For your main vacuum cleaner, first choose a floorhead to suit your floors, then check which accessories you’ll need for carpets, fabrics and awkward corners. A bagged cylinder vacuum is a good choice if you prefer to collect dust in a bag. A bagless model means you won’t need to buy replacement bags, but you will need to empty the dust container and maintain its filters. Whichever you choose, compare the weight, operating radius and compatible parts for the exact model.
If you regularly move between hard floors and carpets, then clean the sofa, bedding and awkward corners, look at the floorhead and accessories supplied rather than focusing only on the type of vacuum cleaner. UFC-Que Choisir assesses how cylinder vacuums perform and how easy they are to maintain — two important considerations for regular use.
To remove hair, fibres or pet hair from carpets and fabrics, check test results for those specific surfaces. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing distinguishes between fibres on carpets; any specialist brush should also be compatible with your model and included in the configuration you choose.
If you need to clean several rooms in one go, compare the operating radius, bag or dust-container capacity, and the weight you’ll need to move around. These features can matter more in everyday use than how compact the appliance is when stored away.
Consider this if: you prefer to collect dust in a bag when cleaning the whole home.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to buy compatible bags and maintain the filters specified for your model.
Consider this if: you’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and clean or replace the filters as instructed in the manual.
Whether you choose a bagged or bagless model, you’ll still need to find a brush that suits the flooring in your home. For an appliance designed to clean the whole home, start with the surfaces you need to clean, then consider how easy each model is to manoeuvre and maintain.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A mix of floors and surfaces | The floorhead supplied for hard floors and carpets, plus the tools included for furniture and awkward corners. | When cleaning takes me from wooden floors to carpets and then the sofa, I want one appliance to handle all these surfaces; around 30% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Carpets, hair and pet hair | Test results for fibres on carpets and whether a brush suited to the model is included. | If pet hair and human hair cling to carpets or fabrics, removing them comes before other considerations; this is a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Larger areas | The operating radius, bag or dust-container capacity, and the weight you’ll need to move. | When cleaning several rooms in one go, I want to avoid changing sockets and stopping to empty the vacuum; around 20% of consumers prioritise this uninterrupted cleaning. |
| Maintenance and parts | Compatible references for bags, filters and brushes, and whether they’re available. | Before choosing an appliance to keep, I want to know which parts I’ll need to maintain or replace; this is the first thing around 20% of consumers consider. |
These details alone won’t tell you how the vacuum performs on your carpets or how much effort it takes to use. UFC-Que Choisir also assesses suction, noise, ease of use and maintenance in its cylinder vacuum tests.
Compare results for the floors and fabrics in your home, then check the weight and accessories for the exact model you’re considering.
A brush shown in a manufacturer’s range may be sold separately rather than supplied with the vacuum cleaner you choose.
Check what’s in the box and make sure the brush is compatible with the exact model.
Buying a turbo brush or upholstery tool separately means another accessory to budget for and maintain.
You’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed in the manual. Electrolux says a clogged filter can reduce suction.
Check which filters and parts are compatible with your model, along with the cleaning or replacement instructions.
In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to a consumer, as the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control points out. A commercial warranty is separate from this legal right.
Before you take one out, compare the additional services, their duration, exclusions and any fees.
Worth considering if you’d like to compare bagged cylinder vacuums and brushes designed for different floors and fabrics.
Worth considering if you’re comparing bagless cylinder vacuums and looking for parts to maintain them.
Worth considering if you’re comparing bagged and bagless models, particularly for carpets and pet hair.
Worth considering if you’re comparing bagged cylinder vacuums by their specifications and looking for parts by model reference.
These two bagged cylinder vacuums are options if you’re looking for a main appliance to clean a range of surfaces. If carpets, pet hair or fabrics are a priority in your home, check the test results and exactly what’s included in each configuration before you choose.
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Worth considering if you switch between hard floors, wooden floors and carpets. Check which brushes are included, then look for test results on carpets and fibres if these surfaces are important to you.
Also check the reference for compatible bags and filters before you buy.
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Worth a look for regular cleaning on hard floors and wooden floors. If you also clean carpets, the sofa or bedding, check which accessories are included and look at test results for those surfaces.
Check the references for bags and filters compatible with this model.
Yes. Compatibility depends on the product range or exact model reference. Miele matches its bags to specific series, while Electrolux uses the PNC number to identify certain parts. Note down the model reference and check which consumables fit before you choose.
It saves you from replacing bags, but you’ll still need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed in the model’s manual. Electrolux says a clogged filter can reduce suction; check the instructions and maintenance schedule for the filter in question.
No. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control points out that the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer. Check separately what the commercial extended warranty covers and the terms that apply to it.
Look into a take-back scheme or a collection point for electrical and electronic equipment. The retailer or your local council can tell you how to hand in your old appliance in your area.