For a deep clean of carpets and rugs as well as hard floors, start by choosing a cylinder vacuum with results on each surface and a supplied floorhead that suit your home. Motor wattage alone is not enough to judge suction. A bagged model means less direct contact with dust when disposing of it, but you’ll need replacement bags. With a bagless model, you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. A cordless stick vacuum can replace a cylinder vacuum for a whole-home clean only if its carpet-cleaning results and runtime in the mode you use are enough to cover the area.
If you want to use one appliance on several types of flooring, look at the floorhead supplied and how well the vacuum performs on each surface, rather than focusing on motor power alone. Que Choisir assesses performance on carpets, tiles and wooden floors separately.
You’d like to handle as little dust as possible when emptying the vacuum, and don’t mind replacing the bags. Check the model’s capacity and whether compatible bags are readily available.
For a whole-home clean, cleaning range, capacity, noise and manoeuvrability matter just as much in everyday use as how easily you can move between different floor types.
If carpets and rugs need a thorough clean, first compare performance on both textiles and hard floors. Then choose the dust collection system and format that suit you for maintenance and manoeuvrability.
Consider it if: you prefer dust to be contained when disposing of it.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags and make sure they remain available for your chosen model.
Consider it if: you’d rather use a bin than replace bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. Carpet performance still needs to be checked for each model.
Consider it if: going cordless is a priority and the model can handle your entire carpet-cleaning session.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, the maximum stated runtime is at the lowest power setting, which may not be the one you need for carpets.
| Factor | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning textiles | Test results on carpets and rugs, including fibre pick-up; check which floorhead is actually supplied. | When dust and fibres get trapped in carpets, I want to judge performance on those surfaces rather than go by the wattage on the box. Around 36% of consumers would make carpet cleaning their top priority. |
| Moving on to hard floors | Results on each floor type and a floorhead suited to hard floors, especially if you have delicate wooden flooring. | If I often move between carpet and wooden or tiled floors, I want to clean each surface with a suitable floorhead, without needing several appliances. This versatility would be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Choice of bag or bin, capacity, availability of consumables and filter maintenance. | I’d rather decide from the outset whether to replace a bag or empty a bin, as I’ll be doing it every time I clean. Around 21% of consumers would make this their first consideration. |
| Cleaning several rooms | Cleaning range, weight, capacity and noise; for a stick vacuum, runtime in the mode you need. | When cleaning several rooms in one go, I want to be able to move the vacuum around and finish without too many interruptions. This convenience would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
Que Choisir points out that floorhead design and effective power both affect suction performance. The stated electrical power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean a carpet.
Compare test results on carpets and hard floors, then check which floorhead comes with the model you’re interested in.
A brush shown for a product range, or pictured with a different version, won’t necessarily be included with the model on sale.
Check the exact model number and what’s in the box. If you plan to use a different brush, make sure it’s compatible.
If the brush you want isn’t included, you’ll need to find a compatible accessory and factor in its maintenance.
A bag needs replacing; a bagless bin needs emptying and its filters need maintaining. A clogged bin or dirty filters can affect suction performance.
Before choosing, check the maintenance steps recommended for the model and whether compatible bags or filters are available.
Que Choisir reminds shoppers that the maximum runtime stated for a stick vacuum is measured at the lowest power setting. It doesn’t tell you how long you can clean a carpet using the setting you need.
If you’re thinking of replacing a cylinder vacuum, compare runtime and carpet-cleaning performance in the mode you’d use to cover the whole area.
The range includes bagged cylinder vacuums, such as the Silence Force Effitech RO7473EA. Check the details for the exact model rather than assuming they apply to the whole range.
The ProPower range includes both bagged and bagless models. Check each one separately for its dust collection system and included accessories.
The Complete C3 bagged cylinder vacuums may appeal if you’re looking for controls and accessories for different areas of your home.
These two Electrolux models are bagged cylinder vacuums. If your home also has carpets or rugs, check their performance on textiles and the brushes supplied with the version you’re considering before choosing one for a deep clean.
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Worth considering if you prefer a bagged cylinder vacuum for cleaning different floor types. Before choosing it for carpets and rugs, compare its performance on textiles and confirm which brushes are supplied with the version on sale.
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Consider it if you want a bagged vacuum for a home with a mix of floor types. Its stated power is 550 W, but that alone doesn’t establish how well it performs on carpets. Check carpet test results and whether the supplied brush suits your floors.
Look for results on carpets or rugs rather than relying on the motor’s wattage. Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses different floor types and looks at fibre pick-up in particular. Also check which floorhead comes with the exact model.
Choose according to how you prefer to deal with dust, then compare results on your floors for the specific models you’re considering. A bag needs replacing and limits direct contact with dust; a bin means no bags, but needs emptying and its filters need maintaining.
Yes, as long as the model cleans your carpets well enough and can handle the whole cleaning session in the setting you need. Que Choisir describes stick vacuums more as supplementary cleaning appliances and points out that their stated maximum runtime is at the lowest power setting.
You’ll need to replace the bag or empty the bin, and maintain the filters and brushes as instructed for your model. Check what’s involved before buying: these tasks are part of using both bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums.