To give floors, carpets, upholstery and awkward corners a thorough clean with one main appliance, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners and their accessories against the surfaces in your home. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models vacuum more effectively than bagless ones and expose you to less dust when disposing of the waste. A bagless model is still worth considering if you’re happy to empty its container and maintain its filters. A stick vacuum or robot can help with day-to-day cleaning, but you’ll still need to check how to clean upholstery and hard-to-reach areas.
If you move between hard floors, wood flooring and carpets, look for test results for each surface. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing includes carpet, tiles and wood flooring, for example, so a result for just one type of floor won’t tell you how a vacuum will perform across all your needs.
For sofas, furniture, skirting boards and narrow spaces, check which nozzles and brushes come with the exact model you’re buying. An accessory being available in a range doesn’t mean it’s included with every model.
If handling dust is an important factor in your decision, consider bagged models. UFC-Que Choisir reports that they expose you to less dust when disposing of the waste than bagless models with a container. Before buying, also check the reference numbers for compatible bags and filters.
First, choose your main appliance to suit your floors and the areas you need to reach. Then decide between bagged and bagless models based on the maintenance you’re happy to do. A stick vacuum or robot can take care of other cleaning tasks, but you’ll need a solution for upholstery and awkward corners too.
| Feature | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring | Compare results for your floors using the same testing method. Check the vacuum head and whether it has a brush suitable for wood flooring, if you have it. | I switch between hard floors and carpets, so I want to know how the exact model performs on each, not just its power in watts. |
| Upholstery and awkward corners | Check the list of included accessories: a crevice tool, an upholstery tool and any brushes suited to your surfaces. Check the version being sold, not just the range name. | My cleaning routine includes the sofa, furniture and skirting boards, so I need to be able to reach them without assuming an accessory is included. |
| Emptying | For a bagged model, check the bag reference and how to remove it. For a bagless one, find out how to empty the container and maintain the filters. UFC-Que Choisir reports less dust exposure when disposing of a bag than when emptying a container. | I’d rather remove a bag, or I’m happy to empty a container regularly. This routine matters just as much as the cleaning itself. |
| Type of appliance | Decide which appliance will clean your floors, upholstery and high-up areas. If you’re considering a stick vacuum or robot as an extra, be clear about which tasks you want it to handle. | For a quick clean, ease of use may be the priority. For a thorough clean, I also need a solution for carpets, furniture and awkward corners. |
| Long-term maintenance | Search for bags, filters and parts using the full model reference. In France, vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index, according to the Ministry of the Economy, so compare the score for the model you’re considering. | Before choosing, I want to make sure I can find compatible replacement parts and check the repair options for the exact appliance. |
The motor’s stated power doesn’t, on its own, tell you how well a vacuum will pick up dirt from every type of floor. The vacuum head and test results for the surfaces you have matter too.
Look for comparable tests on your floors and check which brushes come with the exact model.
You’ll need to empty its container and maintain its filters. UFC-Que Choisir also reports greater dust exposure when emptying a container than when disposing of a bag.
Choose this option if you’re happy with that routine. Otherwise, look into how to remove the bag and which replacement bags are compatible with a bagged model.
A range name isn’t always enough to find the right bag or filter. Miele lists the ranges compatible with its GN HyClean Pure bag, while Bosch lets you check compatibility for its Type G ALL bag using your model number.
Make a note of the vacuum’s full reference and check which replacement parts are compatible before ordering.
A robot designed for floors won’t clean your sofas or high-up areas. If you’re considering a stick vacuum for quick cleans, you’ll also need to assess it against all the tasks you’d like it to handle.
First, decide how you’ll clean your floors, carpets, upholstery and awkward corners. Then consider whether a second appliance would meet a different need.
These examples are mainly useful for checking the accessories and replacement parts available for a specific model. They don’t describe what’s included with every version from each brand.
The French range includes bagged cylinder vacuum cleaners, with accessories that vary by model.
Bag references can help you compare some of the brand’s bagged cylinder vacuum cleaners.
For a bagged Bosch cylinder vacuum cleaner, check replacement part compatibility using the model number.
These two options represent the two types of cylinder vacuum cleaner covered here: the bagged Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG and the bagless Philips FC9556/09. To compare them, check the accessories included with the version for sale, compatible replacement parts and test results for your floors.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner is worth considering if you’d rather remove a bag than empty a container. If you also want to clean upholstery and awkward corners, confirm which accessories are included with this version. Check which bags are compatible and look for test results for your floors too.
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This bagless model means you won’t need to buy bags, but you will need to empty the container and maintain the filter. If carpets, furniture and awkward corners are on your cleaning list, check which accessories are included, the reference for the replacement filter and any test results for this model.
Consider a bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner if effective pick-up and avoiding dust when emptying are your main priorities. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models vacuum more effectively than bagless ones and expose you to less dust when disposing of the waste. A bagless model is still an option if you’re happy to empty the container and maintain the filters. Then compare models on the floors in your home.
Check for a brush suitable for wood flooring if you have it, a crevice tool for awkward corners and an upholstery tool for fabrics and furniture. Check what’s included with the exact model reference, as accessories can vary within the same range.
Make a note of the vacuum’s full reference, then check replacement part compatibility with the manufacturer or retailer. Miele France lists the ranges compatible with its GN HyClean Pure bag, while Bosch Home Appliances France offers a model-number check for its Type G ALL bag.
Yes. The French Ministry of the Economy says that vacuum cleaners are among the products covered by France’s repairability index. To compare two appliances, check the score for each exact model rather than looking at another model in the same range.
First, see whether it can be repaired or put to another use. In France, ADEME also says that you can return a vacuum cleaner to the retailer, drop it off in a collection bin in store or take it to the dedicated electrical and electronic equipment skip at a recycling centre.