For regular cleaning of a range of floors, rugs and furniture, a canister vacuum can work as your main cleaner if its attachments suit the surfaces in your home. The choice between a bag and a dust container also depends on the maintenance you’re happy to take on. A stick vacuum can complement a canister model for stairs and quick clean-ups, but check that it can handle the whole home on its own, particularly if you have rugs.
If you switch between tiles or wooden floors, rugs, sofas and furniture, look for a main vacuum supplied with suitable brushes and nozzles. Check what’s included in the pack: an attachment available with another variant isn’t necessarily included with the one you’re buying.
A corded canister vacuum means you won’t need to stop and recharge while cleaning. However, check its reach, weight and storage requirements. These factors matter if you often move between rooms or floors.
A stick vacuum can complement your main cleaner for stairs, awkward corners and quick clean-ups. If you’re considering a cordless model, compare its run time at the power setting you’ll use. Que Choisir points out that quoted run times often refer to a low-power setting.
First, work out which surfaces you need to clean, then match the attachments, manoeuvrability around your home and maintenance requirements to how you’ll actually use the vacuum.
Worth considering: as your main cleaner for a range of floors and soft furnishings, with suitable attachments.
You’ll need to be happy with: the cord, storing the canister and replacing compatible bags.
Worth considering: if you want a corded main cleaner without the ongoing cost of replacement bags.
You’ll need to be happy with: emptying the dust container and maintaining the filters. Que Choisir reports that bagged canister vacuums generally perform better than bagless models.
Worth considering: for stairs, awkward corners and occasional cleaning between deeper cleans.
Check: how well it handles your rugs and, if it’s cordless, how long it runs at the power setting you need.
Worth considering: if you want to keep one main cleaner for a thorough clean and another for quick jobs.
You’ll need to be happy with: having two appliances to store and maintain.
| Criterion | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and rugs | Compare performance on the surfaces in your home, including hard floors, rugs and fitted carpet. Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses suction on different floor types; electrical power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean. | I need to clean hard floors and rugs, and don’t want to choose based only on the wattage shown. |
| Soft furnishings and awkward corners | Check which attachments come with the exact model: a crevice tool for narrow gaps, an attachment for furniture or soft furnishings, and a brush suited to each type of flooring. | My cleaning routine includes the sofa, bedding and skirting boards, so I want to be able to reach them with the attachments in the pack. |
| Moving around | Check the weight, storage requirements and reach of a canister vacuum. For a corded stick vacuum, check the cord length; for a cordless model, compare run time at different power settings, as Que Choisir recommends. | I move between rooms or climb stairs, so the vacuum needs to be practical to move around and store at home. |
| Maintenance | Check how to change the bag or empty the dust container, access the filters, and get any required consumables or parts. For vacuums sold in France, also check the repairability index published by the French Ministry of the Economy. | I’d like to know what maintenance involves before choosing between a bagged and a bagless model. |
According to Que Choisir, the quoted run time for cordless stick vacuums often refers to use at a low power setting. It may not reflect a session spent cleaning rugs on the highest setting.
If the stick vacuum will be your only cleaner, compare test results for your surfaces and run time at the setting you’ll need.
Avoiding bags doesn’t mean you can skip emptying the dust container or maintaining the filters. Que Choisir also reports that bagged canister vacuums generally perform better than bagless models.
Check how easy it is to access the container and filters before choosing a bagless model. If you’d rather replace a bag, check the compatible bag reference.
A floor head alone won’t meet all your cleaning needs for gaps, furniture and soft furnishings. Attachments vary between models and packs.
Check what’s in the box for the exact variant, then match each included attachment to a surface in your home.
If a pack doesn’t include an attachment you need, you may have to buy it separately.
Two vacuums suited to the same surfaces may differ in how easy it is to access parts and dismantle them.
For models sold in France, check the repairability index and its criteria, including parts availability, before deciding between your options.
These range examples can help you identify features to compare, but they don’t guarantee what’s included in a particular pack.
The brand offers bagged and bagless canister vacuums in its Silence Force ranges.
The Complete C3 range includes bagged canister vacuums worth considering if you use several different attachments.
The Performer Silent FC8780/09 is a bagged canister vacuum, with Philips highlighting its noise level.
The brand’s cordless stick vacuums are worth considering for stairs and quick clean-ups.
These two options suit different needs: a bagged canister vacuum to consider as your main cleaner, and a corded stick vacuum to look at for quick clean-ups. Check the attachments included with each model to make sure they suit the surfaces you clean.
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This bagged model is worth considering if you’re looking for a main cleaner for several rooms. Before choosing it for sofas and awkward corners, check which attachments come with the EB61C4OG model. For rugs, also compare test results that reflect the flooring in your home.
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This corded stick vacuum is worth considering for occasional cleaning and areas where there’s a socket nearby. If you plan to use it as your main cleaner for rugs and soft furnishings, check how well it performs on those surfaces instead of relying on the figures in its name alone.
No. If you need a vacuum for rugs as well as hard floors, compare test results for those surfaces and check which floor head is included. Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses suction on different types of flooring; an electrical power rating isn’t a substitute for comparing performance.
A bagged canister vacuum means you won’t need to empty a dust container, but you will need to replace the compatible bags. Que Choisir reports that bagged models generally perform better than bagless ones. However, check the test results and attachments for the specific model to make sure they suit your surfaces.
Look for a crevice tool for narrow gaps and skirting boards, as well as an attachment designed for soft furnishings or furniture. If you have wooden floors, add a suitable brush; always check which attachments come with the exact variant.
For an old appliance, ADEME recommends considering repair, donation or taking it to a suitable collection point. For a full bag, ADEME advises putting the dust in your household rubbish.