For regular cleaning in a large home with a mix of flooring and soft furnishings, choose a cylinder vacuum cleaner with the right attachments. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a bagged model means less contact with dust when you empty it, but you’ll need to buy compatible bags. A bagless model requires you to empty the dust container and maintain its filters. Cordless stick vacuums are best for quick clean-ups or as a second vacuum, as their battery life may not be enough for a full clean.
If you clean hard floors, rugs and carpets in the same session, a cylinder vacuum can work well as your main cleaner. UFC-Que Choisir recommends it for larger areas, although you’ll need to put up with the cable, weight and storage space it takes up.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, emptying a bagged cylinder vacuum exposes you to less dust than emptying a bagless model. Check the bag and filter reference numbers before choosing your vacuum.
A cordless stick vacuum is easy to grab and put away for everyday cleaning. If you also want to clean a large area or thick carpets, check its battery life in the required mode before making it your only vacuum.
Consider it: for longer cleaning sessions across different surfaces, if you’d rather collect dust in a bag.
Bear in mind: it’s corded, and you’ll need to buy compatible bags regularly.
Consider it: if you’d rather avoid bags but still want a cylinder vacuum for regular cleaning.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle the dust container and maintain the filters. According to UFC-Que Choisir, emptying it may expose you to more dust.
Consider it: for quick clean-ups or as a second vacuum.
Bear in mind: running time depends on the mode you choose. UFC-Que Choisir found that battery life is limited at full power in its tests.
| Feature | What to check | Which shoppers is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and soft furnishings | Check the floor head is suitable for your flooring and that an attachment is included for sofas or mattresses. | I want to clean rugs, hard floors and furniture in the same session without overlooking soft furnishings. Around 33% of shoppers rank cleaning multiple surfaces as their top priority. |
| Dust when emptying | Compare how the bag or dust container is removed, and check which replacement filter is compatible. | Emptying an open dust container would bother me more than changing a bag. Around 27% of shoppers prioritise a more contained way of handling dust. |
| Ease of use | For a cylinder vacuum, check its weight and operating radius; for a stick vacuum, check battery life in the mode you’ll use. | Between full cleans, I want to be able to get the vacuum out easily for a quick clean-up. Ease of use is the top priority for around 20% of shoppers. |
| Routine maintenance | Find the reference numbers for bags, filters and brushes, and check the replacement instructions for the specific model. | I’d rather know what maintenance is involved and be able to find the right parts before committing. Around 20% of shoppers prioritise the maintenance involved. |
Rated power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean carpets, wooden floors or fabrics.
Look at the brush, attachments for soft furnishings and test results for the floor coverings in your home.
The dust container, filters and brushes all need regular attention. How often parts need replacing depends on the component and model.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific vacuum and make sure you know which replacement filters to buy.
Emptying the dust container and cleaning and drying the filters also take time.
A bagged cylinder vacuum requires you to find consumables that fit its bag holder.
Find out the bag reference and where you can buy replacements before choosing a model.
A stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups, but it may need recharging before you’ve finished cleaning a large home, especially if your carpets need a more powerful mode.
Check battery life in the mode you’ll need for your floors, and find out whether the battery can be replaced before making it your main vacuum.
Worth considering if you’re comparing bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums and want to look up parts by reference number.
Worth looking at if you’re considering a bagged cylinder vacuum and changing the bag is an important factor for you.
Worth looking at if you’re after a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to compare capacity, operating radius or accessory storage in detail.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to identify the compatible consumable before buying.
These models cover two uses relevant to this article: two bagged cylinder vacuums to consider for regular cleaning, and a cordless stick vacuum to assess for quick clean-ups or as a second vacuum. For each one, check that the attachments are suitable for your soft furnishings and carpets before choosing.
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A bagged cylinder vacuum to consider for regular cleaning across different floor types. Before choosing it for carpets and soft furnishings too, check that it comes with suitable attachments and find out which bags are compatible.
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Another bagged cylinder vacuum to compare for regular home cleaning. Its stated motor power is 550 W, but this figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean carpets. Check for attachments for soft furnishings and find out which bags are compatible.
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A cordless stick vacuum to consider for quick clean-ups or as a second cleaner for more thorough jobs. The claimed battery life is up to 65 minutes, but that doesn’t guarantee it will last this long in the mode you need for carpets. Check the usable battery life and whether the battery can be replaced if you’re thinking of making it your main vacuum.
It can, if its battery lasts long enough in the mode you need for your cleaning session. This is especially important if you have carpets and a large area to cover. UFC-Que Choisir found that battery life is limited at full power in its tests, so a stick vacuum may be better suited to quick clean-ups or use as a second vacuum.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a bagged vacuum exposes you to less dust when emptying it than a bagless model. The trade-off is that you’ll need to buy compatible bags. With a bagless vacuum, you’ll need to handle the dust container and maintain the filters.
Follow the instructions for your vacuum and each consumable. For example, Rowenta recommends replacing its RS-2230000345 filter twice a year, but this frequency doesn’t apply to all filters. Clean the brushes as instructed, and check their condition and reference numbers before replacing them.
No. A motor’s rated power alone can’t predict how well it will clean your floors and soft furnishings. Also compare the brushes and suitable attachments, and, where available, look at test results for the floor coverings in your home.