For regular cleaning across several rooms with a mix of hard floors, rugs and carpets, start by considering a cylinder vacuum and compare its test results on each type of flooring. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models vacuum more effectively than bagless ones and expose you to less dust when disposing of the contents. Bagless models avoid the cost of replacement bags, but you’ll need to check how easy the bin is to empty. A cordless stick vacuum or robot can make frequent cleaning easier, but you should still check its battery life or performance on the surfaces you need to clean.
Tiles, wooden floors, rugs and carpets all raise different questions when you’re choosing a vacuum cleaner. UFC-Que Choisir assesses vacuuming performance on carpets, tiles and wooden floors, among other surfaces. Compare the results that match the flooring in your home.
If handling dust matters to you, compare replacing a bag with emptying a bin. UFC-Que Choisir says that a bag exposes you to less dust, although you’ll need to replace it.
A cordless stick vacuum or robot can make it easier to clean more often without getting out the cylinder vacuum. To see whether it can handle more of the cleaning, check its battery life or vacuuming performance on the surfaces in question.
First decide what role the vacuum will play in your home, then compare test results on your floors and consider the maintenance it will need.
Consider it: for cleaning several rooms from top to bottom if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a bin.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to buy bags and move a plugged-in appliance from room to room.
Consider it: if you want to avoid buying bags but still prefer a cylinder vacuum for cleaning several rooms.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty and clean the bin. UFC-Que Choisir notes that this exposes you to more dust.
Consider it: for quick clean-ups between full cleans, or for a smaller home.
Check: the battery life at the power setting you need. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power.
Consider it: to automate cleaning in rooms it can navigate.
Check: its performance on your floors, along edges and in corners, as well as how the bin is maintained.
| Criterion | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuuming performance on different floors | Compare test results on hard floors, wooden floors, rugs and carpets. Look for results on fibres if you have them at home. | I want to clean the different types of flooring in my home, rather than choosing based on the advertised wattage alone. |
| Dust management | Check how the bag is replaced or the bin opened, as well as how easy it is to reach the filters and brushes. UFC-Que Choisir says a bag exposes you to less dust when disposing of the contents. | How the vacuum is emptied matters to me just as much as its regular maintenance. |
| Moving between rooms and interruptions | For a cylinder vacuum, check its operating radius, weight and bag or bin capacity. For a stick vacuum, compare the battery life at the power setting you’ll use. | I move from room to room and want to know when I’ll need to change plug sockets, empty the vacuum or recharge it. |
| Long-term maintenance | Compare the repairability index for applicable new vacuum cleaners in France, then check whether parts and consumables are available. The French Ministry of the Economy says vacuum cleaners are among the categories for which this rating must be displayed. | Before choosing between two similar models, I want to check their maintenance needs and repair options. |
The advertised electrical power doesn’t tell you on its own how well a vacuum will perform on a rug, carpet or wooden floor.
Compare test results on your flooring and check which brushes come with the exact model you’re considering.
A bagless model saves you from replacing bags, but you still need to empty and clean its bin. UFC-Que Choisir notes that this exposes you to more dust than using a bag.
Before you buy, check how the bin opens and how easy it is to reach the filters and brushes.
UFC-Que Choisir reports that cordless stick vacuums last around ten minutes on average at full power, which may not be enough for a full clean.
Compare the battery life at the setting you need for your floors with the time it takes to clean your home.
Repairs can be difficult if parts are hard to find or the appliance is tricky to take apart.
For an applicable new vacuum cleaner in France, compare the displayed repairability index and check which parts are specific to the models you’re considering.
These examples show different configurations worth comparing. The features mentioned apply to the specific models named, not to every product from each brand.
The Green Force range includes bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums.
The BGS41PET1 ProAnimal is worth considering if you’re looking for a bagless cylinder vacuum.
The Guard M1 is a bagged cylinder vacuum worth comparing for everyday use.
The Performer Compact 3000 Series XD3110/09 is a bagged cylinder vacuum worth considering for the floors in your home.
These two bagged cylinder vacuums are options to consider as your main appliance. If your home has rugs or carpets, also compare the vacuuming performance of the exact model and check which accessories are supplied.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering for regular cleaning across several rooms. If you have rugs or carpets, check which accessories are supplied and look for vacuuming performance results specific to the EB61C4OG. You’ll also need to replace the bags.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum is another option for regular floor cleaning. Its name specifies 550 W, but that figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it will perform on rugs or carpets. Compare test results for the EB61C2GRN and check which accessories are supplied if these surfaces matter to you.
Compare results separately for hard floors, wooden floors, rugs and carpets, as well as fibres if that’s relevant to your cleaning needs. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses carpets, tiles and wooden floors separately, among other surfaces, so one result won’t tell you how the vacuum performs across all your flooring.
It’s worth considering for a smaller home or quick clean-ups. For several rooms and different types of flooring, first check the battery life at the setting you need and how well it performs on rugs and carpets. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average battery life of around ten minutes at full power, so it’s important to check this before relying on it as your only vacuum.
Don’t assume it will take care of every cleaning need. Check how it performs on your floors, along edges and in corners, as well as whether it can navigate your rooms. UFC-Que Choisir includes these areas in its robot vacuum testing protocol.
For an applicable new vacuum cleaner, check the repairability index displayed at the point of sale and compare the information for the models you’re considering. The French Ministry of the Economy says vacuum cleaners are among the categories for which this rating must be displayed. The score doesn’t replace checking whether the parts you might need are available.
ADEME recommends putting vacuum cleaner dust in your household rubbish, preferably in a sealed bag. Composting may be an option only in the limited case where the dust contains nothing but pet hair or soil brought in from the garden.