For regular cleaning of hard floors, rugs and upholstery in a spacious home, start by comparing how well each model performs on your floor coverings and checking which accessories actually come in the box. A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering if you have long cleaning sessions and want to limit contact with dust. With a bagless model, you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. A cordless stick vacuum is easier to manoeuvre, but its runtime on the setting you need must be long enough to cover your whole cleaning session.
You regularly move between tiles or wood flooring and rugs or fitted carpets. Performance on just one type of floor isn’t enough to help you choose: Que Choisir assesses different floor coverings and carpet fibres separately in its tests.
Sofas, cushions, bedding, skirting boards and awkward corners are all part of the same cleaning session. The included nozzle and brush should suit these tasks, but don’t assume that every accessory in a range comes with every model variant.
You want to weigh up replacing bags against emptying a bin, while also considering filter maintenance and how much contact with dust there is when emptying the vacuum.
For a thorough clean, start with your floors and how long your cleaning sessions usually last. Then check whether the vacuum can reach around your furniture and whether its maintenance routine is one you’re happy to follow.
Worth considering: for long cleaning sessions if you want to minimise emptying and direct contact with dust. Que Choisir’s tests found that bagged models have an advantage when it comes to suction and dust exposure, though this doesn’t predict how any individual model will perform on your floors.
You’ll need to accept: replacing compatible bags and finding space to store a cylinder vacuum.
Worth considering: if you’d rather avoid bags and are happy to empty the bin after use.
You’ll need to accept: cleaning the filters according to the model’s instructions. Philips, for example, recommends regular maintenance for its PowerPro models.
Worth considering: if easy movement between furniture, stairs and high-up areas is a priority, and you can split your cleaning into shorter sessions or have another vacuum to hand.
You’ll need to accept: checking the runtime on the setting you’ll actually use. Que Choisir generally sees this format as better suited to quick top-ups than deep cleaning.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Suction on different floors | Look for test results for the exact model on your main floor coverings and, where relevant, on fibres embedded in a rug. | When I have both rugs and hard floors, I want to know whether the vacuum can also pick up fibres from the surfaces that take the most effort to clean. Around 36% of consumers put performance on their floors first. |
| Upholstery and awkward corners | Check the reach and make sure a crevice tool and a brush for furniture or upholstery are actually included. | If cleaning the sofa, bedding and corners is part of my routine, I need to reach them without relying on accessories that are only optional. For around 29% of consumers, this coverage is the top priority. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Check the capacity and emptying method for the bag or bin, then read the filter maintenance instructions. | For regular cleaning sessions, I want an emptying and cleaning routine I can keep up with, while taking contact with dust into account. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Comfort during a long cleaning session | Compare the weight and reach. For a stick vacuum, check the runtime on the setting you need rather than relying on the maximum runtime advertised. | When moving from room to room, I want a manoeuvrable vacuum that will keep going until I’ve finished. Around 14% of consumers put ease of movement and use first. |
A single figure doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up dirt from every floor covering. Que Choisir’s testing method assesses several floor types and carpet fibres separately.
Identify the two most challenging surfaces in your home and look for results for the exact model on those floors.
There’s more to it than emptying the bin: Philips recommends regularly cleaning the filters on its PowerPro models and fully drying the foam filter after washing.
Before choosing, check the manual for the model you’re considering and make sure you’re happy with how easy it is to access and maintain the filters.
Cleaning and drying the filters takes time; whether they need replacing depends on the model.
The accessories described by Rowenta, Bosch and Miele vary between models. An upholstery tool, flexible crevice tool and mini turbo brush aren’t interchangeable for every task.
Compare what comes with the model variant on sale against the surfaces you need to clean, especially your sofa, bedding, skirting boards and furniture.
A compatible accessory that isn’t included may need to be bought separately.
Que Choisir notes that the maximum advertised runtime may be measured on the lowest power setting, while rugs may need a different setting.
Check the runtime on the setting you plan to use, the bin capacity and the charging time before choosing a stick vacuum as your main cleaner.
The Silence Force Effitech RO7481EA bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering for its reach and accessories.
The Guard M1 Flex is a bagged cylinder vacuum to consider if hard-to-reach areas are part of your cleaning routine.
According to Bosch, the Series 4 BGB41BA1 bagged cylinder vacuum combines a 4,0 L bag with integrated accessories.
The PowerPro Compact FC9332/09 is a bagless cylinder vacuum to consider if a compact design is your priority.
These models offer two ways to clean several rooms: bagged cylinder vacuums for longer sessions, and cordless stick vacuums whose runtime you should check before making one your main cleaner.
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A bagged cylinder vacuum worth considering if you clean several rooms in one session. Check that the brushes and accessories supplied with the EB61C4OG suit your floors, upholstery and awkward corners. The presence of a brush alone doesn’t prove how well it will perform on rugs.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum could be a good option for homes with several types of flooring. Its product name lists 550 W of electrical power, but this figure doesn’t tell you how well it picks up dirt. If you also vacuum your sofa or bedding, check which accessories are actually included.
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This stick vacuum is worth considering if moving between rooms and around furniture matters more to you than uninterrupted long cleaning sessions. Its product name lists 550 W, 55 kPa, an anti-tangle brush and a runtime of up to 55 minutes. Check the runtime on the setting you need for your rugs before relying on it as your only vacuum cleaner.
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This stick vacuum may suit households that move between floors and furniture while cleaning. Its product name mentions an anti-tangle brush, a battery managed by an AI system and up to 65 minutes of runtime. That figure doesn’t mean it will last as long during a demanding session on rugs. Check how the runtime was measured and which accessories come with the variant.
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This stick vacuum is worth a look if you want to move easily between the areas you need to clean. Its product name lists a removable battery, an anti-tangle brush and up to 60 minutes of runtime. For a full clean that includes rugs, check the runtime on the setting you’ll need and how often you’ll have to empty the bin.
Look for separate results for each type of flooring rather than relying on the advertised power rating. Que Choisir’s testing method assesses suction on different floors and uses synthetic fibres to simulate pet hair on rugs. Results apply only to the model tested.
First, check that the variant you choose comes with a crevice tool and a brush suited to furniture or upholstery. Depending on the areas you need to reach, a flexible crevice tool or cushion attachment may also be useful. A stated compatibility doesn’t mean the accessory is included.
Not necessarily. Without bags, you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. For its PowerPro models, Philips recommends cleaning the inlet filter whenever you empty the bin and letting the foam filter dry completely after washing. Check the manual for the specific model you’re considering.
It may be suitable if the runtime on your chosen setting and the bin capacity are enough for your cleaning sessions, or if you can split the work into shorter sessions. However, Que Choisir considers stick vacuums better suited to quick top-ups. Check these details and the included accessories before choosing one as your main vacuum cleaner.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the statutory warranty of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual in France. Keep your proof of purchase and a record of the agreed model and accessories, then contact the seller if the goods you receive don’t match what was agreed.