Homes with a mix of floor types
If one appliance needs to clean hard floors, carpets, furniture and upholstery, check how it performs on each surface in your home, then look at the attachments supplied for crevices and fabrics.
Who is this choice for?
People who want to minimise contact with dust
Choosing between a bag and a bin affects how you dispose of dust. Check the filter maintenance procedure too, and don’t treat a stated filtration level as a guarantee of health protection.
Homes with carpets, upholstery and pet hair
A brush designed for carpets and an attachment for furniture can matter just as much as the head used on hard floors. Check that they’re included with the exact model you’re considering.
What should you look for first?
To compare two cylinder vacuums, start with your floor types and how you want to handle dust, then check what their accessories actually let you clean.
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you want to minimise contact with dust when disposing of the contents. UFC-Que Choisir also reports that bagged models generally have an edge when it comes to suction.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags with compatible ones, as well as maintain the filter and brushes.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you’d rather empty a bin than replace bags, while still having a cylinder vacuum for your main clean.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. Don’t assume every model will perform as well as a bagged one on your carpets.
Stick vacuum as a secondary cleaner
Worth considering: for quick pick-ups of small messes between thorough cleans.
Limitation: UFC-Que Choisir describes it as more of a supplementary appliance. Check its runtime at the power setting you’ll use before considering it for other purposes.
| Feature | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Suction and floor types | Compare test results on tiles, wood flooring and carpet to match the surfaces in your home. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these floor types separately in its testing; motor wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will perform. | I also clean carpets, so a result measured only on hard floors doesn’t give me the full picture. |
| Brushes and attachments | Check the main floorhead and, depending on your surfaces, whether it comes with a parquet brush, crevice tool, furniture attachment or mini turbo brush. Check the contents of the specific variant being sold. | For my sofa and pet hair on upholstery, I check which attachments are included rather than relying on the range name. |
| Bag, bin and filter | Check how to dispose of dust, clean or replace the filter, and find compatible consumables. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models expose you to less dust. | If I want to handle less dust, a bag matters to me; if I prefer a bin, I’ll factor in emptying it. |
| Ease of use | Compare the weight, operating radius, wheels and tube of the exact model. For noise, compare dB(A) ratings measured under equivalent conditions. | In a home with stairs or several rooms, I want to move the appliance around and reach the areas that need cleaning without awkward interruptions. |
What should you watch out for?
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Choosing based on wattage alone
Motor power alone won’t tell you how well the floorhead picks up dirt from a carpet or from between floorboards.
Look at test results for floors similar to yours and check which brush comes with the exact model you’re considering.
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Assuming bagless means no maintenance
You’ll need to empty the bin, and the filters and brushes still need attention. This may influence your choice if you want to handle as little dust as possible.
Read the instructions to find out how to maintain the vacuum and which filters are suitable for the model.
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Assuming every accessory in a range is included
A variant that doesn’t include the attachment you need may be less suitable for cleaning furniture, crevices or upholstery.
Compare the full model number and box contents. Don’t assume a parquet brush, crevice tools or a mini turbo brush are included.
A few models to consider
These examples can help you identify features to compare; they don’t represent every model in each brand’s range.
Rowenta
The RO7C66EA is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum. Rowenta France’s product details list its bin and several accessories.
- Rowenta France lists a 2.5 L bin, a parquet brush, a mini turbo brush and crevice tools for this model.
- Check which accessories come with the variant being sold, and be prepared to empty the bin and maintain the filters.
Bosch
The BGC05A322 is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum for which Bosch Home Appliances France specifies the bin capacity and operating radius.
- Bosch lists a 1.5 L bin and a 9 m operating radius for the BGC05A322.
- If you need to clean carpets, wood flooring and furniture, check which brushes and crevice tools are actually included.
Philips
The Performer Silent FC8780/09 is another bagged model to consider. Philips France describes, among other features, its brush designed for fine dust.
- Its bagged design may suit you if you prefer this way of collecting dust.
- Before choosing this model, check which bags are compatible, which accessories are included and how it performs on your floor types.
Bagged cylinder vacuums on Joybuy
These two Electrolux bagged models fit the ‘bagged cylinder vacuum’ option for a main cleaner. To choose between them, focus on the accessories included with the variant, compatible bags and suction performance on your floors.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner
A bagged cylinder vacuum to consider as your main cleaner for different surfaces. If you clean carpets and furniture as well as hard floors, check which attachments come with the EB61C4OG, how it performs on your floor types and which bags are compatible.
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Electrolux EB61C2GRN bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner, 550 W, black
This 550 W bagged model can be compared with the EB61C4OG as a main cleaner, but don’t judge its performance on wattage alone. Check how it performs on your floors, which attachments are included for upholstery and crevices, and which bags are compatible.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bagged cylinder vacuum help you handle less dust?
Yes, it’s worth considering if this is a priority. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged cylinder vacuums expose users to less dust than bagless models when disposing of the contents. Still, check the filter, how to maintain it and which bags are compatible with your chosen model.
Is wattage enough to compare two vacuum cleaners?
No. Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will perform on each surface. Compare results for the types of flooring in your home, and check the floorhead and accessories included.
Which attachments should I check for wood flooring, carpets and sofas?
Check that the floorhead is suitable for your floors, and look for a parquet brush if needed, as well as furniture and crevice tools. A mini turbo brush can be useful for upholstery and pet hair; whether it’s included depends on the exact model and can’t be assumed from the brand name.
Can a stick vacuum replace a cylinder vacuum for this kind of cleaning?
Don’t assume it can handle a thorough clean across different floors and upholstery. UFC-Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as more suitable for quick pick-ups. If you’re considering one as your main cleaner, check its runtime at the power setting you need and how it performs on each surface you’ll be cleaning.