Homes with lots of rooms to clean
If you need to move from room to room, consider the cylinder vacuum’s reach and where your plug sockets are. UFC-Que Choisir recommends this type of vacuum for larger areas.
Who is this type of vacuum for?
Choosing a main vacuum depends not only on the surfaces you need to clean, but also on how you prefer to deal with dust.
Homes with a mix of floor types
Hardwood floors, tiles, rugs and furniture all call for different accessories. Check the brushes and nozzles supplied with the model you’re considering; UFC-Que Choisir assesses performance on different floor coverings separately.
Shoppers who want to make emptying and maintenance easier
UFC-Que Choisir says that bagged vacuums expose you to less dust when you empty them. A bagless model saves you from buying bags, but you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the parts specified by the manufacturer.
What should you look for?
First, choose between a bag and a bin based on the maintenance you’re happy to do. Then make sure the model suits your floors and the layout of your home.
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if minimising your exposure to dust when emptying the vacuum matters to you, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to buy and replace compatible bags.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you’d rather not buy bags and are happy to empty the bin.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to maintain the bin and filters as instructed for the model, and you may have more contact with dust when emptying it.
| What to consider | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Floor surfaces | Check how the main floorhead performs on your flooring, which brushes are included, and whether there are nozzles for furniture and awkward corners. Don’t judge performance by motor power alone: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the vacuum head. | I need to clean my floors as well as rugs or furniture, so the accessories should suit the surfaces in my home. |
| Reach | Compare the vacuum’s reach with the layout of your rooms and the position of your plug sockets. Also check the capacity of the bag or bin, depending on how often you want to empty it. | When cleaning several rooms, I want to avoid changing sockets too often or stopping to empty the vacuum. |
| Maintenance | For a bagged model, check which bags are compatible. For a bagless one, read the instructions for emptying the bin and maintaining the filters. UFC-Que Choisir says bagged models expose you to less dust when emptying them. | Dust exposure when emptying the vacuum matters to me. I also need to consider the maintenance involved with each type. |
| Using a stick vacuum | If you’re considering a cordless stick vacuum for your whole home, check its run time in the mode you’ll use and with the brush you need, as well as how it performs on your floors. UFC-Que Choisir sees it more as a supplementary vacuum. | A vacuum that’s quick to grab would be useful between thorough cleans, but it wouldn’t necessarily replace my main vacuum. |
| Repairability | Compare the repairability index for the specific model, then check the availability of spare parts and consumables. According to the French government departments responsible for the ecological transition, the index takes factors such as ease of disassembly, documentation and parts availability into account. | I want to be able to maintain and, if necessary, get the specific model I buy repaired. |
What should you watch out for?
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Choosing based on the wattage alone
Motor power alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean your floors. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the role of the vacuum head and tests performance on several types of flooring separately.
Make a note of the floors in your home, then check which brushes are included and, where possible, look for test results on the same types of flooring.
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Buying a stick vacuum without checking its real-world run time
A run time quoted for a low-power mode won’t necessarily reflect how long the vacuum will last for the cleaning you have in mind. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir found that stick vacuums averaged around ten minutes at full power.
Before considering a stick vacuum as your main appliance, check the run time in the mode and with the brush you’ll need for your floors.
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Assuming a bagless vacuum needs no maintenance
Not having to buy bags doesn’t mean you won’t need to empty the bin. According to UFC-Que Choisir, this exposes you to more dust than emptying a bagged model.
Check the instructions for emptying the bin and maintaining the filters on the model you’re interested in.
Cleaning the bin and filters takes time too. Depending on the model, some filters may need replacing.
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Overlooking spare parts and repairability
For the vacuum cleaners covered, the repairability index takes factors such as ease of disassembly and parts availability into account, in line with French legislation and guidance from the government departments responsible for the ecological transition.
Compare the index for the exact model and check whether the spare parts, bags or filters it needs are available.
A guide to some of the brands
These examples show some configurations worth considering; their features don’t apply to every vacuum from each brand.
Rowenta
The Silence Force Cyclonic Effitech parquet model is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum to consider if reach and looking after your floors are important to you.
- Rowenta states that this model has a 12 m operating radius, a 2,5 L bin and a parquet brush.
- Check that it comes with the accessories you need for your other floors, and be prepared to empty the bin regularly.
Bosch
The BGS41POW1 is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum worth looking at, particularly if you have rugs or carpets.
- Bosch lists a 2,4 L bin, a 10 m operating radius, a turbo brush and a washable HEPA filter for this model.
- Check the filter care instructions and make sure the brushes are suitable for your other floor coverings.
Miele
Miele’s product details for the Complete C3 125 Edition offer a useful example of the accessories available with a bagged cylinder vacuum.
- Miele describes this model as having a telescopic tube and accessories for upholstery, crevices and furniture.
- These features are specific to this model, so check the configuration and availability of the one you’re considering.
A bagged cylinder vacuum option on Joybuy
This selection features a bagged cylinder vacuum to consider as your main appliance for a large home. Whether to choose a bagged or bagless model will depend on your preferences for emptying and maintenance.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner
If you’re considering this model as your main vacuum, check that the brushes supplied are suitable for your floors and that its reach is right for your home. Remember to buy compatible bags and check the model’s care instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cordless stick vacuum clean a large home from top to bottom?
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir sees stick vacuums more as a supplementary appliance and found in its tests that they averaged around ten minutes of run time at full power. Before replacing a cylinder vacuum, check the run time in the mode you’ll use and how well it performs on the floors in your home.
Bagged or bagless: which exposes you to less dust when emptying?
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a bagged cylinder vacuum exposes you to less dust when you empty it. The trade-off is that you’ll need to replace the bag, so check which one is compatible before you buy. A bagless model needs its bin emptied and maintained.
How does the repairability index help you choose a vacuum cleaner?
For vacuum cleaners covered by the scheme in France, the index helps you compare factors such as ease of disassembly, documentation and parts availability, according to the government departments responsible for the ecological transition. Check the index for the exact model, then look into the spare parts and consumables you may need.
What can you do with an old vacuum cleaner that can still be repaired?
According to ADEME, you could consider having it repaired before getting rid of it. Depending on its condition, donating it or passing it on for reuse are also options. If you need to dispose of it, check whether the retailer offers a take-back scheme or your local household waste and recycling centre accepts it.