For regular deep cleaning of hard floors, rugs and carpets, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners. UFC-Que Choisir describes this type as particularly effective at removing dust and notes that bags reduce contact with the collected contents when you empty them. Bagless cylinders require more handling of the dust container, while cordless sticks are better suited to quick clean-ups. Wet and dry vacuums are worth considering if you also need to vacuum up liquids or larger debris.
If you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner for full cleaning sessions across several floor types, check the floorhead and the accessories supplied. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol, for example, assesses results on carpet, tiles and wooden floors separately.
If you’d rather handle collected dust as little as possible, compare removing a sealed bag with emptying and cleaning a dust container. Also check how the filters on your chosen model need to be maintained.
A cordless stick lets you move around without a cable for quick clean-ups. For liquids or larger debris, look for a wet and dry vacuum that’s specifically designed for the job. These two situations aren’t the same as a thorough clean of your home.
Start with your floor types and how long you usually spend cleaning, then choose the dust collection method you’re happy to maintain.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Floor types | Check which brush is supplied for each type of floor. If test results are available, compare pick-up on the same surfaces using the same testing protocol, rather than looking at motor wattage alone. | I have rugs or carpets as well as hard floors, so I want to know how well the floorhead works on each surface. |
| Dust collection | Compare removing the bag with the method for emptying the dust container. Check the instructions for cleaning and replacing compatible filters. | I’d rather remove a sealed bag than empty a dust container, or I’m happy to maintain a reusable container. UFC-Que Choisir notes that you’re less exposed to dust when handling a bagged cylinder vacuum’s bag. |
| Cleaning time and ease of use | For a cylinder vacuum, check its operating radius and how much storage space it needs. For a cordless stick, check the battery life at the setting you’ll use and how long it takes to charge. | My cleaning sessions are long enough that a cable is fine, or I’d rather have the freedom to move around for quick clean-ups. UFC-Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as more of a supplementary option for deep cleaning. |
| Specialist cleaning | For liquids, check that the model is specifically designed for wet pick-up. Also look at the tank, how it’s emptied and whether the accessories are suitable for the debris you need to clear. | I sometimes need to clean a garage or workshop, including liquids or larger debris. A vacuum designed only for household dust won’t cover all these needs. |
Wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up dirt from rugs, carpets or hard floors. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these surfaces separately in its cylinder vacuum testing protocol.
Check which brush is included and, where available, look for results from tests on your floor types using a comparable protocol.
The advertised battery life of a cordless stick doesn’t necessarily reflect how long it will run at the power setting you plan to use.
Check battery life for each mode and the charging time. Before replacing a cylinder vacuum with a stick, make sure it can handle your usual cleaning session.
The dust container still needs to be emptied and cleaned. UFC-Que Choisir notes that this exposes you to more dust than removing the bag from a bagged cylinder vacuum.
Check how the container is emptied and follow the instructions for the filters. Make sure compatible replacement parts are available for the model you choose.
Kärcher’s wet and dry vacuums are designed to tackle wet messes and larger debris, among other things. This doesn’t demonstrate how well they perform on carpets in the home.
Choose this type for the jobs it’s designed for, and check that the specific model is suitable for wet pick-up and comes with the right accessories.
These examples of product ranges and models can help you compare different types of vacuum cleaner. Their features don’t apply to every model from a brand.
The Guard L1 Allergy is an example of Miele’s bagged cylinder vacuum range for household cleaning.
Rowenta also offers bagless cylinder vacuums, which are useful for comparing how dust containers and filters need to be maintained.
The Dyson V8 is an example of a cordless stick vacuum to consider if mobility matters more to you than the length of a cleaning session.
Kärcher’s wet and dry range is a useful reference for cleaning jobs in garages or workshops.
This selection includes a bagged cylinder vacuum, a corded stick and cordless sticks for cleaning floors by hand. Compare their designs with the length of your cleaning sessions and the types of flooring in your home.
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A bagged cylinder vacuum is suited to cleaning sessions where you’d rather remove a bag than empty a dust container. Check that the brushes supplied are suitable for your floors, rugs and carpets.
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This corded stick vacuum lets you clean without waiting for a battery to recharge, though you’ll need to work around the cable. The 600 W figure in its name isn’t enough to judge its pick-up performance. Check which brushes are included for your rugs and hard floors, as well as how to maintain the dust container.
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Its cordless design is convenient for quick clean-ups when you want to move around without a cable. The product name claims up to 50 minutes of battery life, but doesn’t specify how long it lasts on each setting. Check the run time for the mode you’ll use, as well as how to maintain the dust container.
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The cordless, self-standing design may suit quick clean-ups that you need to pause part-way through. Before planning a big clean, check the battery life for the mode you’ll use: the run-time and suction claims associated with this model are contradictory.
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This cordless stick is an option for moving between rooms frequently. Its name claims 45 minutes of battery life, but doesn’t link this figure to a specific setting. Check which mode is suitable for your floors before relying on it for a long cleaning session.
No. Wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from each type of floor. Check the floorhead and, if test results are available, compare results for the same surfaces using a comparable protocol, as UFC-Que Choisir does for cylinder vacuums.
When emptying, a bagged cylinder vacuum limits contact with the collected contents more effectively. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a bagless model requires you to empty its dust container and exposes you to more dust. Also compare how each model’s filters need to be maintained. This difference in handling doesn’t amount to a health benefit.
Don’t assume it can handle long sessions across several types of flooring. UFC-Que Choisir sees stick vacuums as more of a supplementary option for deep cleaning. Check the battery life at the setting you’ll need for your floors, and make sure you can finish your session without recharging.
Follow the instructions for your chosen model on emptying, cleaning and replacing consumables. Recommended maintenance intervals vary between appliances. For example, Rowenta recommends replacing the filter in model RS-2230000345 twice a year.
In France, ADEME advises putting dust collected by a vacuum cleaner in household waste, preferably in a sealed bag.