For a thorough clean in a large home, choose a cylinder vacuum cleaner to suit your floors and furnishings, then check which brushes are included, its operating reach and how easy it is to move around. A bagged model limits contact with dust when you dispose of it, but you’ll need compatible bags. A bagless model avoids this consumable, but you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. Whichever you choose, motor wattage is no substitute for test results on your floor coverings.
If you clean hard floors, wooden floors and carpets one after another, check how well the vacuum performs on each surface. Its reach and manoeuvrability also matter when you move from room to room.
For carpets, sofas, furniture and other fabrics that collect fibres and pet hair, check which brushes are actually included and whether they’re suitable for the surfaces you need to clean.
If you plan to use the appliance as your main vacuum cleaner, compare the cost and replacement of bags, emptying the bin, maintaining the filters and brushes, and the repairability information available.
For a large home, start with the surfaces you need to clean, then choose the dust collection system you’re happy to maintain. A brush designed for wooden floors or upholstery can be fitted to either a bagged or bagless model, so this isn’t a separate, exclusive category.
Consider this if: you’d like to dispose of dust with less direct contact when changing the bag.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags and find the right compatible reference for your chosen model.
Consider this if: you’d rather not use bags and are happy to empty the bin regularly.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to empty the bin and maintain the filters, as set out in the appliance instructions.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning different floor types | Compare test results on the floor types you have most of, and check the supplied floorhead rather than looking at motor wattage alone. | When I have wooden floors, hard floors and carpets, I want to know whether the appliance picks up effectively on each one. Around 37% of consumers prioritise this ability to clean multiple surfaces. |
| Dust management | Check how to replace the bag or empty the bin, as well as the type of filter and how to maintain it. | If I’m concerned about contact with dust when disposing of it, I first look at how the appliance is emptied. Dust management comes first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Moving and storage | Check the weight, stated operating reach and how much room you’ll need for the hose and accessories. | In long rooms or across multiple floors, I don’t want to keep changing sockets or struggle to move the appliance. Manoeuvrability is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Maintenance and repairability | Check the references for consumables, access to spare parts and the repairability index applicable to the new model variant sold in France. | If I’m going to use my main vacuum cleaner for a long time, I want to be able to maintain its filters and find the parts I need. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this aspect. |
Rated power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up dirt from wooden floors, carpets or in crevices. Que Choisir assesses these surfaces separately in its cylinder vacuum cleaner tests.
Check results for each floor type where available, and see which floorhead comes with the model variant you’re considering.
You’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters as instructed. Letting dust build up can make the appliance harder to use over time.
Before you choose, check how the bin comes out and which filters can be cleaned or replaced.
Allow time to empty the bin and maintain the filters.
Bags and filters must match the exact reference for your vacuum cleaner. Easy replacement matters when the appliance is used to clean your home regularly.
Make a note of the compatible bag and filter references, then check whether you’ll be able to get hold of them as needed.
A floorhead suited to one type of floor won’t necessarily work just as well on a carpet, sofa or delicate wooden floor. Accessories vary between model variants.
List the surfaces you need to clean most, then check that the parquet brush, turbo brush or crevice tool you need is actually included.
If an accessory isn’t included, you may need to buy it separately, if it’s compatible with the model.
These brands offer cylinder vacuum cleaners in a range of configurations. Compare the exact model references: a feature advertised for one model won’t necessarily apply to the whole range.
In France, Rowenta offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum cleaners, including some variants designed for wooden floors or homes with pets.
Bosch offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum cleaners, with different accessories for different cleaning needs.
Miele’s range includes bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum cleaners, with variants designed for different floor types and homes with pets.
Philips offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum cleaners, with capacity, brushes and operating reach varying by model.
No. Motor wattage alone isn’t enough to predict how well a vacuum will clean your floors. Que Choisir also recommends checking the floorhead and results on different floor coverings. Compare test results for your floor types and check which brushes are included.
Choose based on how you prefer to dispose of dust and maintain the appliance, then check how it performs on your floors. A bag limits direct contact with dust when you replace it, but needs to be changed; a bagless model avoids this consumable, but you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters.
Yes. The repairability index is worth checking for a new vacuum cleaner sold in France. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition includes vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered. Check the score displayed for the model you’ve chosen, and look at the detailed breakdown if you’d like to understand what it covers.
No. In France, the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains that an optional commercial warranty is in addition to statutory guarantees. If goods don’t conform to the contract, contact the professional seller to claim under the statutory guarantee of conformity, rather than relying only on the manufacturer’s warranty terms.