For full cleaning sessions in a large home, a cylinder vacuum is the most sensible place to start: Que Choisir describes this type as suitable for larger areas. When comparing bagged and bagless models, focus on how they perform on your floors, how easy they are to manoeuvre and how much maintenance you’re happy to take on. A wet and dry vacuum is better suited to a different need, such as handling larger debris or liquids it’s designed to pick up.
If you clean several rooms in one go, look for test results on the types of flooring in your home, then check the operating range and how easy the vacuum is to move around. Que Choisir describes cylinder vacuums as suitable for larger areas, while also noting their weight and potential manoeuvrability issues.
To remove pet hair from rugs, carpets and upholstery, check which brush is included and how to maintain its roller rather than focusing on motor power alone. Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes tests using fibres that imitate pet hair on carpets; check the results for the specific model you’re considering.
If you choose a bagged model, note down its exact model number before looking for bags, filters and spare parts. Miele, Rowenta and Electrolux list compatible consumables and accessories by model or appliance reference. A part made for another range won’t necessarily fit.
Worth considering: if you regularly clean carpets throughout your home and would rather not empty a dust container directly.
What to bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags and maintain the filters using compatible parts. Que Choisir notes that bagged models generally have an advantage when it comes to suction and reduce exposure to dust, but this doesn’t tell you how any individual model performs.
Worth considering: if you’d rather avoid buying bags and are happy to empty the container after each cleaning session.
What to bear in mind: emptying the container and maintaining the filters are part of the routine. Check how the specific model performs on carpets and hard floors separately.
Worth considering: if you also need to deal with larger debris or liquids that the vacuum is designed to pick up, particularly in a garage or workshop.
What to bear in mind: a large tank doesn’t guarantee that it will remove dust and embedded pet hair from carpets effectively.
Worth considering: if a lightweight vacuum would come in handy for quick clean-ups between full sessions.
What to bear in mind: you’ll need space to store and maintain two appliances. Que Choisir presents cordless stick vacuums primarily as handy for quick clean-ups, not as an automatic replacement for a cylinder vacuum during longer cleaning sessions.
| Feature | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Rugs, carpets and pet hair | Test results on textiles and fibres that imitate pet hair; a suitable brush and roller maintenance. | When pet hair gets caught in rugs, I want to know what the vacuum actually removes, not just its motor power. Around 36% of consumers make this a priority. |
| Manoeuvrability between rooms | Operating range, weight when moving the vacuum and how easily the brush moves between hard floors and rugs. | To clean several rooms without repeatedly changing sockets, I look for a vacuum that I can pull along and manoeuvre throughout the session. This is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Maintenance and dust | How to empty the vacuum or replace the bag; compatible filter and consumable references. | If I’m concerned about contact with dust, I also want to be able to maintain the vacuum using the right parts. This comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Specific debris or liquids | Approved uses for the model, required filter and accessories suited to the surfaces you need to clean. | If I also clean a garage or wet mess, I need to choose a vacuum designed for those tasks rather than assuming a household cylinder vacuum will do the job. Around 14% of consumers say this is their main need. |
Two vacuums with similar stated power can perform differently. Que Choisir notes that the design of the floorhead also affects cleaning performance.
Check test results for your type of flooring, then make sure the brushes and nozzles included match the exact model reference.
The fact that a range offers consumables doesn’t mean they’ll fit every vacuum. Using an unsuitable bag or filter can make it harder to maintain the appliance as intended.
Before choosing a bagged model, look up compatible bags, filters and wear parts using the vacuum’s model reference.
A wet and dry vacuum may be suitable for certain types of dry or wet mess, but its capacity tells you nothing about how well it removes embedded fibres and dust from a rug.
If you have lots of soft furnishings, look for carpet test results and check that a suitable upholstery accessory is included before choosing it as your only vacuum.
Que Choisir sees stick vacuums mainly as handy for quick clean-ups; their battery life at high power can limit how long you can use them for.
Start by assessing the vacuum you’ll use for your main cleaning sessions. Add a stick vacuum only if you have a separate need for quick touch-ups in between.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum and want to find compatible consumables by model family.
Worth considering if you want a bagged cylinder vacuum and need to find bags, filters and parts by appliance reference.
Worth considering if you’re comparing bagged and bagless models in the ProAnimal range for a home with pets.
Worth considering if you want to compare bagged cylinder vacuums and check the accessories and parts available for the model you choose.
Worth considering if you also need a separate vacuum for a garage or workshop.
These two bagged cylinder vacuums are suited to being your main appliance for full cleaning sessions. If carpets or pet hair are a key factor in your choice, check test results for the specific model and its accessories before deciding.
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Worth considering as your main vacuum for longer cleaning sessions if you prefer a bagged model. If you have carpets or pets, check test results for the EB61C4OG, which brushes are included and which bags and filters are compatible.
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Worth considering for full cleaning sessions if you’re looking for a bagged cylinder vacuum. Its stated motor power of 550 W isn’t enough to judge how well it cleans carpets: check test results for the EB61C2GRN, as well as its brushes and compatible consumables.
Look for separate results for each surface rather than comparing motor power alone. Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes tiles, parquet, carpet and fibres that imitate pet hair. Then check the results for the model you’re interested in.
Follow the instructions for the appliance and consumable you’re using. For its ZR003901 kit, Rowenta recommends changing the bag when it’s full or saturated and replacing the microfilter every six bag changes. This schedule doesn’t automatically apply to other models.
Note down the exact reference of the vacuum, then search for bags and filters listed as compatible with it. Compatibility lists published by manufacturers such as Miele apply to specific models or ranges, so check each reference before you choose.
Take it to an appropriate collection point for electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it in your household rubbish. France’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition says that a collection and recycling scheme for household electrical equipment operates in France. Find out where your nearest collection point is.