If you regularly clean several types of flooring in one long session, a cylinder vacuum is a good place to start: Que Choisir considers it suitable for larger homes. Whether to choose a bagged or bagless model mainly comes down to the type of maintenance you prefer. A stick vacuum can replace a cylinder model only if its usable runtime, brushes and performance across your floors are up to the demands of the whole clean.
If one cleaning session covers parquet, hard floors, rugs or carpet, compare performance across all the flooring types in your home. Que Choisir tests cylinder vacuums on several different surfaces. The right brush and easy access to skirting boards and upholstery also matter when choosing.
To clean several rooms without frequent interruptions, check a cylinder vacuum’s operating radius and capacity, or a cordless stick vacuum’s runtime in the mode you’ll actually need. Noise and ease of manoeuvring are worth comparing too: Que Choisir assesses these aspects in its tests as well.
Before choosing a model, find out which bags or filters it uses and which parts you might need to replace. In France, vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index, according to the ministry responsible for ecological transition. Check the index for the model you’re considering, but don’t confuse it with a measure of vacuuming performance.
First decide whether a mains-powered appliance suits your cleaning sessions. Then compare models on your flooring and against the jobs you need to tackle.
Worth considering: if you’d rather remove a bag than empty a dust container after a long cleaning session.
The trade-off: you’ll need to buy compatible bags and check they’re available for the model you choose.
Worth considering: if you want a mains-powered cylinder vacuum without having to replace bags.
The trade-off: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed for your model.
Worth considering: if going cable-free and saving space matter in your home; Que Choisir highlights these benefits.
The trade-off: its runtime in the mode you need must be long enough for the whole session, not just a quick clean.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on different flooring | Look for separate results on the carpet, tiles and parquet in your home. Que Choisir tests cylinder vacuums on these surfaces; check which brushes are included too. | I have several types of flooring to clean in one session, so a power figure alone won’t tell me how the vacuum performs on each one. |
| Runtime and coverage | For a cylinder vacuum, check its operating radius and the capacity of its bag or dust container. For a cordless stick vacuum, compare runtime in the mode you need, not just the maximum figure advertised. | I want to move from room to room without having to change sockets, empty the vacuum or recharge it too often. |
| Reach and manoeuvrability | Check how heavy it is to move or carry, how easy it is to store, and whether it comes with tools for corners, skirting boards and upholstery. | I want to be able to use the accessories I actually need around furniture and in hard-to-reach spaces. |
| Noise | Compare dB(A) figures only if they were measured under comparable conditions. Check the noise level at the power setting you expect to use. | If I have to vacuum at a particular time, the noise during a full session matters just as much as the figure on the product details page. |
| Maintenance and repair | Find the product codes for compatible bags, filters and parts. If you’re buying a model in France, check its repairability index too: the ministry responsible for ecological transition confirms that vacuum cleaners are covered. | I want to be able to maintain the vacuum and replace parts when needed, without having to buy a new one because a part has worn out. |
Electrical power or a dust pick-up figure won’t tell you on its own how well a vacuum cleans your rugs, parquet and hard floors. Que Choisir tests performance separately on different types of flooring.
Look for tests of the exact model, then check which brushes are included in the version being sold.
You still need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. With a bagged vacuum, you’ll need to have compatible bags available to keep using it.
Before choosing, find out which filters and, where applicable, bags the model uses. Check the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions too.
Filters, brushes and other parts can also wear out and need replacing over time.
An advertised runtime doesn’t guarantee the vacuum will cover a full clean with the settings and brushes you need for all your floors.
Check the runtime in the mode you’ll use, as well as the dust container capacity and the accessories for rugs, hard floors and upholstery.
The repairability index gives you an idea of how easy a model is to repair, but it doesn’t guarantee its vacuuming performance or that every part you need will be available.
Check the model’s index and look up the product codes for its parts and consumables. If an existing appliance isn’t working properly, consider maintaining or repairing it before replacing it.
These examples can help you decide what to check, but their features don’t automatically apply to every vacuum in each brand’s range.
Two bagless Rowenta cylinder vacuums highlight different things to consider: one has a published repairability rating, while the other has an advertised noise level.
Philips makes bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, as well as cordless stick vacuums. Compare individual models by format and the accessories you need at home.
Miele may appeal to buyers who want to identify the bags, filters and parts for a cylinder vacuum they plan to maintain over time.
This selection includes a bagged cylinder vacuum and stick vacuums, both corded and cordless. Before choosing one for a full clean, compare its accessories, runtime and performance on your flooring against the criteria above.
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Worth considering for longer cleaning sessions if you prefer a bagged cylinder vacuum. Check the brushes included with the version on offer, its performance on your floors, and the product codes for compatible bags and filters.
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The cord means you won’t need to recharge during a cleaning session, but you will need access to power sockets. The figures 65KPA and 600W appear in the product name: check its performance on rugs and hard floors separately, along with the accessories included.
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The product name states a runtime of 55 minutes and mentions a charging station. If you’re considering it for a full clean, check the runtime in the mode you need on rugs and hard floors, then look at the accessories included. The advertised runtime alone doesn’t prove it will last for the whole session.
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The product name states up to 65 minutes of runtime and mentions an anti-tangle brush. If you need to clean rugs and hard floors in one session, compare the runtime at the setting you need and look for vacuuming results specific to these surfaces.
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The product name states up to 80 minutes of runtime and mentions an anti-tangle brush. Before considering this stick vacuum for a big clean, check the runtime at the setting you’ll need, the accessories included and its performance on your flooring. The maximum runtime alone won’t answer these questions.
Compare its performance on each type of flooring in your home rather than judging its effectiveness by a single advertised power figure. Que Choisir tests cylinder vacuums separately on carpet, tiles and parquet; also check that the version you choose comes with the brushes you need.
A bagged cylinder vacuum needs compatible bags; a bagless one needs its dust container emptied, and its filters maintained according to the appliance’s instructions. Before choosing, find out which consumables are right for the exact model.
Yes, it helps you assess how repairable a model is: the ministry responsible for ecological transition says that vacuum cleaners are among the products covered. However, the index doesn’t replace checking which parts are compatible or comparing vacuuming performance on your floors.
Not necessarily. First check what maintenance the appliance needs, and consider having it repaired if a part is faulty. ADEME recommends considering repair before getting rid of an old vacuum cleaner.
It can if its runtime at the setting you need, its capacity and its brushes let you clean every surface in your home in one session. Que Choisir considers cylinder vacuums suitable for larger homes and highlights the freedom of movement offered by cordless stick vacuums. When choosing between the two, don’t rely on the maximum advertised runtime alone.