For a thorough clean in a large home, a cylinder vacuum cleaner is the main appliance to consider, according to UFC-Que Choisir. Choose a bagged model if you’d rather dispose of dust without emptying a container, or a bagless one if you’re happy to empty it and maintain the filters. Either way, check the brushes, operating radius and storage requirements. A small vacuum can be useful for quick clean-ups, but it may not replace a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean.
If you regularly clean hard floors, rugs, upholstered furniture and awkward corners, check which floorheads and accessories are included rather than relying on the motor’s wattage alone. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the vacuum head when choosing a cylinder model.
If you’d rather not empty a container, compare how a bagged model handles dust with a bagless one. A bagless model needs emptying, as well as the container and filters being maintained as instructed.
If you need to move from room to room while still finding space to store the appliance, check its operating radius, weight and dimensions, and how the tube and accessories can be stored.
First decide how you’d like to deal with dust, then check that the appliance and its accessories suit the surfaces, layout and storage space in your home.
Consider this: if you’d rather remove dust in a bag than empty a container.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to replace the bags regularly, using the compatible type.
Consider this: if you’d like to avoid buying bags regularly and are happy to empty the container.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle the dust and maintain the container and filters.
Consider this: if the cylinder vacuum handles the thorough clean and a smaller appliance is useful for quick clean-ups between sessions.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for the second appliance and, if it’s battery-powered, somewhere to charge it.
| Feature | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and upholstery | The floorheads supplied for your flooring, and the accessories needed for furniture or awkward corners. | I want to clean rugs, hard floors and upholstery with my main appliance, without assuming that a powerful motor is enough. This would be the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Reach and access | The stated operating radius and whether a suitable crevice tool is included. | When rooms are large or sockets are hard to reach, I want to keep cleaning without having to stop frequently. Around 25% of consumers would make this coverage their top priority. |
| Dust and maintenance | The choice between a bag and a container, the type of replacement consumables, and the filter maintenance instructions. | I’d rather choose a maintenance routine I can stick to, whether that means replacing a bag or emptying a container. Dust handling would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Moving and storage | The weight, dimensions and space needed for the tube and accessories; compare the stated noise levels under equivalent conditions. | If my storage space is limited, I need to be able to move and put away the cylinder vacuum without making every cleaning session more difficult. This would be the top priority for around 19% of consumers. |
The motor wattage shown isn’t enough to judge how well a vacuum will clean your different floor coverings. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends considering the design of the vacuum head.
Make a note of the floors and upholstery you need to clean, then check which brushes and tools are actually included with the model you’re considering.
A bagged appliance needs compatible bags; a bagless one needs its container emptied and its filters and brushes maintained as instructed.
Check the type of replacement consumables and read the manual before choosing between these two maintenance routines.
A small vacuum can make quick clean-ups easier, but it may not be suitable for thoroughly cleaning a variety of floors and upholstery in a large home.
Keep a main appliance that’s suited to these surfaces, and only add a second one if you’ll find its quick-cleaning uses helpful.
A second appliance also needs storage space and, if it’s battery-powered, somewhere to charge it.
The Guard range includes bagged cylinder vacuums worth considering if operating radius and accessories are important to you.
Its bagless cylinder vacuums are worth comparing if container capacity and storage space are key considerations.
The BGC21POW1 is a bagless model worth considering if rugs and carpets are among the surfaces you need to clean.
The FC9747/09 is a bagless cylinder vacuum to consider if you’re comparing container capacity and stated operating radius.
These two bagged cylinder vacuums are options if you’re looking for a main appliance for a large home. To compare them, check that the accessories suit your surfaces and consider the maintenance and storage requirements.
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Worth considering as your main appliance if you’d rather replace a bag than empty a container.
Before buying, check which replacement bags are compatible and whether the supplied brushes suit your floors and upholstery.
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Worth considering for regular cleaning in a large home if you’re happy to replace a bag.
The stated motor power is 550 W, but this alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean your floor coverings. Check which brushes and accessories are included, as well as the type of compatible bags.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is a good choice if you’d rather remove dust without emptying a container. UFC-Que Choisir says in its guides that bagged models vacuum more effectively than bagless ones. However, check that the brushes suit your surfaces and make sure you can get compatible bags.
Start with the layout of your home and how often you’re happy to empty the container or replace the bag. A longer operating radius can mean fewer socket changes, while container capacity should be considered alongside the appliance’s dimensions and your storage options.
No. HEPA describes a filtration feature, not a guarantee of medical benefits. Check the filter fitted to the specific model and follow the instructions for cleaning or replacing it.
Don’t treat it as a current requirement: the European Commission states that the EU energy labelling regulation for vacuum cleaners was annulled with effect from 19 January 2019. When choosing, look at the model’s features, including its vacuum head, accessories, operating radius and maintenance requirements.
In France, ADEME lists repair, donation and collection points among the options for an old vacuum cleaner, depending on its condition. For a dust-filled bag, it recommends putting it in household waste, preferably inside a sealed bag.