For a thorough clean in a large home, start by choosing a floorhead and brushes suited to your flooring, then check the operating radius and included accessories. The motor’s wattage alone won’t tell you how well it picks up. Choose a bagged cylinder vacuum if you’d rather dispose of dust without emptying a bin, bearing in mind that you’ll need to buy replacement bags. Go for a bagless model if you prefer to maintain a bin and its filters. A stick vacuum or robot can help with everyday cleaning, but it won’t replace the need to consider what you need for a thorough clean.
If you clean tiles, wooden floors and rugs, look at the results and brushes for each surface rather than relying on a single suction figure. Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses hard floors, slatted wooden floors, rugs and fibres separately.
A bagless model saves you from buying replacement bags, but you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters as instructed. Make sure you’re happy with these tasks before choosing.
If you want to clean several rooms without frequently changing sockets, compare the operating radius and weight. If noise matters too, compare stated or measured noise levels under similar conditions, and don’t forget to check how much storage space you’ll need.
Consider it if : you’d rather remove a full bag than empty a bin.
Bear in mind : you’ll need to replace the bags regularly and find ones compatible with your chosen model.
Consider it if : you’d rather empty a bin than buy replacement bags.
Bear in mind : you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters as instructed.
| What to look for | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on different floors | Check test results for your flooring and make sure you know which brushes are actually included. Wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean. | When I move from wooden floors to rugs, I want to know whether the vacuum cleans both surfaces with the intended floorhead. Around 33 % of consumers may consider this adaptability a priority. |
| Moving around and storage | Compare the operating radius, the weight you’ll need to carry and the dimensions for storage. | If the sockets are far apart or I need to carry the vacuum between rooms, manoeuvrability matters just as much as cleaning performance. This ease of use may be a priority for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Check the capacity of the bag or bin, the reference for replacement supplies and what’s involved in maintaining the filters. | I want to choose between replacing bags and emptying a bin, knowing what each option involves after cleaning. Around 27 % of consumers may prioritise maintenance. |
| Noise and storage space | Compare noise levels under similar conditions and measure the space available for storing the vacuum. | When I’m cleaning at times when noise could be a nuisance, I also want a vacuum I can store at home. This need may come first for around 13 % of consumers. |
Motor power alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans tiles, wooden floors or rugs. Que Choisir assesses performance on different surfaces separately.
Make a note of the floors in your home, then compare the available test results, floorhead and included brushes.
A bagged cylinder vacuum needs replacement bags, while a bagless model requires you to empty the bin and maintain its filters.
Check the reference for compatible bags or filters and read the maintenance instructions before you buy.
In a large home, a cable that’s too short to reach all the rooms you need to clean can mean changing sockets more often. However, the operating radius alone won’t tell you how heavy or manoeuvrable the vacuum is.
Consider the distance between sockets and the furthest areas you need to clean, then check the model’s weight and storage requirements separately.
In France, vacuum cleaners are covered by the collection scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment, as outlined by the ministry responsible for the ecological transition.
If you’re replacing your vacuum, ask the retailer about its take-back service or find a suitable collection point.
The Guard range includes bagged cylinder vacuums worth considering if the operating radius and accessories matter in your home.
Its bagless cylinder vacuums are worth considering if you’d prefer a bin to replacement bags.
The range includes compact bagged cylinder vacuums. Compare the accessories and operating radius of each model individually.
Its bagged cylinder vacuums may appeal to households comparing dust capacity, operating radius and weight.
These two Electrolux bagged models offer the option of replacing a bag rather than emptying a bin. To compare them for a large home, check the included brushes, operating radius and compatible bags. Their product titles don’t tell you how well they’ll clean each type of floor.
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Worth considering if, for a thorough clean, you’d rather replace a bag than empty a bin. Check that the supplied brushes suit your flooring and find out which bags are compatible.
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Worth considering if you’re also looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum to clean several rooms. The stated motor power is 550 W. Compare the brushes and cleaning results on your floors rather than assuming this tells you how well it will pick up.
No. Motor wattage alone isn’t enough to determine how well a vacuum will clean. Que Choisir also recommends looking at the floorhead: check results for the surfaces in your home and see which brushes are included.
Choose based on which maintenance task you prefer: replacing compatible bags, or emptying a bin and maintaining its filters. Either way, check that the operating radius and brushes suit the rooms and floors you need to clean.
Look for separate results for wooden floors and rugs, as well as for any other surfaces in your home. Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses these separately, including slatted wooden floors and fibres on rugs.
Take it to a collection scheme for electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it out with the general rubbish. If you’re buying a replacement, ask the retailer about its take-back arrangements or find a suitable collection point. The ministry responsible for the ecological transition distinguishes between take-back with and without a purchase.