Homes with lots of rooms
When choosing a main vacuum cleaner, consider its reach, capacity and how easy the cylinder is to move. Storage shouldn’t be your only consideration if you regularly clean the whole house.
Who is this choice for?
Homes with a mix of floors and fabrics
Wooden floors, rugs, carpets and furniture may need different accessories. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the floorhead design, so check which brushes are included and look for test results on the surfaces you need to clean.
Homes looking for a handy extra vacuum
A rechargeable stick vacuum can be useful for quick clean-ups between full cleans. If you need to cover a larger area, check how long it runs in the mode you plan to use.
What should you check?
First decide what you’ll use the vacuum for, then compare the brushes, reach and maintenance requirements of models suited to that role.
Cylinder vacuum with a bag
Consider it: as your main vacuum if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to buy compatible bags and check they’re available for the model you choose.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Consider it: as your main vacuum if you’d like to avoid buying bags regularly.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed for your model.
Cordless stick vacuum as an extra
Consider it: for crumbs, stairs or quick clean-ups between full cleans.
Bear in mind: run time varies depending on the mode you use. UFC-Que Choisir generally presents rechargeable stick vacuums as handy extras.
| Factor | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Floor types | Check which brushes are supplied for hard floors, rugs and fabrics. If possible, compare tests of the exact model on surfaces similar to yours rather than looking only at the motor’s wattage. | I have several types of flooring, so I want to know whether the included accessories are right for each one. |
| Reach and capacity | Compare the cleaning radius with the layout of your rooms and the position of your sockets. Then consider whether the bag or dust container capacity suits how often you plan to vacuum. For a stick vacuum, check the run time in the mode you’ll use. | If I clean several rooms in one go, changing sockets or emptying the vacuum frequently could interrupt my session. |
| Maintenance | For a bagged model, find out which compatible bags it needs. For a bagless model, check the instructions for emptying the dust container and maintaining the filters. Verify the filtration claims for the exact model. | I’d rather decide now whether I prefer replacing bags or emptying a dust container than discover these tasks after I’ve bought it. |
| Moving it around and noise | Check the weight, grip and controls if you’ll be carrying the vacuum between floors. Compare the stated noise levels where they’ve been measured on a like-for-like basis. | In a multi-storey home, I need to be able to move the vacuum around without making cleaning more difficult. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on wattage alone
The stated electrical power isn’t enough to tell you how well a vacuum will clean wooden floors, rugs or carpets. UFC-Que Choisir particularly highlights the role of the floorhead.
Make a note of your floor types, check which brush is included and, if possible, look for tests of the exact model on those surfaces.
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Relying on a cordless stick vacuum without checking the run time
UFC-Que Choisir notes that rechargeable stick vacuums often have limited run time and power. Using one as an extra doesn’t guarantee it will last through a full clean in a large home.
Check how long it runs in the mode you plan to use and compare that with your cleaning routine before making it your only vacuum.
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Forgetting about bag or dust container maintenance
A bagged cylinder vacuum needs replacement bags, while a bagless model requires you to empty the dust container and maintain the filters as instructed.
Before buying, find out which compatible consumables you’ll need and read the maintenance instructions for your chosen model.
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Assuming the same filtration features apply across a whole range
Stated features vary between models from the same brand. A filtration claim alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean your floors or prove that it offers a health benefit.
Check the specifications for the exact model and its filter maintenance instructions, separately from test results for how well it cleans your floor types.
A guide to some brands
These models illustrate features worth comparing; they aren’t a ranking of brands.
Miele
In France, Miele offers bagged cylinder vacuums, including models designed for hard floors.
- Miele describes the Guard L1 Parquet XL as suitable for large hard-floor areas and lists a parquet brush for the Guard L1 Comfort XL.
- If your home also has rugs or carpets, check which brushes are included and whether relevant test results are available.
Rowenta
Rowenta offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, with features varying by model.
- For the Silence Force Cyclonic Effitech, Rowenta states a 12 m operating radius and a 2.5 L dust container.
- Consider how these figures suit your room layout, and check the brushes and maintenance requirements for the exact model.
Bosch
In France, Bosch offers bagged cylinder vacuums, including models in its ProPower range.
- Bosch’s product information for the BGB41POW1 lists a 4 L bag and an 11 m operating radius.
- For this model, check which floorhead is included, whether it suits your floors and which replacement bags are compatible.
Electrolux
In France, Electrolux offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, along with maintenance information for each range.
- Electrolux’s product information for the Pure D8 PD82-4ST lists a 12 m operating radius and a 3.5 L bag.
- These features apply to this model, so check the accessories and consumables for the one you’re considering.
Vacuum cleaners available on Joybuy
These two cylinder vacuums illustrate the bagged and bagless options for cleaning a large home. Compare their accessories and maintenance requirements with the floors and fabrics in your home.
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Electrolux EB61C2GRN bagged vacuum cleaner, 550 W, black
Consider this if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container during regular cleaning. Check which bags are compatible and whether the included brushes are suitable for the flooring in your home.
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Philips FC9556/09 Series 5000 bagless vacuum cleaner, LED, 900 W, blue
Consider this if you’d like to avoid buying bags and don’t mind emptying the dust container. Check the filter maintenance instructions and make sure the included brushes are suitable for your floors and fabrics.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cordless stick vacuum clean a large home on its own?
Don’t assume it can without checking how long it runs in the mode you need for your floors. UFC-Que Choisir notes that rechargeable stick vacuums often have limited run time and power, and generally presents them as better suited to quick clean-ups. For a full clean, compare a corded cylinder vacuum too.
Bagged or bagless: which is easier to maintain?
It depends on which task you prefer. A bagged model needs compatible bags replacing, while a bagless model avoids that regular purchase but requires you to empty the dust container and maintain its filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
What figures should I check when cleaning several rooms?
Look at the operating radius and the capacity of the bag or dust container, then check whether the included brushes suit your surfaces. These figures help you plan for changing sockets and emptying the vacuum, but they don’t tell you on their own how well it will clean your rugs, hard floors or fabrics.
Can I compare suction by looking at the motor’s wattage?
No, not on its own. UFC-Que Choisir explains that the design of the floorhead plays an important role. Compare the brushes supplied and, where possible, look for tests carried out on the same types of surfaces.