For regular cleaning in a large home, start by choosing a cylinder vacuum cleaner with brushes suited to your floors, rugs and soft furnishings. A bagged model is a better choice if you want to minimise contact with dust when emptying it. A bagless model avoids the need for replacement bags, but you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain its filters. If you have stairs, check the weight you’ll need to carry and how easy the vacuum is to manoeuvre. A stick vacuum can be handy for quick clean-ups, but it won’t necessarily replace a cylinder vacuum.
If your cleaning routine includes rugs, a sofa, cushions or bedding, check which brushes are supplied for each surface. A turbo brush for rugs and a small upholstery brush don’t necessarily do the same job, so make sure they’re compatible with the model you choose.
When you’re cleaning several rooms, a long reach is useful, but you’ll also need to move the appliance around and perhaps carry it. So give the weight, handle and ease of moving the brush just as much attention as the cable length. UFC-Que Choisir has highlighted difficulties on stairs with one model it tested, which is why manoeuvrability needs to be assessed model by model.
The type of dust container affects how you dispose of dirt. According to UFC-Que Choisir’s guide, bagged cylinder vacuums expose users to less dust than bagless models. You’ll need to have the right replacement bags, though; with a bin, you’ll still need to empty it and maintain the filters.
For a large home, choosing between a bagged and bagless model won’t, by itself, tell you how well it will handle rugs and soft furnishings. Compare the accessories separately, then consider how easy it is to move around.
Choose this if: you want to reduce contact with dust when disposing of dirt, in line with the distinction made by UFC-Que Choisir.
Bear in mind: you’ll need replacement bags that fit your appliance.
Choose this if: you’d rather not use bags and don’t mind emptying a bin regularly.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to maintain the filters as instructed for your model, and emptying the bin may mean more contact with dust, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Consider this if: you want to clean small areas between full cleans, while keeping your cylinder vacuum for different rooms and surfaces.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space to store and maintain a second appliance; having one won’t remove the need to consider what’s required for a thorough clean.
| Criterion | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Floors, rugs and soft furnishings | Check that the brush is suitable for each floor, then look at the accessories included or compatible with rugs and fabrics. | When pet hair and fibres cling to rugs or the sofa, I want brushes suited to those surfaces rather than relying on the motor’s wattage alone. Around 42% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Dust and maintenance | Compare replacing bags with emptying the bin, and check how easy it is to access the filters. | If I’m concerned about contact with dust when emptying the vacuum, I’d rather look at a bagged model. If I want to avoid bags, I need to be prepared to maintain the bin. This would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Moving around the home | Check the reach, weight to carry, handle and wheels; look for manoeuvrability tests of the specific model. | With several rooms or stairs, I want to move and carry the appliance without every trip making cleaning harder. Around 33% of consumers would put manoeuvrability ahead of other criteria. |
The stated power doesn’t, by itself, tell you how well the brush will remove dirt from a rug or hard floor. UFC-Que Choisir takes the vacuum head into account and tests results on different surfaces, among other things.
Identify your floor types and look for tests that distinguish between hard floors, rugs and fibres, as well as a list of the brushes supplied with the exact model.
A brush for rugs or upholstery may depend on the configuration being sold. A brush sold separately also needs to fit the tube and its attachment system.
Check what’s included in the box, the brush reference and the stated compatibility with your vacuum cleaner.
If the brush you need isn’t included, buying it — and possibly an adapter — means extra steps for you.
You’ll need to empty the bin and maintain its filters as instructed for the appliance. A bagged model, on the other hand, requires compatible bags.
Before choosing, find out the reference numbers for consumables and check how to access the bin, filters and brush.
A long reach can reduce the need to switch sockets, but it won’t make the appliance lighter or the brush easier to push. UFC-Que Choisir noted these difficulties with one model it tested, but the results don’t apply to every cylinder vacuum.
Compare the weight you’ll need to carry, the handle and the wheels. If possible, look for tests covering stairs and carpets for the model you’re considering.
These examples can help you identify different cylinder vacuum configurations, but they shouldn’t be taken as a guide to an entire brand’s performance. Check the accessories and features of the specific model you’re interested in.
The range includes bagless cylinder vacuums, some configurations of which are also designed for cleaning soft furnishings.
The models to consider here cater to different needs: large hard-floor areas with a bagged model, or a bagless design worth considering if you need to move the vacuum around.
ProAnimal models, both bagged and bagless, are worth a look if pet hair and upholstery are part of your regular cleaning routine.
A bagged cylinder vacuum with a long reach may suit households that clean several rooms in one go.
These bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums make it easy to compare the two ways of collecting dust and dirt when cleaning several rooms. If you have rugs, a sofa or bedding to clean, check which brushes are included and which surfaces they’re intended for in each configuration.
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Worth considering if you want to avoid bags when cleaning several rooms. Check which brushes are included for your rugs and soft furnishings, then read the instructions for emptying the bin and maintaining the filters. Also check the stated power for this model before comparing its electrical specifications.
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A bagged option to consider if how you dispose of dust is important to you. If your home has rugs or soft furnishings, check which type of turbo brush is included and which surfaces it’s suitable for. Also check the bag reference and how heavy it is to carry up stairs.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum for regular cleaning in several rooms. If rugs, a sofa or bedding are a priority, check whether a suitable brush is included or compatible. Also check the bag reference and how easy it is to manoeuvre on stairs.
Choose a brush to suit each surface: a head designed for rugs and carpets, plus a small upholstery brush or mini turbo brush if you also clean sofas, cushions or bedding. UFC-Que Choisir compares vacuuming results across different floor coverings and fibres, so check the list of accessories and their compatibility with the exact model.
Yes. When disposing of dirt, bagged cylinder vacuums expose users to less dust than bagless models, according to UFC-Que Choisir’s guide. If this is an important factor in your choice, check the bag reference. A bagless model means you won’t need these consumables, but you will need to empty the bin and maintain the filters.
First, check how heavy it is to carry, how comfortable the handle is and how easy the vacuum is to guide. Then consider its reach for the rooms you need to clean. UFC-Que Choisir found that one specific model was difficult to use on stairs and carpet during testing. If possible, look for reviews of the model you’re considering rather than assuming the same results apply to all cylinder vacuums.