Homes with different types of flooring
If you need to clean several rooms with a mix of hard floors, rugs and carpets, choose your main vacuum based on the floor coverings in your home, not just its overall size.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone who also cleans soft furnishings
For rugs, sofas and other soft furnishings, check which brushes and nozzles come with the specific model you’re buying. Que Choisir’s tests show that results vary depending on the surface.
Anyone choosing between a bag and a dust container
Your choice also affects day-to-day maintenance: you can replace compatible bags, or regularly empty a dust container and access its filters.
What should you look for?
First decide how you’ll use the vacuum around your home, then compare the brushes, maintenance requirements and ease of moving each model you’re considering.
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: for cleaning a large home from top to bottom if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container.
Keep in mind: you’ll need to replace the compatible bags and move the vacuum between rooms.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if you want to avoid regularly buying bags and don’t mind emptying a dust container.
Keep in mind: check how easy it is to access and maintain the filters on each model.
Stick vacuum as a handy extra
Worth considering: for crumbs, stairs or a quick clean between more thorough sessions.
Limitation: Que Choisir recommends stick vacuums mainly for quick clean-ups and notes that they often have less suction than cylinder vacuums on thick carpets.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Floor coverings | Compare performance on the floors in your home and check the list of brushes supplied with the exact model: for example, for parquet, rugs or carpets, plus nozzles for furniture and awkward corners. | My hard floors aren’t the only surfaces that need cleaning; I also want to tackle the rugs and soft furnishings in my home. |
| Bag or dust container | Check the capacity and, for a bagged model, the availability of compatible bags. For a bagless model, find out how to empty it and access its filters. | I’d rather know what maintenance each clean will involve than choose based only on whether it has a bag. |
| Moving around | Compare the stated operating radius, weight and how easy the floorhead is to manoeuvre, especially if you often move between rooms or need to carry it up stairs. | In a large home, I want to avoid changing sockets too often without choosing a vacuum that’s difficult to carry. |
| Long-term maintenance | Check how easy it is to access the filters and brushes, whether compatible consumables are available and the model’s repairability rating, if one is shown. | I want to be able to maintain my vacuum and find the parts and supplies I need to keep using it over time. |
What should you avoid?
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Focusing on watts instead of brushes
The stated motor power alone won’t tell you whether the floorhead is right for the rugs, parquet and soft furnishings in your home.
Make a list of your floor coverings, then check which accessories come with the exact model and, if possible, how well it performs on those surfaces.
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Assuming ‘bagless’ means ‘maintenance-free’
You’ll still need to empty the dust container, and you’ll need access to the filters and brushes to clean them.
Check the model’s instructions to see how to remove the dust container and filters before choosing a bagless option.
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Choosing a stick vacuum as your only cleaner without checking its performance on carpets
Que Choisir recommends stick vacuums mainly for quick clean-ups and notes that they can have less suction than cylinder vacuums on thick carpets.
If you have a lot of carpet, consider a cylinder vacuum for your main cleans and keep a stick vacuum for quick jobs.
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Forgetting about consumables and spare parts
Replacing bags on a bagged model and maintaining filters or brushes are all part of owning a vacuum cleaner.
Before you buy, check which parts are compatible, how easy they are to access and the model’s repairability rating, if one is shown.
A guide to the brands
Electrolux
The Pure D8 PD82-4ST is a bagged model worth considering for a large home.
- Electrolux states that this model has a 12 m operating radius and a 3,5 L bag.
- These specifications alone don’t tell you how well it will clean the rugs or carpets in your home.
Rowenta
The brand’s range includes the G-Force Cyclonic Silence RO7C32EA bagless cylinder vacuum.
- Rowenta states that this model has a 2,5 L dust container.
- If you’re considering this model, check how to empty it and which accessories are included in the specific offer.
Bosch
The Série 6 ProAnimal BGS41PET1 is a bagless cylinder vacuum to consider if this type of dust collection suits you.
- Bosch states that this model has a 2,4 L dust container, a 10 m operating radius and a washable HEPA filter.
- Check separately which brushes are included and whether the vacuum is suitable for your floor coverings.
Bagged cylinder vacuum cleaners on Joybuy
These two bagged Electrolux models are worth considering if you’re looking for a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean in a large home. Check the exact accessories against your floors before choosing.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged cylinder vacuum
This bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering for cleaning several rooms. If you have rugs or parquet, check which brushes come with this model and which bags are compatible. Also consider its weight if you’ll need to carry it up stairs.
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Electrolux EB61C2GRN bagged cylinder vacuum, 550 W, black
This bagged model is worth considering for regularly cleaning a range of surfaces. Its 550 W rating refers to motor power, not its performance on carpets. Check which brushes come with the version on offer, especially if you have rugs, and make sure compatible bags are available.
Frequently asked questions
Which brushes should I check for parquet, rugs and furniture?
Check the accessories supplied with the exact model: a brush suitable for parquet, a floorhead designed for your rugs, and nozzles for furniture or awkward corners, depending on your needs. Que Choisir tests suction on carpets, tiles and parquet separately, so having a particular brush doesn’t guarantee the same results on every floor.
Should I choose a bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner?
Choose based on the type of maintenance you prefer: replacing compatible bags, or emptying a dust container and maintaining its filters. For a large home, also check the capacity and brushes on the specific model. The type of dust collection alone won’t tell you how well it will perform on your floors.
Can a stick vacuum replace a cylinder vacuum in a large home?
Don’t assume it can if thorough cleaning is your priority, especially on thick carpet. Que Choisir recommends stick vacuums mainly for quick clean-ups and notes that they often have less suction than cylinder vacuums on this type of surface. They can be handy for quick jobs between more thorough cleans.
How should I factor repairability into my purchase?
Check the model’s repairability rating, if one is shown, and make sure you can access the filters, brushes and any parts you may need. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition lists vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by this rating in France. Check the rating for the specific model you’re considering.