To clean floors, carpets and furniture with one vacuum cleaner, first choose the right brushes and nozzles for your surfaces, then decide whether you’d rather replace a bag or empty a dust container. A bagged model requires consumables; a bagless model avoids that purchase, but you’ll need to empty the container and maintain its filters.
If you switch between hard floors, carpets and upholstery, check the accessories supplied with the specific model rather than relying on general claims about its versatility. Que Choisir outlines these different uses for cylinder vacuum cleaners; Rowenta and Philips product pages show how brushes and nozzles vary between models.
If you’re concerned about emptying the vacuum, start by looking at bagged models, while bearing in mind that bags need replacing. Then compare how each model lets you remove and dispose of the dust.
A bagless vacuum cleaner suits you if you’re happy to empty the container and maintain the filters. Check which accessories are included too: choosing a container over a bag doesn’t, by itself, guarantee that you can clean carpets, furniture and awkward corners.
Start with the surfaces you need to clean, then compare how dust is collected and how easy the vacuum is to use day to day. Check exactly which accessories are included with each model.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Surfaces and awkward corners | Check for brushes for hard floors and nozzles for furniture and crevices, and make sure they’re included in the box. | When moving from the floor to the sofa, I don’t want to miss any awkward corners. I need the right tools for each job. Around 31% of consumers prioritise cleaning different surfaces. |
| Rugs and carpets | Look for test results on the surfaces you need to clean and check the supplied floorhead or brush, rather than focusing solely on the motor’s wattage. | With thick rugs or carpet, I want to know how the vacuum performs on these surfaces before choosing one. Carpet cleaning is a top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Dust collection | Compare how the bag is removed or the container is emptied, then check how to maintain the filters on the specific model. | If disposing of dust is what bothers me most, I’ll choose a collection system I’m happy to use regularly. This is a priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Handling and maintenance | Check the weight, reach and care instructions. If you plan to keep the vacuum for a long time, make sure replacement parts are available. | If I’ll be moving and storing the vacuum often, I need one that’s easy enough to handle and maintain. Around 15% of consumers prioritise day-to-day ease of use. |
Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean different surfaces. Que Choisir’s testing protocol, for example, includes tests on carpet, tiles and wooden floors.
Look for results that reflect the floors in your home and check which floorhead comes with the model.
A parquet brush, crevice nozzle and upholstery tool each have a different purpose. What’s included depends on the specific model and bundle you choose.
Compare the list of included accessories with the surfaces you need to clean most, and check that any separately purchased tool is compatible.
You’ll need to buy any essential accessories that aren’t included separately.
Going bagless doesn’t mean you can skip emptying the container or maintaining the filters and brushes. Bosch says that the container on its bagless cylinder vacuum range should be emptied after every use.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering and choose a dust collection system that fits your routine.
Having to replace a brush or another part can affect how long you’re able to keep your vacuum. Check that parts are available for the exact model you’re considering.
Before you buy, look into compatible parts and repair options for your chosen model.
The Guard S1 range is worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum for floors, furniture and hard-to-reach areas.
The bagged Silence Force RO7746EA cylinder vacuum has separate tools for floors, carpets, upholstery and awkward corners.
The FC9331/09 is a bagless model to consider if you’d prefer a dust container and are looking for tools for hard floors and carpets.
Bosch’s bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum ranges make it easy to compare two ways of collecting dust from the same brand.
These models offer different approaches to vacuuming: bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, cordless stick vacuums and a corded stick vacuum. If you also want to clean furniture and awkward corners, check which accessories are included with each model.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a bagless cylinder vacuum for different surfaces. Check which tools for carpets, furniture and awkward corners are included, and remember to empty the container and maintain the filter.
Motor power stated in the product title: 900 W. This figure alone isn’t enough to judge how well it cleans carpets.
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Consider this if you want a stick vacuum for cleaning floors and furniture. Check that it comes with tools for sofas and awkward corners, and that the brush is suitable for delicate hard floors.
Run time stated in the product title: up to 65 min; actual run time depends on how you use it.
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Worth considering if you want to switch between cleaning floors and above-floor areas. Check which tools are actually included for upholstery and awkward corners, and which brush to use on delicate floors.
Run time stated in the product title: up to 45 min; this doesn’t tell you how long it will run in every mode.
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Consider this if you’d prefer to dispose of dust in a bag. Check that the brushes suit your floors and carpets, then look for tools for furniture and awkward corners and check which replacement bags are compatible.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a convertible corded vacuum for floors and above-floor cleaning. Before choosing it for carpets, upholstery or delicate floors, check the floorhead and included accessories.
The product title specifies a 4,5 m cable and a 0,5 L container. Consider where your plug sockets are and how you’ll empty the container.
Check for a tool suited to carpets and upholstery, an upholstery nozzle and a crevice nozzle, as well as a brush for your floors. The Rowenta RO7746EA product page shows how these tools can be used for different tasks, but accessories vary between models and bundles.
Start by looking at bagged models if you’d rather remove the waste without emptying an open container. You’ll still need to buy compatible bags. For a bagless model, check how the container is emptied and read the filter care instructions.
No. Motor wattage alone isn’t enough to show how well a vacuum cleans carpets. Look for relevant test results and check the supplied floorhead. Que Choisir assesses performance on different floor types separately as part of its cylinder vacuum testing protocol.
You’ll need to replace the bags or empty the container, and maintain the filters and brushes in line with the model’s instructions. Before choosing a vacuum you plan to keep for a long time, check that compatible consumables and replacement parts are available.