For regular cleaning of rugs, fitted carpets and several rooms, choose a cylinder vacuum as your main appliance. UFC-Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums as better suited to occasional cleaning, and says bagged cylinder vacuums expose you to less dust when disposing of collected dirt than bagless models. So your choice between a bag and a dust container also depends on the maintenance you’re happy to carry out. Either way, check how the exact model performs on your flooring and which brushes are included.
You’re looking for a main appliance that can clean everything from rugs and fitted carpets to hard floors and upholstery. UFC-Que Choisir describes cylinder vacuums as suitable for larger areas, and its tests assess performance on different floor types.
How you dispose of the dust you collect matters just as much to you as the cleaning itself. According to UFC-Que Choisir, emptying a bagless model exposes you to more dust than removing a bag from a bagged cylinder vacuum, but you’ll need compatible bags.
You want to be able to tackle an area now and then without giving up on a thorough clean. UFC-Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums as better suited to occasional cleaning. Before choosing one as your only vacuum, check its runtime in the mode you’ll use and whether its brush is suitable for carpets.
Start with the floor type that’s hardest to clean, then choose between a bag and a dust container based on how you’ll handle the dust and what maintenance you’re willing to do. Finally, make sure the vacuum is easy to move around and will run for the whole cleaning session.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning carpets and other floors | Look at test results for your flooring and check which brushes are included with the variant you’ve chosen. Motor wattage alone isn’t enough to judge cleaning performance. | If rugs, fitted carpets and hard floors all need a thorough clean, I want to know how the same model performs on each. Around 42% of consumers put this need first. |
| Dust and maintenance | Check how to remove the bag or empty the dust container, and which bags and filters are compatible. UFC-Que Choisir says bagged models expose you to less dust when emptying. | When I dispose of dust, I want to minimise how much gets scattered and know what maintenance I’ll need to do. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ease of movement and runtime | Check the operating radius, dust capacity and weight. For a stick vacuum, look at the runtime with the brush and mode you’ll use on carpets. | When cleaning several rooms, I’d rather avoid interruptions while still being able to move the vacuum around easily. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
The advertised power rating doesn’t tell you, by itself, how well a vacuum will clean a carpet. UFC-Que Choisir also highlights the role of the floor head and tests appliances on different floor types.
Look for results for the exact model and check that the brush supplied is suitable for your main floor type.
You still need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. According to UFC-Que Choisir, emptying it exposes you to more dust than removing a bag.
Before choosing, check the emptying process and the model’s maintenance instructions.
Emptying the dust container and cleaning the filters also take time as you use the vacuum.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the maximum advertised runtime is measured at low power. So it doesn’t necessarily tell you how long the vacuum will run in the mode you’ll use on carpets.
Check the runtime with the brush and setting you plan to use. If it won’t last for your whole session, keep the stick vacuum for occasional clean-ups.
A brand’s general commitment to supplying spare parts doesn’t tell you what’s available for every model. For example, Rowenta says its commitment applies to eligible products.
For the model you’re considering, check whether the filters, brushes and any other parts you may need are available.
The Complete C3 range includes bagged cylinder vacuums worth considering if you’re looking for a mains-powered main appliance with accessories for different surfaces.
The Silence Force Cyclonic range includes bagless cylinder vacuums. Compare their operating radius and accessories to find the right fit for your home.
Philips offers both bagged and bagless ranges, giving you two different ways to collect and dispose of dust.
Dyson cordless stick vacuums could be a handy choice for quick clean-ups between thorough cleans, but don’t assume they’ll replace a cylinder vacuum in a large home with lots of carpet.
This selection includes cylinder vacuums to consider as your main appliance for several rooms, as well as cordless stick vacuums for quick clean-ups between thorough cleans. Before choosing, compare their brushes and operating requirements with the floors in your home.
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This bagless cylinder vacuum is a good option if you’d rather not use bags for regular cleaning. Check which brushes come with this variant for your carpets, and remember to empty the dust container and maintain the filter.
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This bagged model could suit you if you’re looking for a main vacuum for several rooms, particularly if you’re concerned about handling dust when emptying. Check which brushes are supplied for your carpets and which bags are compatible. Make sure you’re happy with its weight and ease of handling, too.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups between thorough cleans, rather than as a guaranteed replacement for a cylinder vacuum. The 70-minute runtime stated in its name doesn’t specify how long it runs with the brush and setting you’ll choose for carpets, so check this before buying.
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This stick vacuum can be used for quick, targeted clean-ups on floors and carpets between thorough cleans. Its name advertises 55 minutes of runtime, but that figure applies to hard-floor mode. Check the runtime in carpet mode before planning a longer session.
Only if it can handle your usual cleaning routine. UFC-Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as better suited to occasional cleaning. Before making one your only vacuum, compare its runtime in the setting you’ll actually use and check that the brush is suitable for carpets.
Because cleaning performance varies depending on the floor type, and accessories can differ between variants. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests assess carpets, parquet and hard floors separately, so check that the supplied brush suits your main floor type, as well as whether the vacuum includes accessories for upholstery.
You’ll need to replace the bags and maintain the filters and brushes as instructed for your model. Check that the consumables are compatible with the exact model you’ve chosen. A bagless vacuum eliminates the need for bags, but you’ll still need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters.
Follow the replacement schedule for your appliance and its filter. For example, Philips recommends replacing the filter in its PowerGo FC82x kit once a year. This guidance applies to that particular kit and doesn’t automatically apply to other models.