Homes with a mix of floor types
If you vacuum hard floors, rugs, carpets, furniture and upholstery, check which brushes are included and how well the vacuum performs on each surface. Reach also matters when you have lots of rooms to clean.
Who is this guide for?
Homes looking to handle less dust
Que Choisir says bagged cylinder vacuums expose you to less dust when emptying than bagless models. Check how the bag or container closes, the filtration claimed for the specific model, and the references for its bags and filters.
Homes that clean large areas in one go
To minimise breaks, compare the vacuum’s reach with the location of your plug sockets, and its dust-container capacity with your cleaning routine. Noise levels and how easy the bag or container is to maintain also matter during a long cleaning session.
What should you compare?
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: for your main vacuum on a range of floor types, especially if you want to limit contact with dust when emptying. Que Choisir highlights this advantage in its guide to cylinder vacuums.
The trade-off: you’ll need to replace the bags and make sure you buy the right reference for your vacuum.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags, while still having a mains-powered vacuum for your main clean.
The trade-off: you’ll still need to empty the container and maintain the filters. In its tests, Que Choisir generally finds that bagged models vacuum more effectively.
Cordless stick vacuum as a second cleaner
Worth considering: for quick clean-ups between thorough cleans, when ease of use is your priority.
Things to check: battery life with the brush you’ll use, charging time and dust-container capacity before making it your main vacuum.
| What to compare | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuuming different floor types | Compare test results produced using the same method on hard floors and carpets. Check which brushes come with the exact model you’re considering; the motor’s wattage alone isn’t enough to judge how well it picks up dirt. | I have rugs and hard floors, so I need a vacuum and brushes suited to both—not just a high wattage figure. |
| Dust and filtration | Check how the bag or container is sealed or emptied, then look at the filter specified for the model. If a filtration rate is claimed, find out which vacuum and measurement conditions it refers to. | I want to handle as little dust as possible when emptying the vacuum, and be able to maintain its filtration system. |
| Long cleaning sessions | Compare the reach in metres with the position of your plug sockets, the bag or container capacity in litres, and the noise level in dB(A) under comparable test conditions. | When cleaning several rooms, I’d rather not keep changing sockets or interrupting my clean to empty the dust container. |
| Maintenance | Find the references for compatible bags and filters, the instructions for cleaning the container, and how to maintain the brushes. For vacuum cleaners covered by the scheme in France, the repairability rating out of 10 indicates how easy or difficult they are to repair, according to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition. | Before choosing between a bagged and bagless model, I want to know what I’ll need to replace, empty or clean regularly. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
-
Choosing based on motor wattage alone
Electrical power doesn’t tell you by itself how well a vacuum picks up dirt from carpets or how effective its floor head is. So a high figure doesn’t mean you can skip checking how it performs on your floors.
Prioritise comparable tests on hard floors and carpets, then check which brushes come with the model you’re considering.
-
Assuming a stick vacuum can replace a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean
A stick vacuum is convenient for quick clean-ups, but that alone doesn’t tell you whether its battery life and pick-up performance are up to a long cleaning session.
If you’re considering a stick vacuum as your main cleaner, check its battery life in the configuration you’ll use, the capacity of its dust container and how well it performs on your floors.
-
Forgetting about maintenance
A bagged vacuum needs compatible bags, while a bagless model needs its container emptied. Filters and brushes also need to be maintained according to the model’s instructions.
Check which consumables are compatible and read the maintenance instructions before choosing a dust-collection system.
-
Comparing noise or filtration claims without context
A filtration rate or dB(A) figure relates to a specific model and set of test conditions. On their own, these figures don’t prove that a vacuum is better suited to every type of floor.
Check the exact model reference and the conditions behind the figures, then look for comparable test results where available.
Brands worth knowing
Rowenta
The range includes bagless cylinder vacuums, with some models focusing on dust-container capacity and reach.
- For its Silence Force Cyclonic Effitech Parquet, Rowenta lists a 2.5 L dust container, 12 m reach and a noise level of 59 dB(A). These figures apply to this particular variant.
- Going bagless doesn’t remove the need to empty the dust container or maintain the filters.
Philips
The brand offers bagged cylinder vacuums, including models with brushes designed for different floor types.
- For the Series 3000 XD3110/09, Philips lists a 3 L bag, 9 m reach and a TriActive brush.
- Check which bags are compatible, and don’t assume the XD3110/09’s specifications apply to another Philips model.
Miele
The French range includes bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, as well as cordless stick vacuums, along with bags and filters made for different product families.
- Miele says some HyClean Pure bags close automatically when you replace them.
- This feature may not apply to every bag from the brand, so check the range and compatibility with the vacuum you choose.
Vacuum cleaners available on Joybuy
This selection includes two bagged Electrolux vacuums for comparing models suited to your main clean, as well as a bagless Philips model. For each one, check the brushes, dust container and specifications of the exact model against the floors in your home.
Image unavailable
Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged vacuum
This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering for the main clean in a large home. Before choosing it for your rugs and hard floors, check which brushes are included, its reach and the reference for compatible bags.
Image unavailable
Electrolux EB61C2GRN bagged vacuum, 550 W
This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth comparing for cleaning several rooms. Its name includes a 550 W power rating, but that alone isn’t enough to establish how well it performs on carpets. Check which brushes are included, its reach and which bags are compatible.
Image unavailable
Philips Series 5000 FC9556/09 bagless vacuum cleaner, blue
This bagless model is for anyone who’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags. If you’re considering it as your main vacuum for a large home, check its dimensions, included brushes and reach. If power is part of your comparison, confirm the figure for this specific model.
Frequently asked questions
Bagged or bagless: which should you choose for a thorough clean?
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering first if you want good pick-up on different floor types and less exposure to dust when emptying. In its tests, Que Choisir finds that bagged models perform better than bagless ones. A bagless model is still an option if you’d rather empty a container and are happy to maintain its filters. Then compare the models on the floors in your home.
Which figures can help you plan for fewer interruptions?
Check the vacuum’s reach and the capacity of its bag or dust container to see whether it suits your home’s layout and size. These figures don’t measure vacuuming performance, so check that it also comes with brushes designed for your floors.
Does wattage tell you how well a vacuum will clean?
No. The motor’s electrical power alone isn’t enough to judge how well it picks up dirt from your floors. Look at comparable test results for carpets and hard floors, and check the floor head and accessories included with the exact model.
What maintenance should you expect after buying?
Replace the bag or empty the dust container, depending on the system you choose, then maintain the filters and brushes according to the instructions. Before buying, check which bags and filters are compatible, as these vary by model.