For a thorough clean in a large home with a mix of floor types, start by comparing bagged cylinder vacuum cleaners: UFC-Que Choisir reports that, in its tests, they performed better than bagless models on the floors and types of dirt assessed. A bagless model may suit you if you prefer a reusable dust container, but you’ll need to empty it and maintain the filters. A stick vacuum or robot can help with quick cleans in between; check separately how to clean furniture and upholstery.
If you clean hard floors, rugs or carpets in the same session, consider the operating radius, capacity, supplied brushes and the weight you’ll need to move around. None of these factors alone is enough to determine how well a vacuum will perform.
Sofas, cushions and awkward spots call for a closer look at the accessories supplied with the model, as well as its floorhead. UFC-Que Choisir assesses cylinder vacuum cleaners on different floor types and kinds of dirt.
Choosing between a bag and a reusable dust container affects how you’ll maintain your vacuum. Before buying, check which bags or filters are compatible and what accessories are available for the model you’re considering.
Worth considering: for thorough cleaning across several floor types; UFC-Que Choisir reports better suction results for bagged models in its comparative tests.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to buy bags compatible with your chosen model and replace them.
Worth considering: if you’d rather reuse a dust container than buy bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the container and maintain the filters; check how the specific model performs on your flooring.
Worth considering: for keeping floors clean between thorough cleans.
Check: how you’ll clean furniture, upholstery and other surfaces that are also part of your cleaning routine.
| Feature | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Suction across different surfaces | Compare test results for the floor types and kinds of dirt in your home. Don’t assume how well a vacuum will clean carpets or wooden floors based on its stated electrical power alone. | I move between hard floors and rugs, and want to know how the model performs on each, including when dealing with hair or pet hair. |
| Moving around and interruptions | Check the operating radius in metres and the capacity of the bag or dust container, then consider the weight you’ll need to carry and how much storage space it requires. | In a large home, having to change sockets often or carry the vacuum up and down stairs can affect your choice. |
| Brushes and accessories | Check exactly what’s in the box: a brush suited to your floors, a crevice tool and an upholstery accessory if you need them. The term ‘multi-surface’ doesn’t tell you which accessories are included. | I also want to clean the sofa, skirting boards and awkward spots, not just the floors. |
| Maintenance and parts | Note the product codes for compatible bags or filters and check which accessories are available for the model. For vacuum cleaners covered by the scheme in France, also compare the repairability index shown. | I’d rather know what maintenance is involved and which consumables I’ll need before choosing between a bag and a reusable dust container. |
An electrical power rating doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will perform on every floor type or kind of dirt. UFC-Que Choisir tests cylinder vacuum cleaners’ suction in different conditions.
Look for tests on the flooring in your home, then check the brushes and settings supplied with the exact model you’re considering.
You’ll need to empty the dust container, and filters and some accessories may also need cleaning or replacing.
Check the maintenance instructions and filter product codes before buying. For a bagged vacuum, also check that the bags are compatible.
The distance you can cover from a socket doesn’t tell you how easy the vacuum will be to carry between floors or put away.
Compare the operating radius and capacity with the stated weight, separating the main unit from the total weight where possible.
Cleaning the floors alone won’t cover the furniture and upholstery you might tackle during a thorough clean. UFC-Que Choisir also tests robots on different floor types and around walls and corners.
First decide how you’ll clean each surface, then consider whether a robot or stick vacuum would be useful between thorough cleans.
These examples show different configurations worth comparing. The features mentioned apply to the models listed, not every range from each brand.
The Guard L1 Parquet XL is a bagged cylinder vacuum worth considering if your large home has mainly hard floors.
The Série 8 ProAnimal BGL8PET2 is a bagged cylinder vacuum worth considering if you need to clean carpets and pet hair.
The bagless FC9747/09 and bagged XD3110/09 give you two different maintenance options to compare.
A brand to consider if access to filters and accessories is important when choosing a cylinder vacuum.
This selection includes bagged cylinder vacuum cleaners and one bagless model, so you can compare both maintenance options for a large home. Then choose according to your flooring, the accessories you need and how easy the vacuum is to move around.
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For a thorough clean across several surfaces, check which brushes come with this model and its operating radius. Also check which bags are compatible before choosing this bagged vacuum.
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If you prefer a reusable dust container for cleaning floors and furniture, check which accessories are included, the container capacity and the filter maintenance requirements for the version on sale. Conflicting power ratings are listed for this model: ask for its specifications to be confirmed, and don’t assume electrical power is the same as suction performance.
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For cleaning several types of flooring, check which brushes are included, the operating radius and the weight you’ll need to carry around your home. If you’ll be cleaning upholstery or pet hair, check whether a suitable accessory is included. The 550 W stated in the name doesn’t measure suction performance on its own.
Check the list of accessories actually included with the model on sale: a brush suited to your floors, an upholstery accessory and a crevice tool, depending on how you’ll use it. To assess suction, also look for tests on the same floor types and kinds of dirt you have at home. The term ‘multi-surface’ isn’t a substitute for these checks.
For a bagged model, note the product code for compatible bags and check which filters need cleaning or replacing. For a bagless model, find out how to empty the dust container, maintain the filters and get the right parts for the specific model.
The index shown lets you compare repairability information for the models covered by the scheme in France. The ministry responsible for ecological transition says that corded, cordless and robot vacuum cleaners are among the categories covered. However, a product’s score doesn’t guarantee that every part you might need will be immediately available.
Not necessarily, if your thorough cleaning also includes furniture, upholstery and awkward spots. UFC-Que Choisir assesses robots on different floor types, near walls and in corners, among other things. Check how they perform in your rooms, then plan how you’ll clean the other surfaces.