Which? Reviews: vacuum cleaners

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Our review of vacuum cleaners takes the hassle out of choosing a machine, whether you want a cylinder, upright, bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner. 

If you're looking for a new vacuum cleaner, the number of options can feel bewildering. Prices range from about £50 to more than £400, and you can choose between upright or cylinder (sometimes known as canister), bagged or bagless – plus specialist vacuum cleaners to help you cope with floorboards, pet hair, or allergy problems. 

Below, we explain more about the features of vacuum cleaners.

Bagged vs bagless vacuum cleaners

There's no link to cleaning ability, so deciding between bagged and bagless vacuum cleaners is largely a question of preference.

One of the obvious advantages of a bagless vac is you don't have to buy replacement dust bags. This saves pennies and earns you some environmental brownie points.

However, emptying the dust container can be messy and it's easy to spill dust – a big problem for allergy sufferers.

What to look for in a vacuum cleaner

Filters

Vacuum cleaner filters can clog up and need cleaning or changing at least once a year. Spare filters are often included in replacement packs of bags.

Storage

Their long hoses make cylinder vacuum cleaners harder to store than uprights, but some cylinders now have a clip to attach the nozzle to the body so the hose stays upright.

Reach

A vacuum cleaner with a long cord and hose is handy for cleaning stairs, or if you're short of power sockets around the house, you'll be able to clean a larger area without having to unplug and find a nearer socket.

We’ve found a vacuum cleaner's reach can range in length from 6 to 15 metres – a big difference when tackling a large room.

Accessories for vacuum cleaners

Some vacuum cleaners come with extra nozzles and brushes for cleaning upholstery and curtains, or around the edges of skirting boards. Some cleaners have space to store any additional nozzles on board, with others you have to store accessories separate from the appliance.

Turbo brushes

A turbo brush may improve dust and pet hair pick-up but in some cases standard nozzles can be just as effective. Don't buy a vacuum cleaner purely because it has a turbo brush - check our cleaning performance ratings to see how well a vacuum cleaner picks up dust and pet hair.

 
 
 

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