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Bagged vacuum cleaners have been around for a long time, and they continue to be popular because they have several benefits over other types of vacuums, such as bagless ones. These vacuum cleaners are very hygienic, they often require less maintenance, and are recommended for allergy sufferers. With different types of bagged vacuum cleaners available on the market, you may find it difficult to choose the right model for your home. This is why we gathered together all the information you need to buy the best bagged vacuum out there.
Things to Consider
Upright, canister, bagged and bagless – vacuum cleaners come in all sizes and shapes, and this can be truly overwhelming when buying one. If you have decided to go for a bagged vacuum cleaner, this guide with help you discover what features to consider when choosing a bagged vacuum together with the advantages of using this kind of appliance.
Advantages of a bagged vacuum cleaner
Many users choose to go for a bagged vacuum cleaner because they don’t want to deal with the fuss of owning a bagless model that requires lots of maintenance, but there are several other advantages to these appliances as well. First, bagged vacuum cleaners are a more hygienic option than their bagless counterparts, not just because all the dust and dirt is contained securely in a bag, but also because all possible allergens are kept inside, and you’re not exposed to them every time you empty a container. For this reason, bagged vacuum cleaners are the recommended type of vacuum cleaner for allergy sufferers. Many of them come with HEPA filters that help to trap allergens and remove more dust and pollen from the air. Finally, as mentioned above, bagged vacuums require less maintenance as the filter is built directly into the bag, so you don’t have to clean it.
Features to consider when choosing a bagged vacuum
From motor power to cord length and filters, there are multiple features to consider when choosing a bagged vacuum. Below you will find a quick overview of the most important of them so you can make an informed choice.
Motor power
The power of the motor is partially responsible for suction power, but it’s also an essential feature to consider for energy consumption.
However, you should keep in mind that suction power is not always a direct result of motor power, which means that you can get a low-motor power model with strong suction, while enjoying the benefits of lower energy consumption. For example, the Hoover WindTunnel only has a 12-amps motor, but users rave about its suction power.
Type of vacuum
The two main types of bagged vacuum cleaners are canister and upright models. Both of them have their advantages, with canister models being easier to store due to their small dimensions, and upright models being easy to handle. The choice depends on your preferences, but keep in mind that canister models may often be more powerful than upright ones offering a better flow-rate and suction, which makes them ideal for bare floors.
Bag
The type of bags used by bagged vacuum cleaners varies from one model to another, so it’s important to consider how easy it is to find replacement bags and how much they cost. Other things to look into include how often the bag needs to be changed (usually months) and their quality. Not all bags have anti-allergen properties, so if this aspect is important to you, make sure the model you choose uses HEPA bags.
Cord length
Cord length can really make a difference when it comes to the maneuverability of a vacuum cleaner.
Running out of cord when you are vacuuming is truly frustrating, so you should look for a model with a long cord, preferably over 20 feet.
If your home is on the larger side, look for a vacuum with a cord of up to 35 feet, like the Bissel BigGreen, for example.
Reach ability
When you clean your house, you may need to reach into more difficult places, so the wand and hose length is essential. A vacuum cleaner with a greater reach means that you don’t have to bend as much, eliminating the risk of getting back pain from cleaning. Assess how flexible the vacuum is so you can determine whether it can reach in small corners and under the furniture.
Anti-allergen filters
These filters prevent allergens and fine dust particles from escaping back into the room when the vacuum cleaner is in use. Most of them retain more than 99 percent of small dust particles.
If you want the best filtration available, opt for a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filtration, as these filters can capture at least 99.97% of particulates 0.3 microns or larger, and can remove more pollen than any other models.
Our best all-around choice, the Hoover WindTunnel, comes complete with HEPA filters.
Weight
Ranging from as little as 4 lbs. to over 20 lbs., the weight of a vacuum cleaner is important because it determines how easy you can move the appliance around. If you need to carry the vacuum cleaner around a lot, for instance up and down the stairs, a lighter model such as the Bissel Zing could be the perfect choice for you.
What you need it for
From carpets and upholstery to hardwood floors and pet hair, there are numerous reasons for which you may need a vacuum cleaner. Even though everyone uses a vacuum cleaner in more than one way, it’s important to consider any special needs you may have – such as pet hair, a need to clean in hard-to-reach spaces, or high-pile carpets – so you can find a model that is suitable for your needs.
Power cord
Many of the models available on the market have a retractable power cord that rewinds automatically when you’re done cleaning. Consider how easy it is to rewind the cord and what length you need to cover the entire house without unplugging.
Warranty
Most bagged vacuum cleaners have a one or two-year limited warranty, but others may give you even more peace of mind. For example, the SoniClean Soft Carpet has a five-year warranty on the motor and a lifetime guarantee for the vacuum belt. The Miele Compact C1 has the longest warranty, with 7 years on the motor and case.
To change the bag of your vacuum cleaner, you first need to find out what kind of bag your appliance uses. This information is available in the user’s manual, but keep in mind that multiple models may be available for a single vacuum cleaner. To change a disposable bag, open the vacuum chamber, determine how full the bag is, remove it, and dispose of it. If your appliance uses bags that are reusable, follow the same process, but dump the contents of the bag in the bin, and wipe out the chamber of the vacuum cleaner with a cloth before replacing the bag.
If you feel like you’re drowning in pet hair, you may want a vacuum cleaner that can solve this problem for you. However, you should keep in mind that pet vacuums don’t differ much from normal vacuums, but they offer features such as a beater brush that can get fur from upholstery and carpets, and they may also come with better-quality filters.
This would vary from one model to another, but as a rule of thumb, bagless vacuum cleaners are much noisier than bagged types. If noise is an issue for you, find out the noise level expressed in decibels (dB) before deciding on a model.
Replacing the belt of a vacuum cleaner is not that difficult a process, but you need to keep in mind that you need the exact type of belt for your model to replace it successfully. Once you have a new belt, remove the bottom plate of your vacuum, pull the old belt out, install the new one making sure the fit is snug, but not too tight, and reattach the bottom plate before testing to see if the belt starts spinning.
Again, this depends on the model, but generally the power suction should be about the same in upright models and canister vacuums. Besides the motor power, your type of floors and carpets may influence suction power.
