For regular, thorough cleaning across several rooms with different floor coverings, a cylinder vacuum is a good choice for your main cleaner; a rechargeable stick vacuum is better suited to quick clean-ups. Whether to choose a bagged or bagless cylinder vacuum depends mainly on how you want to deal with dust and consumables. Either way, look at the floor head, cleaning reach and accessories you’ll need for furniture and soft furnishings, rather than focusing on motor wattage alone.
If you regularly move between hard floors and rugs, start by looking for a floor head that suits each type of flooring. A cylinder vacuum can work well as your main cleaner, provided its weight and storage requirements suit your home.
If handling dust is a concern, check how the specific model is emptied and what filter it uses. Que Choisir presents bags as a way to reduce direct contact with dust, but you’ll also need to be able to get hold of compatible consumables.
For cushions, skirting boards, corners or high-up surfaces, check which accessories are actually included. Weight, cleaning reach and storage space also matter when you’re cleaning several rooms.
When choosing your main cleaner, start with the floor coverings you need to clean, then compare models based on how they handle dust and how easy they are to move around your home. A stick vacuum can meet a separate need for quick, short cleaning sessions.
Worth considering: for regular cleaning across several rooms if you want to minimise dust handling when emptying the vacuum.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace compatible bags and move the vacuum around before putting it away.
Worth considering: if you’d rather use a reusable dust container than buy bags regularly.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty and maintain the container, which involves more dust handling than a bag, according to Que Choisir.
Worth considering: for quick clean-ups, stairs and tidying between full cleans.
Bear in mind: running time depends on the mode you choose. In its tests of stick vacuums, Que Choisir found an average of around ten minutes at full power.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning different floor coverings | Results on each type of floor and the supplied floor head, particularly for rugs; wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well it cleans. | If I’m cleaning parquet, hard floors and rugs in the same session, I want to know how it performs on each before choosing. Around 33% of consumers prioritise cleaning across multiple surfaces. |
| Dust and filtration | How the vacuum is emptied, the filter reference, and whether compatible bags or filters are available. | If I’m concerned about dust being stirred up during cleaning, how the vacuum is emptied becomes a key factor. Around 27% of consumers put dust management first. |
| Moving between rooms | Cleaning reach, capacity, weight and storage space required. | When cleaning several rooms, I want to avoid changing plug sockets and stopping partway through, without choosing a vacuum that’s awkward to move. Around 27% of consumers prioritise ease of use. |
| Quick clean-ups and access | Accessories included and how they attach; for a stick vacuum, battery life in the mode you need. | If I often clean cushions, stairs or corners between full cleans, I want to reach those areas quickly. Around 13% of consumers put these quick clean-ups first. |
The motor’s electrical power doesn’t, by itself, tell you how well a vacuum will clean a rug, parquet or hard floor. Que Choisir highlights the importance of the floor head in particular.
Compare test results for each type of flooring and check which floor head comes with the version you’re interested in.
The dust container needs emptying and maintenance. According to Que Choisir, handling it can expose you to more dust than using a bag.
Before choosing a bagless model, check how the container opens and how easy it is to access the filters.
Emptying and cleaning the container takes time over the life of the vacuum.
Bags or filters that are hard to identify can make routine maintenance more difficult, even if the vacuum meets your cleaning needs.
Note down the parts compatible with the exact model and check where you can get the bags and filters you’ll need.
For longer cleaning sessions, particularly on rugs, the available running time at the power setting you need may limit its use as your only vacuum. Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power in its stick vacuum tests.
Before replacing a cylinder vacuum with a stick vacuum, check the running time in the mode you’ll use and how well it performs on your floor coverings.
Worth considering for a bagless cylinder vacuum if dust-container capacity and cleaning reach matter in your home.
Worth considering for a bagged cylinder vacuum if capacity and the distance between plug sockets are important factors in your choice.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum with an accessory for furniture close to hand.
Worth considering for a bagged cylinder vacuum if the operating radius and advertised noise level influence your choice.
These models cover three different needs: a bagged cylinder vacuum as your main cleaner, a bagless cylinder vacuum if you’re happy to maintain the dust container, and a rechargeable stick vacuum for quick clean-ups. Their inclusion here doesn’t replace the need to check how well they perform on your own floor coverings.
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Worth considering as your main cleaner for several rooms if you prefer a bagged model. Check which brushes are included for your rugs and the reference number for compatible bags.
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Worth considering if you prefer a reusable dust container for cleaning multiple surfaces. This model is listed at 900 W and has an LED feature, but wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean rugs. Check the included accessories and filter maintenance requirements.
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Worth considering for regular cleaning across several rooms if you’d like a bagged model. The 550 W in its name doesn’t tell you how effectively it will clean your floors: check the supplied floor head and compatible bags.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups between full cleans. The advertised battery life is up to 65 minutes, but it doesn’t specify how long it lasts in the mode you’ll need for rugs. Check this before relying on it as your only vacuum.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups and moving between rooms. The model name specifies up to 50 minutes of battery life and a removable battery. If you’re planning longer cleaning sessions, check the running time in the mode you need, the dust-container capacity and how easy it is to access the filters.
Wattage indicates electrical power; it doesn’t directly tell you how much dust the vacuum will remove from each type of floor. Que Choisir recommends considering the design of the floor head. You should also compare results for hard floors, parquet, rugs and carpets.
Note down the vacuum’s exact model number, then check the numbers for the bags and filters listed as compatible. Make sure they’re available for that specific version and check what maintenance is required.
A stick vacuum can be enough for quick clean-ups, but whether it can replace a cylinder vacuum for longer sessions depends on its running time in the mode you need and how well it cleans your floors. Que Choisir found an average of around ten minutes at full power in its stick vacuum tests, so check the running time that suits your needs rather than relying on the maximum battery life advertised.
In France, ADEME recommends considering repair, donation or resale before getting rid of a vacuum cleaner. If it needs to be collected, check the options at a shop or recycling centre, and find out which local guidelines apply in your area.