Homes with carpets and fibres to pick up
If hair, pet fur or fibres regularly get caught in your carpets, look for test results on these surfaces rather than choosing based solely on the motor’s advertised power.
Who is this option for?
People who want to limit contact with dust when emptying
If you want to minimise contact with dust when disposing of it, compare removing a bag with emptying a dust container, and remember that both types need maintenance.
Multi-surface homes looking for an easy-to-handle main vacuum
If you regularly move between rooms and floor types, consider how easy the vacuum is to move, its operating radius, noise level and the accessories that suit your floors.
What should you look for?
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Consider it: for regular cleaning across carpets and different types of flooring, especially if you want to limit contact with dust when removing the waste.
Bear in mind: it needs to be plugged in, and the bags must be replaced regularly.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Consider it: if you’d rather not use bags and the model’s test results confirm it performs well on your flooring.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filters. Que Choisir says bagless cylinder vacuums expose users to more dust when emptying than bagged models.
Cordless stick vacuum
As your main vacuum: only if the model performs well on your floors and its battery life at the required power setting is enough for a full cleaning session.
Bear in mind: battery life is limited. Que Choisir generally recommends stick vacuums for supplementary cleaning rather than deep cleaning.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning carpets and picking up fibres | The model’s test results on carpets and fibres, as well as the brushes supplied. | If hair and fibres get caught in my carpets, I want to know what the vacuum actually picks up. This would be the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Removing the bag or emptying the dust container, followed by maintaining the filters and brushes. | When I dispose of dust, my main priority is to limit contact with it, even if that means changing bags. This would come first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Moving between rooms | Operating radius, weight and noise level; for a stick vacuum, battery life at the power setting you use. | To clean several rooms and types of flooring regularly, I need a vacuum that’s easy to move and use. Around 25% of consumers would make ease of use their top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based only on the motor’s wattage
The advertised power rating alone doesn’t tell you how much dust or how many fibres a vacuum will pick up from a carpet. Que Choisir also highlights the importance of the floorhead design.
Compare test results for the specific model on carpets, rugs, hard floors and fibres, rather than comparing two motor wattage figures in isolation.
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Confusing maximum battery life with a stick vacuum’s usable run time
The advertised maximum battery life is based on using the vacuum at a low power setting. It doesn’t necessarily reflect how long it will run at the setting you need for your carpets.
If you plan to use a stick vacuum for your main cleaning, check its battery life and cleaning performance at the setting you intend to use.
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Forgetting to maintain the dust collection system
A bagged vacuum needs compatible bags, while a bagless model needs its dust container emptied. Filters and brushes also need to be maintained according to the model’s instructions.
Before choosing, check how to empty it, the maintenance instructions and which consumables are compatible.
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Mistaking a manufacturer’s specification for a test result
Advertised capacity, accessories or filtration describe the model, but don’t prove how well it will clean your floors.
Use the manufacturer’s specifications to check the configuration, then look for comparable tests of the exact model to assess its suction and ease of maintenance.
Brands to know for this type of vacuum cleaner
Electrolux
The Pure D8 range includes bagged cylinder vacuum cleaners. The PD82-4ST is one of the models tested by Que Choisir.
- Electrolux lists a 3.5 L bag and a 12 m operating radius for the PD82-4ST.
- These specifications don’t replace test results for this model on carpets and fibres.
Rowenta
Rowenta offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, including models in the Green Force and Silence Force ranges.
- For the Silence Force Effitech RO7473EA, Rowenta lists a 4.5 L bag and a mini turbo brush.
- The specifications of this model don’t tell you how other Rowenta models perform on carpets.
Bosch
Bosch offers bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums. Its BGS41PET1 ProAnimal Series 6 is a bagless model included among those tested by Que Choisir.
- Bosch lists a 2.4 L dust container for the BGS41PET1.
- For this model, compare its results on carpets and fibres, and check how to empty the dust container.
Cylinder vacuum cleaners on Joybuy
These two cylinder vacuums represent bagged and bagless options for regular cleaning. To decide which one suits your carpets and floors, compare each model’s results on the surfaces you clean.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG, bagged cylinder vacuum
Worth considering if you prefer a bagged cylinder vacuum for your main cleaning. Check the EB61C4OG’s test results on your carpets and floors, as well as which bags are compatible.
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Philips FC9556/09 Series 5000, bagless, LED, blue, 900 W
Worth considering if you want a bagless vacuum for regular cleaning and are happy to empty the dust container. The advertised 900 W motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well it cleans carpets. Check the test results for this model and its maintenance instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Is wattage enough to choose a vacuum that cleans carpets well?
No. Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how much a vacuum will pick up from a carpet. Que Choisir highlights the role of the floorhead, so look for test results for the exact model on carpets, rugs and fibres.
Does a bagged vacuum expose you to less dust when emptying?
According to Que Choisir, bagged cylinder vacuums expose users to less dust when removing the waste than bagless models. If you prefer a dust container, check how to empty it and maintain its filters before you choose.
Where should you dispose of vacuum cleaner dust in France?
ADEME says that dust and other vacuumed waste should go in household rubbish. This applies to dust removed from a container as well as dust collected in a vacuum cleaner bag.
What should you do with an old vacuum cleaner?
In France, ADEME recommends considering repair or donation before getting rid of an appliance that still works. A vacuum cleaner that no longer works can be taken to a collection point in a shop or handed back to the retailer.