For frequent quick cleans and easy storage, choose a cordless stick vacuum, after checking its run time in the mode you’ll use. If carpets, rugs or floorboard gaps need a deeper clean, compare compact cylinder vacuums instead: a bagged model saves you having to empty a dust container, while a bagless one needs its container and filters to be maintained.
If crumbs and dust quickly build up in the hallway or kitchen, getting the vacuum out and putting it away should be straightforward. Que Choisir recommends stick vacuums for quick clean-ups and homes with limited storage; however, you should check their run time against your usual cleaning routine.
If these floor coverings make up a significant part of your home, look at cleaning results on the surfaces you have and check which brush is supplied. Ease of storage alone isn’t enough to decide between a stick and a cylinder vacuum.
A compact bagless cylinder vacuum could suit you if you want to avoid bags, as long as you’re happy to empty its container and maintain its filters. Also check that the vacuum, hose and accessories will fit in your storage space.
To choose between a cordless stick and a compact cylinder vacuum, start with the task that matters most in your home : frequent quick cleans, cleaning more challenging floor coverings or using a bagless cylinder vacuum.
Best for : frequent quick cleans when easy access to the vacuum and simple storage are your priorities.
Bear in mind : run time depends on the mode you use, and you’ll need to check performance carefully on thick rugs or in floorboard gaps.
Best for : homes where deep cleaning floor coverings matters more than having the vacuum close at hand.
Bear in mind : you’ll need an accessible socket, space for the hose and compatible bags. Que Choisir says bagged cylinder vacuums expose you to less dust when being handled than bagless models.
Best for : if you want a mains-powered cylinder vacuum but don’t want to use bags.
Bear in mind : the container and filters need maintaining, as well as making room for the cylinder vacuum and its cable.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Easy access and storage | Check how much room you’ll need to store the vacuum and, for a stick vacuum, its run time in the mode you’ll use. | I want to quickly pick up dirt in high-traffic areas without getting out a bulky vacuum ; around 42 % of consumers would make easy access their priority. |
| Cleaning floor coverings | Compare test results on your rugs, carpets or floorboard gaps, and check which brush is supplied. | If my rugs or floorboards need more than a quick clean, performance on these surfaces matters more than easy storage ; nearly 33 % of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Going bagless | Check the cylinder vacuum’s dimensions, dust container and filter care instructions. | I’d rather avoid bags and don’t mind emptying the container regularly ; this would be the main consideration for around 25 % of consumers. |
Que Choisir explains that the maximum run time quoted for a stick vacuum applies to its lowest power setting. Its tests found an average of around ten minutes at full power : this average won’t tell you how long a specific model will run.
Compare run time in the mode you need for your floors, charging time and the part number of a compatible replacement battery.
A stick vacuum that’s handy for quick clean-ups may be less suitable if your main priority is cleaning thick rugs, carpets or gaps between floorboards, according to Que Choisir.
Make a note of your floor coverings, then check relevant test results and the brush supplied. Consider a compact cylinder vacuum if these surfaces are a priority.
You’ll need to empty the container and maintain the filters. Que Choisir also says that bagged cylinder vacuums expose you to less dust than bagless models when doing this.
Check what maintenance the model you’re considering requires, and compare it with a bagged vacuum if you’d rather not empty a dust container.
A cylinder vacuum may fit in a cupboard, but its tube, hose or accessories could take up the remaining space. You’ll also need to make sure its reach suits the position of your sockets.
Measure the available cupboard space and compare it with the dimensions of the complete vacuum, including its accessories, as well as its reach.
These brands offer ranges and models worth comparing : always check the features and accessories for the specific model you’re considering.
A brand worth exploring for cordless stick vacuums and model-specific replacement parts.
The Compact C1 range is worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum for different floor coverings.
The Compact Power Cyclonic range is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum with a dust container.
Worth comparing among bagged cylinder vacuums if you need to clean rugs or carpets.
The Electrolux 500 EL51C2SW gives you a point of comparison for compact bagless cylinder vacuums.
This selection includes cordless stick vacuums for frequent quick cleans, as well as bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums to compare based on your floor coverings and storage space. The run times and features quoted in product names don’t replace checking how a vacuum performs in the mode you plan to use.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum for quick cleans. The product name quotes 55 min of run time, 55 kPa, 550 W and an anti-tangle brush ; check the run time in the mode you need for your floors, as well as how much space the charging station needs.
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Worth a look if you’d like to leave your stick vacuum standing between quick cleans : the product name describes it as self-standing, with up to 65 min of quoted run time and a quoted suction value of 60 000 Pa. Check which mode this run time applies to and how much space you’ll need to store it.
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Worth comparing for cordless cleaning on the surfaces in your home. The product name quotes 70 min of run time, 65 kPa and an anti-tangle brush ; compare the run time with the mode you plan to use and check how much space the assembled vacuum takes up.
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Worth considering if you prefer a bagless cylinder vacuum and are happy to empty its container. The product name lists a 900 W power rating, which alone doesn’t tell you how well it’ll clean your rugs or hard floors ; check which floorhead is supplied and the storage dimensions.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum to clean different floor coverings. Check that the floorhead you need is supplied, that the bags are compatible with the EB61C4OG model and that the vacuum and hose will fit in your storage space.
No : you need to know the run time in the mode you’ll use. Que Choisir says the quoted maximum run time applies to the lowest power setting and reports an average of around ten minutes at full power in its tests. Compare this with your usual cleaning routine, then check the charging time.
Prioritise cleaning results on these floor coverings and check which floorheads are supplied ; a compact cylinder vacuum is particularly worth considering if deep cleaning matters more than having a vacuum close at hand. Que Choisir highlights the limitations of many stick vacuums on thick rugs, carpets and in floorboard gaps, but you should still check each model.
Look up each part using the stick vacuum’s full model number, not just the name of its range. Check the compatible battery, charger, filters and floorhead you need ; a brand offering a parts catalogue doesn’t guarantee that every model is listed.
Take the vacuum to an electrical equipment recycling collection point rather than putting it in general waste, as advised by Service Public. ADEME recommends removing accessible batteries and putting them in a battery collection bin ; if they can’t be removed, leave them in the vacuum when you take it to the collection point.