Homes with mixed flooring
You move between hard floors and rugs or carpets, and want to choose a brush suited to each surface rather than relying on the wattage alone.
Who is this choice for?
Homes with fabrics or pets
Sofas, cushions, bedding and fibres on rugs are all part of your regular cleaning routine. The accessories supplied and how well the vacuum performs on these surfaces deserve just as much attention as the main brush.
People who think about maintenance
You’d rather compare bag replacements, bin emptying, filter maintenance and repairability before choosing your appliance.
What should you look for?
Choosing between a bagged and bagless model is mainly about dust collection and maintenance. Either way, check separately that the brush and accessories are right for your surfaces.
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you’d prefer to contain dust more effectively when removing the bag.
The trade-off: you’ll need to find and replace bags that are compatible with your chosen model.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you’d rather not replace bags.
The trade-off: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters as described in the instructions.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on different floors | Look for test results for your floor types and check which brush is included. UFC-Que Choisir tests carpets, tiles and wooden floors separately, among other surfaces. | If your home has both wooden floors and rugs, you’ll want good results on each, rather than judging performance by wattage alone. Around 33% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Fabrics and fibres | Check which nozzles are included for furniture and crevices. If you need to pick up pet hair from rugs, look for tests on fibres too. | If sofas, bedding or pet hair are part of your regular cleaning routine, you’ll need to reach these surfaces and remove the fibres. Around 27% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Compare what’s involved in removing the bag or emptying the bin, as well as maintaining the filters and finding compatible consumables. | You want to limit your contact with dust or keep day-to-day maintenance manageable. Around 20% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Manoeuvrability and noise | Check the operating radius, weight, wheels and stated noise level; an ergonomics test can provide useful extra information. | If you want to clean several rooms without constantly changing sockets or putting up with bothersome noise, ease of use will matter to you. Around 20% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on motor power alone
Wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from wooden floors, rugs or fibres. UFC-Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately.
Compare results for your floor types and check which floorhead is included.
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Assuming all accessories are included
A product range may list compatible brushes that aren’t supplied with every variant.
Check the list of accessories included with the specific model you’re buying, especially for furniture and narrow spaces.
Depending on the variant, a parquet brush or upholstery nozzle may need to be bought separately.
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Overlooking maintenance after you buy
A bagged model needs a new bag; with a bagless model, you’ll need to look after the bin and filters. The brushes need maintaining in either case.
Find out which consumables are compatible and read the maintenance instructions in the manual.
Brands to know for these needs
Electrolux
Electrolux’s Pure D8 bagged cylinder vacuum range includes models worth considering if reach and the supplied brushes are important to you.
- For the PD82-4ST, Electrolux lists a 12 m operating radius, a parquet brush and a 3-in-1 accessory.
- These features apply to the model described. Check what’s included with the variant you’re considering.
Rowenta
Rowenta’s Silence Force Cyclonic Effitech bagless range lets you compare bin capacity, operating radius and accessories for wooden floors or furniture.
- For the RO7935EA, Rowenta lists a 2,5 L bin, a 12 m operating radius and an upholstery crevice nozzle.
- These features don’t apply to every Rowenta model. Check the model number and the accessories supplied.
Bosch
The Bosch Série 6 ProAnimal bagless range may appeal to households comparing accessories for pet hair and bin maintenance.
- Bosch lists a 2,4 L bin, a 10 m operating radius and a washable HEPA filter for the BGS41PET1.
- These features don’t tell you how well it performs on your rugs. Look for tests covering the fibres and floor types you have.
Miele
The bagged models in the Guard range are worth considering based on the brushes and accessories suited to your surfaces.
- The range includes models designed in particular for wooden floors or homes with pets.
- Before deciding, check which accessories come with your chosen model and the reference number of compatible bags.
A bagged model on Joybuy
This bagged cylinder vacuum is an option to consider for cleaning different surfaces. If you also clean fabrics and awkward corners, check which accessories are included with this model.
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Electrolux EB61C2GRN, black bagged cylinder vacuum
For regular cleaning, this model is worth considering if you prefer a bagged system and are happy to replace the bag.
Stated power: 550 W. For rugs, fabrics or awkward corners, check relevant test results and the accessories included with this variant. Also check the reference number of compatible bags.
Frequently asked questions
Is wattage enough to choose a cylinder vacuum?
No. Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean your floors. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the floorhead and tests performance on hard floors, wooden floors, rugs and fibres separately.
Does a bagless vacuum need less maintenance?
Not necessarily. You won’t need to replace bags, but you will need to empty the bin and maintain the filters as described in the instructions. A bagged model needs compatible bags; either way, remember to clean the brushes too.
What does a vacuum’s repairability index tell me?
The repairability index tells you how easy or difficult an appliance is to repair; it doesn’t measure its cleaning performance. In France, the ministry responsible for ecological transition explains that the score is out of 10 and is based on criteria including how easy the appliance is to dismantle and the availability of documentation and spare parts.