Table of contents
Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide
Do you want to buy a cylinder vacuum cleaner but aren’t sure what features to look for? Check out this guide that will help you pick the right cylinder vacuum cleaner for you.
You can use our tool below to compare the specifications of the vacuum cleaners from our comparison.
Bagged vs. Bagless
There are two different types of cylinder vacuum cleaners: bagged and bagless. Bagged cylinder vacuums usually have a larger capacity as they gather dust and dirt in their bag. Once the bag is full, you need to replace it.
On the other hand, bagless cylinder cleaners often contain powerful technology that removes bacteria and allergens from the air and traps the dirt in a chamber. They are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly as you don’t need to keep replacing the bags.
If you have asthma or are sensitive to allergens, you may want to go with bagged cylinders. That way you won’t have to worry about dust exposure as most of it remains trapped in the bag.
You can find all the bagged vacuum cleaners here and all the bagless vacuum cleaners here.
Maneuverability
Cylinder vacuum cleaners vary in weight. Depending on the layout of your house and how much cleaning you have to do, it is best to purchase something that will be easy for you to work with.
Several cylinder vacuums come with handles to help you carry the vacuum as well as wheels to help you move it around on the floor. If you have to carry the vacuum up the stairs, it is recommended to get a lighter model that is easy to carry.
Vacuum cleaners also vary in terms of operating radius, which sometimes depends on the length of the plug. The operating radius allows you to see how far you can take the vacuum without having to unplug it.
Here are the 3 vacuum cleaners with the longest operating radius.
Vacuum cleaner | ||
---|---|---|
Henry Numatic HVR200-11 |
|
26 meter |
Vax U85-AS-Be |
|
17 meter |
Shark CZ500UKT |
|
12 meter |
The following chart shows the distribution in operating radius among the vacuum cleaners.
Capacity
Cylinder vacuums have varying capacities. The bigger your house, the bigger the capacity you need, especially if you want to thoroughly clean without having to stop and empty or throw away the bag. Nevertheless, remember that a bigger capacity means a bigger vacuum cleaner, which could also mean a heavier vacuum cleaner. Find the right balance between capacity and size for you.
With a bagless vacuum cleaner, the dust bin capacity is less important because it is easier to empty out than a vacuum cleaner with a bag.
You will no longer have to keep buying new bags to replace the old ones.
Accessories
Most cylinder vacuum cleaners often come with various accessories to help you clean your home, including the following:
- Combi-brush
- Parquet brush
- Turbo brush
- Crevice nozzle
- Furniture nozzle
- Embossing brush
Do keep in mind that not all vacuums will offer all of these accessories, and some of them might even offer various kinds.
When it comes to storing these accessories, some vacuum cleaners will have a special compartment in the main body of the vacuum cleaner while others may require separate storage space. Choose the one that will best suit your storage needs.
Filters
All vacuums have filters that prevent the dust they pick up from re-entering into the atmosphere. Some come with both a primary and secondary filter. You also need to check what kind of filter they have. Some can be washed while others will need to be replaced from time to time.
If you are particularly concerned with allergens, choose a vacuum cleaner that comes with a HEPA-grade filter (high-efficiency particulate air) as they offer the highest quality air filtration.
Here are the best vacuum cleaners with various types of filters:
- The best vacuum cleaner with an EPA 12 filter: AmazonBasics VCB35B15CEUK
- The best vacuum cleaner with a HEPA 13 filter: Philips FC9332/09
Sound Level
Some vacuums are much noisier than others. Before making a purchase, you may want to check the sound level (usually written in decibels). The lower the decibel, the softer the operating sound of a vacuum cleaner. This can be helpful, especially if you have small children or pets, as they are usually sensitive to sound.
Here are the 3 quietest vacuum cleaners.
Vacuum cleaner | ||
---|---|---|
Hoover TX50PET |
|
64 dB |
Miele Complete C3 Silence EcoLine SGSK3 |
|
64 dB |
Miele Blizzard CX1 Excellence EcoLine SKCP3 |
|
71 dB |
The following chart shows the distribution in sound level among the vacuum cleaners.
Pet Friendly
If you have a pet, you may benefit by choosing a cylinder vacuum with a pet label. They efficiently remove pet hairs from upholstery, carpet, and the like, on top of providing other cleaning needs.
There are two types of floor vacuum cleaners available: bagged and bagless.
The advantage of choosing a bagless model is that they spare you the cost and hassle of changing the bags. On the other hand, bagged vacuum cleaners generally have a longer lifespan and are more powerful.
Price
Vacuum cleaner prices range from £ 38 to £ 449. An expensive model is preferable because, generally:
- It will be quieter
- It will have a longer operating radius
- It will have a better filter
- It will have a longer life span
- It will have more accessories
- It will have more advanced settings (such as control buttons on the handle)
The chart below shows the distribution in price among the vacuum cleaners.
Here are the 3 cheapest vacuum cleaners from our comparison.
Vacuum cleaner | ||
---|---|---|
Duronic VC8/BK |
|
£37 |
AmazonBasics VCB35B15CEUK |
|
£46 |
AmazonBasics VCB43B1-70EUK |
|
£56 |
Best vacuum cleaner brands
Only brands with at least 3 products are included.
Rank | Brand | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Miele |
93
|
2 | Shark |
90
|
3 | Vax |
89
|
4 | Hoover |
86
|