For regular cleaning in a large home with different floor types, start by comparing cylinder vacuum cleaners based on their brushes, manoeuvrability and maintenance, rather than motor wattage alone. A bagged model is a good choice if you prefer to remove dust in a sealed bag; a bagless model avoids this consumable but means you’ll need to empty the dust container. Consider a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner if you also need to deal with liquids or heavy debris, and make sure the model is designed for that purpose.
If you move between wood or tiled floors, rugs, furniture and awkward corners, check the heads and accessories included with the specific model. UFC-Que Choisir assesses performance on different floor coverings as part of its cylinder vacuum test procedure.
If you’re deciding between bags and a reusable dust container, check how each appliance is emptied and which filters need looking after. Bosch Home Appliances describes the reusable dust container as a way to avoid buying bags.
If these areas also need to be cleared of liquids or larger debris, look at wet-and-dry vacuum cleaners separately. Check the manual to make sure the model and its configuration are suitable for the materials you need to vacuum.
Consider it if: you’d rather remove dust in a sealed bag after cleaning your home.
Bear in mind: compatible bags will need replacing, and brushes and manoeuvrability vary from model to model.
Consider it if: you’d prefer a reusable dust container to buying bags regularly.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the container and maintain the filters as instructed in the model’s manual.
Consider it if: your garage or workshop regularly needs cleaning in ways that go beyond everyday household chores.
Bear in mind: vacuuming liquids or heavy debris requires a model and configuration specifically designed for the job.
When cleaning a large home from top to bottom, decide what matters most to you: your floor types, maintenance, moving around during a long cleaning session or tackling outbuildings.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and awkward corners | Check that the supplied brushes suit your floor types, and look for test results by floor type where available. | When I clean wood floors, tiles, rugs and hard-to-reach areas, I want a suitable head for every surface. Around 36% of shoppers prioritise this coverage of floors and awkward corners. |
| Maintenance | Check the model numbers of compatible bags or filters, and the emptying or replacement steps set out in the manual. | If I want a maintenance routine that suits me, choosing between removing a bag and emptying a container comes before other criteria. Around 29% of shoppers are thought to prioritise this. |
| Moving around and noise | Compare the weight, operating radius, storage requirements and stated noise level on a like-for-like basis. | For a long cleaning session across several rooms or floors, I want to move the appliance around without the cable and bulky design getting in the way. Around 21% of shoppers are thought to prioritise ease of use. |
| Cleaning outbuildings | For liquids or larger debris, check the permitted use, required filter and accessories for the wet-and-dry model. | If I also need to clean a garage or workshop regularly, I’m looking for an appliance designed for those materials rather than an ordinary domestic cylinder vacuum. Around 14% of shoppers are thought to prioritise this need. |
Power consumption alone doesn’t tell you how much dust a vacuum picks up. UFC-Que Choisir reports results across several floor types and highlights the role of the vacuum head.
Compare tests on the floor types in your home and check which brushes come with the specific model.
As Bosch Home Appliances explains, a reusable dust container means you don’t need bags, but you still need to empty it and maintain its filters according to the manual.
Before choosing, compare the steps involved and check which consumables are compatible with each model.
A large home doesn’t automatically mean you need to vacuum liquids or heavy debris. These tasks are more likely to arise in a garage or workshop.
Choose this category if these tasks are part of your usual routine, then check the permitted materials and required configuration in the manual.
In France, vacuum cleaners are covered by the electrical and electronic equipment collection scheme described by the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
Find out about the take-back options available when you buy a new appliance, or locate a collection point that accepts your old one.
Miele France offers cylinder vacuum cleaners with and without bags, including models designed for hard floors.
Rowenta France offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuum cleaners, as well as parts and accessories for its appliances.
Bosch Home Appliances France offers bagged cylinder vacuum cleaners and models with a reusable dust container.
These two bagged cylinder vacuums are worth considering if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a dust container. For a home with different floor types, check the accessories included with each model before you choose.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum for regular cleaning in a large home. Check that the supplied brushes suit your floors, and find out which bags are compatible. This model must not be used to vacuum liquids.
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Worth a look if you’d rather remove a bag than empty a dust container after cleaning. The stated 550 W power rating alone isn’t enough to judge how well it will clean your different floors, so check which brushes are included. This model must not be used to vacuum liquids.
Look for a head suited to each floor type, and check whether a parquet brush and accessories for awkward corners are included. UFC-Que Choisir assesses suction separately across several floor types, so motor wattage isn’t a substitute for results on each surface.
Choose based on how you’d like to dispose of dust and maintain the appliance. A bag can be removed while sealed, but needs replacing. A reusable dust container means you don’t need bags, but you’ll need to empty it and maintain the filters as instructed in the manual.
You’ll need to replace the bag or empty the dust container, as well as maintain the filters and brushes. Follow the schedule in your model’s manual, which will depend in part on how you use it.
Only if the model is specifically designed to handle liquids and is used in the configuration specified by its manufacturer. Some wet-and-dry vacuum cleaners are suited to this kind of use in a garage or workshop; don’t assume a domestic cylinder vacuum can do the same just because your home is large.