For a thorough clean in a large home, start by comparing performance on your floors and fabrics, the accessories supplied, capacity and reach. A cylinder vacuum is a good place to start. Whether to choose a bagged or bagless model depends in part on whether you’d rather replace bags or empty a dust container. A cordless stick vacuum is suitable as your main appliance only if its cleaning performance and runtime at the setting you need are enough to cover your whole cleaning session.
If you need to clean hard floors, carpets, furniture and awkward corners in one session, check performance on each surface and which accessories are actually included. UFC-Que Choisir notes that cylinder vacuums can be used on different types of surfaces with the right accessories.
If dust is a concern, look separately at air filtration and how you remove waste from the bag or dust container. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes exposure to dust when emptying from filtration performance.
Stairs, furniture to work around or widely spaced power sockets can make manoeuvrability a key consideration. Compare the weight and reach or, for a cordless model, the runtime on the setting you intend to use.
For a main vacuum cleaner in a large home, first compare performance on the flooring and fabrics you have, then consider the cleaning route and the maintenance tasks you prefer.
| What matters | What to check | Who considers it important? |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning floors and fabrics | Check performance separately on hard floors, parquet with gaps and carpets; make sure the variant includes the brushes and nozzles you need. | When I move from hard flooring to a carpet and then the sofa, I want to check performance on each surface and have the right accessories; around 33% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Getting through a long cleaning session | Compare the reach and the capacity of the bag or dust container; for a stick vacuum, check runtime on the setting you need. | If my route takes me through several rooms or away from power sockets, I want to avoid interruptions without having to stop and empty the vacuum; around 27% of consumers prioritise an uninterrupted session. |
| Managing dust | Check the filtration claimed for the specific model, how it is emptied and how its filters are maintained. | If I want to limit contact with dust, I compare how the bag is removed or the dust container emptied as well as the filtration; around 20% of consumers make this a priority. |
| Moving the vacuum comfortably | Check the weight you’ll need to carry, the reach and the stated noise level; for a stick vacuum, consider the runtime at the required setting. | In a home with stairs or furniture to work around, I want to minimise the effort of moving the vacuum and the noise during a long session; around 20% of consumers prioritise manoeuvrability and ease of use. |
Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean carpets, hard floors or parquet with gaps. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these surfaces separately in its testing protocol.
Identify the flooring you have most of and look for test results for the specific model on those surfaces, as well as details of its floorhead.
You need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters in line with the model’s instructions. Air filtration and exposure to dust when emptying are two separate considerations.
Before choosing, check how the vacuum is emptied, which filters are compatible and how they should be maintained, especially if handling dust is a concern.
Maintaining the dust container and filters is part of the upkeep to plan for; also check which replacement filters are compatible.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the maximum stated runtime may be measured at the lowest power setting. The setting needed for your carpets or fabrics may therefore affect how long you can use it.
Check the runtime on the setting you’ll use and whether the dust container has enough capacity for your whole cleaning route.
The European Commission states that EU energy labelling rules for vacuum cleaners no longer apply; Regulation (EU) No 665/2013 is no longer in force.
Don’t compare models based on an old rating shown on a product listing. Instead, look at the features and performance relevant to your flooring.
The RO6179EA Green Force Effitech is worth considering for a large home with fabrics, based on the accessories and reach stated by Rowenta.
The bagless Series 6 ProAnimal BGS41PET1 gives you the option of a dust container, with accessories designed for pet hair and fabrics.
The bagged Pure D8 PD82-4ST may appeal to households looking for good reach and accessories for hard floors and furniture.
The Gen5detect Absolute stick vacuum is a cordless option to consider if freedom of movement matters more for your cleaning route.
This selection includes bagged cylinder vacuums, bagless models and stick or handheld vacuums to consider based on your cleaning route and flooring.
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This bagged model may be worth considering for cleaning several rooms; check that the accessories supplied with this variant suit your floors and fabrics.
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A bagged cylinder vacuum to compare if you’re looking for a main appliance for several rooms; check the accessories supplied with this variant and whether they suit your flooring.
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Its corded 3-in-1 design may be useful for switching between floors, furniture and awkward corners; check that the format is right for a full cleaning session in a large home.
The product title states 600 W, 15 kPa and a weight of 2.2 kg; these figures alone don’t tell you how it performs on each type of floor.
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This cordless option may make it easier to move around; before choosing it as your main appliance, check how it performs on your carpets and its runtime at the setting you need for your cleaning session.
The product title states 18 kPa and a runtime of up to 40 minutes. The maximum stated runtime doesn’t guarantee the same performance at every power level.
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This dust-container model is a bagless option; check how it is emptied and read the maintenance instructions before choosing it for a thorough clean.
No. Electrical power alone doesn’t let you compare how well a vacuum cleans your floors. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering the surfaces you need to clean and the floorhead; its testing protocol distinguishes between hard floors, parquet with gaps, carpets and fibres.
Check how full the bag or dust container is, and maintain the filters and brushes in line with your model’s instructions. ADEME recommends, among other things, not waiting until a bag is too full and cleaning the parts designed to be cleaned.
Check that bags, filters and parts for your chosen model are available. In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold to an individual by a professional, according to the Ministry of the Economy; it is separate from a commercial guarantee.
No. The European Commission states that there is no longer any energy labelling legislation applicable to vacuum cleaners and that Regulation (EU) No 665/2013 no longer applies. An old rating shown on a product listing is therefore not a current EU energy label.