For regular cleaning across several rooms, including hard floors and carpets, a corded cylinder vacuum is a good option if you can accommodate its size. For quick clean-ups, a cordless stick vacuum is easier to manoeuvre, but check its runtime in the mode you’ll use. Between the two types of cylinder vacuum, a bagged model saves you from emptying a dust container directly, while a bagless one needs its dust container maintained. A wet and dry vacuum is better suited to jobs involving liquids or workshop debris; a large tank doesn’t prove how well it will clean carpets in your home.
If you regularly move between hard floors and rugs or carpets, a corded cylinder vacuum is worth considering for a thorough clean. Que Choisir recommends this type for larger homes; check that the supplied floorheads are suitable for your flooring.
If you often want to pick up crumbs, pet hair or dust without having to unwind a cable, a cordless stick vacuum’s manoeuvrability may matter more. Que Choisir considers it better suited to quick touch-ups, so check the runtime if you plan to use it as your main vacuum.
If your vacuum also needs to pick up larger debris or liquids, consider a wet and dry vacuum. If you also want to clean fabrics around your home, check which nozzles and accessories are included: tank capacity doesn’t tell you how well it will pick up dirt from carpets.
Start with the surfaces you need to clean, then consider how each type suits the length of your cleaning sessions and the maintenance you’re happy to do.
| Priority | What to check | Consider your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring and fibres | Check which floorhead is supplied for each type of flooring, along with any fabric attachments. Look for separate results on hard floors and carpets: Que Choisir’s test method assesses these surfaces separately. | I switch between parquet or tiled floors and rugs. If pet hair gets embedded in the fibres, I want to know how well the vacuum picks it up from fabric, not just hard floors. |
| Type and cleaning time | For several rooms, check the operating radius of a corded vacuum. For a stick vacuum, compare its weight, storage requirements and runtime in the mode you need; Que Choisir points out that the maximum advertised runtime is measured at the lowest power setting. | For quick clean-ups, I want a vacuum that’s easy to get out. If I’m cleaning the whole home in one go, I’ll check that I can finish without stopping. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Compare changing a bag with emptying a dust container. In both cases, check that the filters and brushes are easy to access; Que Choisir says bagged cylinder vacuums expose you to less dust when you dispose of the collected dirt. | I prefer to choose between replacing a bag and emptying a dust container, bearing in mind the maintenance I’ll need to do regularly. |
| Specialist uses | If you’re considering a wet and dry vacuum, check that it’s suitable for the liquids and debris you need to clean up, as well as the accessories available for your home’s floors. For a cordless stick vacuum, check the battery and whether it can be replaced for that specific model. | I also need to clean a garage or workshop, or I want to be able to keep using a cordless stick vacuum when its battery needs replacing. |
This figure alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dirt from rugs or carpets. Que Choisir’s test method assesses several different surfaces separately.
Check which floorhead is actually included and look for results that match your flooring, especially if embedded fibres or pet hair are your main concern.
According to Que Choisir, the maximum advertised runtime for a cordless stick vacuum is measured at the lowest power setting. It may not reflect how long it will run in the mode you need for carpets.
Compare runtimes in the mode you’ll use. If you’re considering a spare battery, check that it’s compatible with your exact model and available to buy.
You’ll need to empty the dust container, and the filters and brushes also need attention. With a bagged model, you’ll need to replace the bag and maintain the other parts.
Before choosing, check how to access the dust container or bag, filters and brushes, and read the manufacturer’s instructions.
On a wet and dry vacuum, the tank and workshop features are designed for different jobs. They don’t tell you how well it will clean rugs and carpets at home.
If you don’t need to vacuum up liquids or larger debris, also compare its size and fabric accessories with those of a household cylinder vacuum.
These examples show different types of vacuum. The features mentioned apply to the specific models listed, not every product in each brand’s range.
A brand worth considering for bagged cylinder vacuums and accessories for cleaning around the home.
Its bagless cylinder vacuums and cordless stick vacuums let you compare two ways to clean the floors in your home.
The WD range is designed for jobs involving both wet and dry dirt, particularly in garages and workshops.
This selection includes a corded stick vacuum, two cordless stick vacuums and a bagged cylinder vacuum for cleaning around the home. Compare their floorheads and operating conditions against your floors and fabrics.
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Worth considering if you want to move from hard floors to a rug without having to recharge a battery. The product title states 65 kPa; check the included floorhead and performance on your type of rug before judging its cleaning ability by this figure alone.
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For cleaning hard floors and rugs without a cable, check that the floorhead is suitable for your fabrics. Runtime is advertised as up to 65 minutes in standard mode; check how long it lasts in the mode you need for your cleaning.
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Worth comparing for regular cleaning of hard floors and rugs. The title advertises up to 60 minutes of runtime without specifying the mode; check how long it lasts for your needs, as well as the suction specification for this version, which is described inconsistently.
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A corded option to consider for cleaning several rooms without stopping to recharge a battery. Check which floorheads are included and how well they suit rugs and carpets, as well as which bags and filter maintenance this model requires.
It can, if its floorhead, performance on fabric and runtime in the mode you use are suitable for your cleaning sessions. However, Que Choisir considers cordless stick vacuums better suited to quick clean-ups and cylinder vacuums to larger homes. Before giving up a corded model, compare these factors if you regularly do a thorough clean.
A bagged cylinder vacuum means you don’t have to empty a dust container directly; Que Choisir says this type exposes you to less dust when disposing of the collected dirt. A bagless model saves you from replacing bags, but you’ll need to empty its dust container and maintain the filters.
Check which floorhead and accessories are actually included, then look for results specifically for fabric surfaces. Que Choisir’s test method assesses rugs and carpets separately from hard floors; motor wattage is no substitute for this comparison.
ADEME advises putting dust and other waste collected by your vacuum in household rubbish, preferably in a sealed bag.
You can take this electrical appliance to a collection point or a recycling centre, return it to a retailer or give it to a social enterprise, depending on the options listed by the government departments responsible for the ecological transition.