacuum performs on each, not just its stated power. |
| Reach and manoeuvrability | Compare the stated operating radius with the position of your sockets. Also consider the vacuum’s weight, how easily it gets over thresholds and how much storage space it needs. | Some rooms are far from the sockets, and I sometimes need to carry the vacuum. Both its reach and weight matter. |
| Accessories included | Check the list of brushes and nozzles supplied for hard floors, crevices and upholstery. If an accessory is sold separately, make sure it’s compatible with the exact model reference. | I also clean skirting boards and upholstered furniture, so I need accessories suited to those areas. |
| Dust container and filters | Compare the capacity of the bag or bin with how often you clean. Check how to change the bag or empty the bin, and what the manual says about filter maintenance. | If I’m cleaning the whole home in one session, I want to minimise interruptions and choose a dust-handling method that suits me. |
| Consumables and spare parts | Find the reference numbers for compatible bags, filters and brushes. Check their pack sizes and availability when you buy, as well as the model’s repairability score if one is shown. | I want to be able to maintain the vacuum over time, without assuming that consumables for another model will fit. |
A power rating alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from rugs, parquet or upholstery. In its cylinder vacuum tests, Que Choisir assesses performance on different floors and types of dirt.
For the models you’re considering, look for tests on your floor coverings and check which brush is supplied with each one.
These must match the vacuum’s model reference. You can’t assume that a bag or filter made for a different range will be compatible.
Before ordering, note down the exact model reference and check the corresponding consumables, their pack sizes and their availability.
With a bagged cylinder vacuum, you’ll need to replace the bags regularly as well as maintain the filters.
A parquet brush or upholstery accessory may be sold separately or only be available for certain models. This affects what you can clean with the equipment supplied.
Read the list of included accessories and check that any extras are compatible with the exact model. Don’t rely on the photo alone.
A larger dust container may mean fewer bag changes or trips to empty it, but it doesn’t tell you how heavy the vacuum is or how easily it gets over thresholds and up and down stairs.
Consider capacity, operating radius, weight and storage dimensions together, in light of the cleaning route around your home.
These brand examples can help you compare equipment and consumables. The features mentioned apply to the models or ranges specified, not to every vacuum the brands make.
Rowenta lists a 4.5 L bag for the Silence Force Allergy+ RO6859EA, a feature worth considering when cleaning a large area.
For its FC9331/09 bagless cylinder vacuum, Philips lists a 1.5 L dust container, a 9 m operating radius and a weight of 4.5 kg.
Miele offers a selector for bags and filters by range for its vacuum cleaners, including the Complete C2 and Complete C3.
These bagged and bagless models offer two different ways to maintain a cylinder vacuum in a large home. Compare their features with the floors and upholstery you need to clean, and don’t mistake stated specifications for test results.
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A bagged option to consider if you’d rather change a bag than empty a bin after cleaning a large home.
Compare its operating radius with the position of your sockets and check which brushes are included for your floors and upholstery. Note the references for compatible bags and filters, and look for test results for the EB61C4OG on your floor coverings.
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This bagless model is worth comparing if you’d like to avoid buying bags regularly and are happy to empty the bin.
The 900 W power rating in its name isn’t enough to assess its suction. Check the accessories supplied, how to maintain it and which filters are compatible, then look for test results for the FC9556/09 on your floors and upholstery.
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Another bagged cylinder vacuum to compare if your cleaning route takes in several rooms and hard floors.
The 550 W rating doesn’t tell you how well it cleans. If rugs or upholstered furniture are important to you, check which accessories are supplied and look for test results for the EB61C2GRN. Also check the references for compatible bags and filters.
No. You won’t need to buy bags, but you will need to empty the bin and maintain the filters as instructed in the manual. Check which replacement filters are compatible with your chosen model. Not having a bag doesn’t necessarily mean it will cost less to run.
Choose one based on the position of your sockets and the areas you need to reach, rather than relying on a single threshold. For example, Philips lists a 9 m operating radius for the FC9331/09. That figure alone won’t tell you how heavy the vacuum is or how easy it is to carry on the stairs.
Yes, it can help you compare models that display a score. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition lists vacuum cleaners among the categories covered. Check the score for the exact model, then separately check that the parts and consumables you’ll need are available.
ADEME lists repair and taking small electrical appliances to an appropriate collection point among the options. Check local collection points and their requirements before setting off.