Summer is almost here, and that inevitably means it’s time to throw open the windows and freshen up your home. A relatively underrated innovation in the world of cleaning is the bagless vacuum cleaner, which is generally a less expensive, easier to clean, and more eco-friendly option.
Our buying guide is here to help you identify the factors to look out for in your new appliance, whether you have allergies, a carpet full of pet hair, or you can't decide between a cylinder, cordless or upright hoover. We've also compiled the best buys on Amazon, eBay and Argos from reliable brands such as Shark, Dyson and Miele, including budget options under £100.
Quick List - Top Bagless Vacuum Cleaners
Shark
An Innovative Design That Transforms Into a Cylinder or Handheld When Needed
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Table of Contents
Traditional upright vacuums are heavy-duty and generally the best bet for those with larger homes who frequently clean carpets or rugs, although they can easily transition between these and hard floors with a foot control.
Upright styles also tend to have a wider cleaning path and larger dust capacity as well as being easier to store, as there are no parts that need to be dismounted. However, as they incorporate the motor, suction head and dust compartment within the same unit, they're usually the loudest option and slightly trickier to empty.
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Cylinder styles are often more powerful than others and have larger dust compartments that you'll only need to empty every now and then. They’re also lighter and easier to carry with better manoeuvrability, so the stairs and other difficult places are that little bit easier to get to.
Nonetheless, they do require some assembly so they’re not quite as practical to store. Additionally, the user will need to bend over more when using this style of vacuum, creating a bit of a problem if you are a sufferer of back pain or have limited mobility.
Stick vacuums are the latest kids on the block. They're basically a lightweight, portable version of an upright model, and are great for hard floors, quick clean-ups or those who have smaller houses or apartments.
However, though their smaller compartment can be easily emptied in any bin, their motor is compact too, so they may struggle when faced with carpeted rooms. Also, the fact that they have an ever-decreasing battery life means they're better to suited to a 'little and often' cleaning approach.
The next choice is whether to go corded or cordless. As corded vacuums plug into the mains, they have a greater suction power, notably on carpets. You'll also never have to worry about the battery running out mid-clean. On the downside, they’re often bigger and bulkier and therefore lack the mobility of their free-standing counterparts.
Cordless, on the other hand, offer complete cable freedom, allowing you to tackle whatever you like whenever you like – even doing the car will be much easier. But, as we mentioned they tend to have a lower dust capacity, a finite run time and less power. As you may have guessed, most bagless cordless models are stick vacuums.
When it comes to power, it can be rather difficult to find an accurate representation, as there is no single rating that indicates a vacuum's cleaning ability. Some primary power specifications can help, though.
Our product picks focus on W (watts) or AW (air watts). This is because when the calculations are done, 1 W is equal to 0.9983 AW, meaning they’re the easiest to compare. It is said that for a fully-carpeted house or flat the recommended wattage is between 150-320 W (or AW).
Therefore, if you have a bigger house, you could go for even more watts than this, while if you reside in a smaller home with mostly hard flooring, you could get away with a lower wattage.
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Instead of a bag you pull out and throw away, a bagless dust compartment only needs removing from the main unit and shaking into the bin – much less wasteful! We’ve already touched on which styles typically have the largest dust capacity, but to reiterate, the order is cylinder > upright > stick.
Clearly, the more the merrier when it comes to capacity, as no-one wants to be emptying their vacuum every time they use it, especially as the main benefit of a bagless model is that it eliminates the need to buy and change a bag.
It's worth considering, though, that a larger dust capacity will up the weight of the machine and how easy it is to empty. Measured in litres, anything below 0.5 L is on the smaller end of the scale and will need frequent emptying, whereas capacities around 2 litres are considered high-capacity.
Vacuums are known for coming with an arsenal of different tools and accessories, ranging from crevice nozzles to dusting brushes and cleverly-shaped attachments that can make your life easier. Bagless models are luckily no different!
Think about your home and your cleaning needs – do you have carpeted stairs, high ceilings prone to cobwebs, or a car riddled with pet hair that needs a regular vacuum? Look out for specific accessories to suit your needs, such as upholstery brushes or pet hair nozzles, to ensure you get the best product for your home.
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Miele Blizzard CX1 | ![]() | A Powerful, Hygienic Vacuum Able to Tackle Any Type of Flooring | |
2 | Shark Upright Lift-Away Vacuum Cleaner|NV601UKT | ![]() | An Innovative Design That Transforms Into a Cylinder or Handheld When Needed | |
3 | Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Plus | ![]() | The Slightly More Affordable Dyson That Doesn't Forgo Features | |
4 | AEG Power Animal Bagless Vacuum Cleaner | ![]() | Extra Power to Get into Those Tight Corners | |
5 | Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner | ![]() | The Top-of-the-Line Bagless and Cordless Vac | |
6 | Hoover H-Upright 500 Reach Pets|HU500CPT | ![]() | Great for Large Homes With an Impressive 15-Metre Reach | |
7 | Morphy Richards Cordless Vacuum Cleaner|732005 | ![]() | A 2-in-1 Handheld and Stick That's Light and Easy to Manoeuvre | |
8 | Hoover Breeze Pets Bagless Vacuum Cleaner|BR71BR02 | ![]() | Made for Pet Owners With Big 700-Watt Power | |
9 | Dyson Small Ball Allergy | ![]() | Keeps Dust Allergies at Bay Thanks to Deep-Digging Bristles | |
10 | Bissel Icon Cordless Vacuum Cleaner|2602B | ![]() | An Agile Stick Hoover That'll Reach Everywhere You Need It To |
Last, but certainly not least, the Blizzard CX1. Miele held back in releasing a bagless model a fair bit longer than other brands, but fortunately, it was worth the wait. With this, you will undoubtedly gain clean floors of any surface thanks to its strong suction power. There's even a power dial in case you don't need the full whack.
Additionally, it also has a clever dust separating system that houses the finer particles separately from the larger ones. This means upon emptying, there are no dust clouds at all, making this machine ultra hygienic and mess-free. For these reasons and more, this Miele takes our number 1 spot!
If your home has a hairy inhabitant then this super powerful (the highest on our list, actually) offering from Shark could be the way to go. Not only does it have big power, but it comes with a pet brush attachment that should easily pull up those moulted hairs from your pooch.
This innovative gizmo can also flip from upright to cylinder or even a handheld vacuum in an instant. This makes it particularly useful when it comes to places such as the stairs or when you want to give the top of the curtains a quick blast. An indicator of when you need to empty the dust compartment finishes off its specs nicely.
As you can probably guess, the V10 is the model released by Dyson before the V11. And while it loses some power, we think the 150 AW still has enough oomph to tackle most people's abodes. It has the same dust capacity, the same attachments and is a little bit lighter, all for £100 less.
Depending on your settings it can work hard for 60 minutes, as Dyson claim that the suction does not diminish no matter how close you are to the end of its battery life. The machine is also certified asthma and allergen-friendly, thanks to the filtration system that pumps strictly clean air back into your home.
This beast was created for deep cleaning the whole house with the minimum of effort. The cyclonic filtration system breaks down dust particles, ensuring you won't end up with nasty clogs draining on suction power.
It's large capacity means you don't have to worry about emptying too often, but when you do it's a one-click dumping mechanism makes the job a breeze. Due to the dual-oriented design, this machine can be stored both vertically and horizontally, meaning it can be tucked away into any cupboard without risk of damage.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line bagless vacuum that's also cordless, look no further. This is the most powerful of any cordless vacuum and could easily replace a traditional model in most homes. It has a run time of up to 60 minutes, which is conveniently displayed on an LCD screen, so if it's going to run out at least you know about it.
It also has the largest capacity of any bagless stick too, 0.76 L to be exact. And for added convenience, it splits into a handheld, which is particularly useful for zapping a few hard-to-reach spots. Yes, it's a little expensive, but sometimes you get what you pay for.
The first point to note about this vacuum is that considering it's an upright, it's particularly agile. This is thanks to it's swivelling, low-profile floor nozzle which will effortlessly glide around your home. Plus, it's great not just for homes with pets, but also allergy suffers as it has a filter in the bin section to trap any pesky particles.
All the attachments are found conveniently onboard so there is no risk of them being lost, and an easy-empty bin sets it apart from most bagless uprights. As the name suggests, its USP is the extra-long reach of up to 15 metres, so it might even reach the car!
Always wanted a handheld hoover but could never justify buying one outright? Here's your chance, as this nifty little guy is a 2-in-1. It's capable of running up to 35 minutes and has two different speed settings as well as being lightweight and easy to manoeuvre.
Again it does have a small capacity, though this does make it a breeze to empty without dust flying everywhere. It's affordable too, but if you're going to be using your vacuum a lot on particularly dusty or heavy terrain, then there's probably a better option for you.
This machine has a massive 700 W of power, as well as plenty of room in the dust tank for a couple of cleaning sessions (depending on the size of your house). Add a turbo brush attachment to the monster power and there's nothing this appliance won't be able to snaffle up.
There's also an automatic rewind mechanism, which should save you time once you've finished. The only downside? The wand is particularly short with even reviewers as short as 5 ft 5" noting difficulties, which could be great for smaller folk but perhaps not ideal if you're on the taller side.
This appliance has bristles that dig deep in both carpets and hard floor crevices to rid your home of dust or other allergens. It's also super easy to manoeuvre for an upright, thanks to its 360-degree ball.
It has a more-than-respectable 1.2 L bagless capacity which is easily emptied thanks to the one-click bin system: simply position it over and let it fall. Some users with larger homes may be concerned by its lower power though, although this does make it 40% quieter than most models.
Finally, this cordless stick number from Bissel, which is capable of catching and cleaning most of those tough spots, in large thanks to its tangle-free brush roll and ability to lie flat, allowing it to get right under the furniture.
Furthermore, it even has LED lights that help you see what you're doing in darker areas. We do have some qualms though, firstly it has a rather low dust capacity, and secondly, you can get 50 minutes out of it, but only if it's on low power mode.
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
No. 1: Miele|Blizzard CX1
No. 2: Shark|Upright Lift-Away Vacuum Cleaner|NV601UKT
No. 3: Dyson|Cyclone V10 Absolute Plus
No. 4: AEG|Power Animal Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
No. 5: Dyson|V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
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