Homes with several rooms and floor types
If you need to clean hard floors, wooden floors and carpets, look for a main vacuum with brushes suited to each surface. Reach and accessories also matter when you need to clean furniture.
Who is this advice for?
Homes where limiting contact with dust matters
Compare removing a bag with emptying a dust container, then check the filter fitted to the model you’re considering and how it needs to be maintained. The emptying process deserves as much attention as the filtration claims.
Homes looking for a supplementary vacuum
A cordless stick vacuum can complement a cylinder vacuum for stairs, furniture or quick clean-ups between full cleans. Check its battery life in the mode you’ll use, as well as the accessories included.
What should you check?
Start with the surfaces and items you need to clean, then look at the model’s reach, emptying process and maintenance requirements.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Floor types and accessories | Check which floor head is designed for each surface, then look at the brushes and nozzles for carpets, furniture and fabrics. Que Choisir assesses suction on different floor types separately, so a single power figure doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum performs across them. | I need to clean wooden floors, hard floors and carpets, as well as furniture and bedding. I’ll check which accessories are included with the model being sold. |
| Emptying and filtration | Check how the bag is removed or how the dust container is emptied. Find out what type of filter the model has and what maintenance is recommended in its instructions. | Limiting contact with dust when emptying matters to me. I’ll choose an emptying process and maintenance routine I can keep up with regularly. |
| Reach and handling | For a cylinder vacuum, compare its operating radius, weight and storage requirements. For a stick vacuum, check the battery life with the mode and brush you’ll use. | I want to clean several rooms without constantly changing sockets or recharging, while still being able to move and store the vacuum easily. |
| Consumables and spare parts | Look for bags, filters, brushes and parts that are compatible with the full model number. In France, the Ministry of the Economy says that vacuum cleaners must display a repairability index. Check the index for the model you’re considering. | Before buying, I want to know how to maintain the vacuum and where to find the parts it will need over time. |
What should you look out for?
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Choosing based on wattage alone
The European Commission explains that a higher electrical input doesn’t always mean better cleaning. Performance also depends on the floor head and the type of flooring.
Compare the brushes designed for your floors and, where possible, look for test results that assess hard floors, wooden floors and carpets separately.
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Assuming a stick vacuum’s maximum battery life applies at full power
According to Que Choisir, stick vacuums last around ten minutes on average at full power. So a battery-life figure quoted for another mode won’t necessarily tell you how long the vacuum will last during a thorough clean.
If you have a larger home, check the battery life with the mode and brush you’ll need before choosing a stick vacuum as your only cleaner.
If you’ll need an extra battery for a full clean, check that it’s compatible with your chosen model.
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Overlooking maintenance on a bagless model
Bagless vacuum cleaners still need their dust containers emptied and filters maintained. This is especially important if you’re concerned about contact with dust.
Compare the process of emptying a dust container with replacing a bag, and follow the instructions for maintaining the filters and brushes.
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Assuming an accessory will fit every model from a brand
Bags, filters and brushes need to match the vacuum’s model number. Compatibility with a product range doesn’t necessarily mean an accessory will fit a specific variant.
Make a note of the full model number and check which consumables and spare parts are compatible before ordering.
Which brands should you compare?
These brand examples can help you compare configurations and consumables. The specifications mentioned apply to the models named.
Rowenta
Rowenta offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, as well as cordless stick vacuums.
- According to Rowenta France, the bagged G-Force RO4933EA has a 12 m operating radius and a 4.5 L bag, while the bagless Silence Force Cyclonic RO7935EA has a 12 m operating radius and a 2.5 L dust container.
- These capacities alone don’t tell you how well the vacuums will perform on your floors. Check the brushes and accessories included with the variant you’re buying.
Miele
The bagged Complete C3 range makes it easy to search for consumables by model number.
- Miele France lists GN HyClean Pure bags for the Complete C3 and describes upholstery and crevice nozzles for the version shown.
- Check the accessories included with each Complete C3 version. Don’t assume they’re the same just because the models belong to the same range.
Bosch
The BGS41PET1 ProAnimal is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum to consider if dust-container capacity and reach are important to you.
- Bosch Home Appliances France lists a 2.4 L dust container and a 10 m operating radius for this model.
- These specifications don’t tell you how well the model picks up dust from every carpet or wooden floor. Check the brush and any results relevant to your floors.
Bagged cylinder vacuums on Joybuy
These two bagged Electrolux models are worth considering if you’re looking for a main vacuum for a larger home. Compare the model numbers and check that the accessories suit your floors, furniture and fabrics before choosing.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged vacuum cleaner
This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering as your main cleaner. For carpets, furniture and bedding, check exactly what’s included in the box and whether the brushes, bags and filters are compatible with model EB61C4OG.
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Electrolux EB61C2GRN 550 W black bagged vacuum cleaner
This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth comparing for cleaning several rooms from top to bottom. Its model name includes 550 W, but that figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it cleans each floor type. Check the brushes supplied and which bags and filters are compatible with model EB61C2GRN.
Frequently asked questions
Which vacuum should I choose to clean a larger home from top to bottom?
A cylinder vacuum is a good place to start: Que Choisir recommends this style for larger homes. Choose a bagged model if the emptying process is especially important to you. A bagless model needs its dust container emptied and its filters maintained.
Which accessories should I check for floors, furniture and bedding?
Check that it has a floor head suited to each of your floor types, as well as a nozzle or brush for furniture and fabrics. For carpets or pet hair on fabric, check whether the brush you need is included or compatible with the exact model number.
Can a cordless stick vacuum be the only vacuum in a large home?
Don’t decide based on its advertised maximum battery life: according to Que Choisir, stick vacuums last around ten minutes on average at full power. Check the battery life in the mode you need for your floors. If it won’t cover a full clean, a stick vacuum is better suited to quick clean-ups alongside a cylinder vacuum.
How can I keep my vacuum performing well over time?
Replace the bag or empty the dust container, and maintain the filters and brushes according to the model’s instructions. Regularly check for parts that can become clogged rather than relying on the stated power alone.
How can I check repairability before buying in France?
Check the repairability index displayed for the vacuum you’re considering. The Ministry of the Economy says that displaying this index is mandatory in France for this product category. Also search by the full model number for any bags, filters, brushes and spare parts you might need.