For a thorough clean in a home with rugs or fitted carpets, first choose a cylinder vacuum with cleaning results suited to your floors, then compare its operating radius and manoeuvrability. A bagged model is a good choice if you want to minimise contact with dust when emptying it. A bagless model saves you from buying bags, but you’ll need to empty the canister and maintain the filters. A stick vacuum or robot can help with regular cleaning, but won’t automatically replace a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean.
If you have a lot of textile flooring, look for cleaning results on carpet and check which brush is supplied. Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses carpet, tiles and parquet separately, so a result for hard floors alone won’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans rugs.
If you’re cleaning several rooms in one go, compare the operating radius with the position of your plug sockets. Weight, wheels and how easily the floorhead moves also matter if you need to get around furniture or over thresholds.
Choosing between a bag and a canister affects how you empty the vacuum and maintain its filters. Before you decide, check which bags, filters and parts are compatible with the exact model reference.
Start with the floors you need to clean, then check that the vacuum’s reach, manoeuvrability and maintenance requirements suit your thorough cleaning sessions.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this useful for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning performance on your floors | Check test results for carpet, parquet and hard floors; make sure the supplied brushes are suitable for your rugs. | When rugs trap fibres and dust, I want to know how well the vacuum performs on those surfaces, not just its advertised electrical power. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise cleaning performance on textiles and mixed flooring. |
| Reach and manoeuvrability | Compare the operating radius in metres, the weight, and how easily the vacuum and its floorhead move. | If I’m moving from room to room, I want to avoid changing sockets without having to pull around a difficult-to-manoeuvre vacuum. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Dust and collection method | Check how to replace the bag or empty the canister, and how to maintain the filter on the specific model. | I prefer to know exactly how I’ll empty the vacuum after cleaning, especially if I want to minimise contact with dust. Around 21% of consumers would put this high on their list. |
| Consumables and repairability | Note down the full model reference, then look for compatible bags, filters and parts; check the model’s repairability index. | If I’m going to use the vacuum regularly, I want to be able to find what I need to maintain it and check whether it can be repaired. This would be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The advertised electrical power doesn’t tell you how well the vacuum will clean your rugs. Que Choisir tests vacuum cleaners on different floor types and also assesses how they perform as the bag or filters become clogged.
Look for test results that match your flooring and check which brushes come with the model.
A large operating radius can mean fewer socket changes, but it won’t necessarily make the vacuum easier to move around furniture or from room to room.
Compare the reach with the weight, wheels and floorhead manoeuvrability, taking the layout of your home into account.
A bagged model needs compatible bags; a bagless one needs its canister emptied and filters maintained. Consumables are compatible according to the exact model reference.
Before ordering, look for bags, filters and parts that match the full model reference.
Also allow for the replacement of any necessary consumables and, depending on how you use the vacuum, brushes or other wear parts.
The index helps you assess repairability, but it doesn’t guarantee that a particular part will remain available for your version of the model.
Check the index, then search separately for the filters, floorheads, hoses and other parts that matter for your needs.
These examples highlight features of specific models; they don’t apply to every vacuum cleaner from the brand.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to check the accessories and repair options for a specific model.
Worth comparing if you’re choosing between a bagged cylinder vacuum designed in particular for homes with pets and a bagless model.
Worth considering if the advertised noise level and ease of moving between different floor types matter to you.
Worth considering if finding compatible bags, filters and parts is particularly important to you.
These two bagged Electrolux models are worth considering if you’re looking for a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean. If rugs or fitted carpets are a key factor, compare their cleaning results on these surfaces and check the accessories and consumables for each model before you choose.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering for regular cleaning across several rooms. If you have rugs at home, check its cleaning results on textiles and which floorheads are supplied. Also look for bags and filters compatible with the EB61C4OG model reference.
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This bagged model is another option for a thorough clean. Its product name states a power rating of 550 W, which alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean carpets. Compare tests suited to your floors, then check that the floorheads, bags and filters match the EB61C2GRN model reference.
Start with the floors you clean most often, including any rugs or fitted carpets that are difficult to vacuum. Que Choisir assesses cleaning performance on carpet, tiles and parquet, among other surfaces. Then check that the model comes with a floorhead suited to your floors.
Choose one based on the layout of your rooms and the position of your plug sockets, rather than relying on a single minimum figure. Also compare the weight, wheels and any obstacles you’ll need to get over: sufficient reach alone doesn’t guarantee an easy cleaning session.
Note down the full model reference and the PNC if the manufacturer asks for it, then search for compatible parts with the manufacturer. Electrolux, Rowenta and Miele offer searches by model or reference. Check that each accessory is right for the version you’re considering.
For vacuum cleaners covered by the scheme in France, the repairability index helps you assess several aspects of repair, including documentation, ease of dismantling and spare parts, according to the ministry responsible for the ecological transition. However, it doesn’t guarantee that a specific part will remain available in future. Check the availability of any parts you need for your chosen model.