For regular cleaning of hard floors, carpets, furniture and awkward corners, start with a canister vacuum equipped for these surfaces. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models expose you to less of the collected dust; bagless models do away with replacement bags, but you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. A stick vacuum for quick clean-ups or a robot for floor maintenance can complement your main appliance, but won’t automatically clean furniture and bedding.
If you regularly move from floors to carpets, then on to furniture, bedding and awkward corners, check the brushes and accessories included rather than relying on motor power alone. UFC-Que Choisir assesses vacuuming performance separately across different floor coverings.
The way dust is collected matters when you change a bag or empty a dust container. UFC-Que Choisir says bagged models expose you to less dust during this task; also check the filtration system and how to maintain it on the specific model.
When cleaning several rooms, moving the appliance around, its reach and how easy it is to store can all influence your choice. Compare noise levels under equivalent conditions and check the specifications of the model you’re considering.
When choosing your main appliance, start with the surfaces you need to clean and the areas you need to reach. Then compare bagged and bagless models based on how you feel about dust, noise and maintenance.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Surfaces and accessories | Check which brushes are designed for hard floors and carpets, and whether a crevice tool and furniture accessory are included. | When floors, the sofa and awkward corners are all part of my cleaning routine, I want the right accessories to move from one area to another. Around 36% of consumers are said to make this coverage their top priority. |
| Dust, filtration and pet hair | Compare bagged and bagless dust collection and filter maintenance; for pet hair on fabrics, check which accessories are designed for the job. | If changing a bag or emptying the dust container exposes me to dust, I choose a collection system that suits this need. This is said to be a priority for around 29% of consumers, particularly those who also need to deal with pet hair on fabrics. |
| Noise and manoeuvrability | Check the weight, reach, storage options and stated noise level under comparable conditions. | When cleaning several rooms without having to unplug repeatedly, I value good reach and an appliance that’s easy to move around. Around 21% of consumers are said to put this ease of use first. |
| Maintenance and consumables | Find out which bags or filters are compatible and check the care instructions for the brushes and filters. | Before choosing a bagged or bagless model, I want to know which tasks I’ll need to repeat and be able to find the right consumables. Ease of maintenance is said to be the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A wattage figure on its own won’t tell you how well a vacuum will perform on carpets, wooden floors or in awkward corners. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the floorhead and the results achieved on each surface.
Read tests of the model if they’re available, then check which brushes are included and how easy the whole appliance is to manoeuvre.
You’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed in the manual. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a washed filter must be completely dry before you put it back.
Check how the dust container is removed and what the manual says about caring for the filters and brushes.
Emptying the dust container and waiting for filters to dry also take time between uses.
A bagged canister vacuum means you’ll need to be able to find the right type of bag throughout the appliance’s lifetime.
Make a note of the bag reference before choosing a model and check where you’ll be able to buy them.
UFC-Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums as appliances often used alongside a main vacuum, and assesses robots on different floor types. Automatically cleaning your floors won’t, by itself, take care of furniture, bedding or awkward corners.
If these areas are part of your deep-cleaning routine, plan to use a handheld appliance and check that it has the right accessories. Choose a stick vacuum or robot for the tasks it can actually handle.
The Silence Force Cyclonic Effitech range includes bagless canister vacuums, with features that vary by version, including Parquet and Animal models.
Bosch’s bagged canister range includes models with different accessories and filters.
The PowerPro range includes bagless canister vacuums; check dust collection and brush features for each model reference.
This selection includes a bagged canister vacuum to consider as your main appliance, alongside stick vacuums for additional clean-ups. For each one, check that the accessories suit the surfaces and furniture in your home.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged canister vacuum as your main appliance for cleaning a range of surfaces. Check that the brushes and accessories supplied also cover your carpets, furniture and awkward corners, then find out which bags are compatible.
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Worth considering for additional clean-ups if you’re happy using a corded appliance. The product name lists 65KPA and 600W, but these figures alone aren’t enough to judge performance on every surface; check that the brushes supplied suit your carpets and fabrics.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups on floors or around furniture. The product name states 55000Pa and 45 minutes of run time; before planning a longer cleaning session, check which operating mode this figure applies to and which accessories are included.
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Worth considering for additional clean-ups on floors and above-floor areas. If stairs or furniture are a key reason for your choice, check which accessories are included and how long it runs in the mode you plan to use.
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Worth considering as an addition for cleaning hard floors and carpets. The stated 55 minutes applies to bare-floor mode; if you mainly clean carpets, check the run time in that mode and what’s included for furniture and awkward corners.
Both types can be suitable, but your choice mainly depends on how you want dust to be collected and how much maintenance you’re happy to do. UFC-Que Choisir says bagged canister vacuums expose you to less dust; a bagless model needs its dust container emptied and filters maintained. In either case, check performance on your floor coverings and which accessories are included.
Look for a brush suited to hard floors, a setting or brush for carpets, a crevice tool and an accessory for upholstery or furniture. Check they’re included with the exact model reference: UFC-Que Choisir tests vacuuming on carpet, tiled floors and wooden floors separately.
Follow the schedule and instructions in your model’s manual, as these vary depending on the filter. UFC-Que Choisir reminds users that after washing, a filter must be completely dry before it’s put back.
Don’t assume it will be suitable for extended cleaning of floors, carpets and fabrics. UFC-Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums as appliances often used alongside a main vacuum, as their run time and suction can limit how they’re used. Check the model and its accessories if you want it to be your main appliance.
A robot can keep floors clean between manual vacuuming sessions, but it won’t take care of furniture, bedding and awkward corners. Check how it performs on the floor types in your home: UFC-Que Choisir tests robots on different types of flooring rather than assuming they’ll perform equally well everywhere.