cylinder vacuum cleanerCylinder or canister models dominate the Continental European market. Electric motors and dirt collectors (with or without a bag) are constructed as separate units with wheels. This unit is connected to a cleaning head with a flexible hose. Their main advantages are:

Flexibility – it is possible to quickly and easily attach different cleaning heads for cleaning various surfaces,

Maneuverability – The cleaning head can reach places that are problematic for upright vacuum cleaners: under furniture, stairs, vertical surfaces etc.

To achieve the cleaning efficiency of upright vacuum cleaners, many canister vacuum cleaners have different power heads containing the same type of mechanical devices as upright vacuum cleaners do. Such mechanical add-ons are usually powered by:

– separate electric motor,

– air turbine that uses the suction power of a vacuum cleaner,

– power head with wheels that rotate brush roller via a drive belt.

Air turbine is used most often as it requires least moving parts and is very durable. However, it must be regularly cleaned since dirt like hair and similar can get into turbine blades and slow down or even fully stop the turbine.

A separate electric motor adds weight and needs additional cabling, but it is also a very efficient solution in terms of cleaning even the dirtiest surfaces.

Powerheads with wheels that rotate the brush roller via drive belt are not used often since, in that configuration, the brush roller doesn’t rotate if the power head is stationary.

Bagged vs. Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaners

Dirt can be stored onboard vacuum in the dirt bin (bagless vacuums) or in the vacuum bags.

Vacuum bags add an additional layer of airflow filtration, but as the bags fill with dirt, suction is decreased, increasing the energy consumption required for proper cleaning. Replacing disposable bags is relatively easy (just throwing them in the garbage), but certain vacuums have reusable and expensive bags – cleaning bags can be a rather dirty job.

Bagless canister vacuums use mostly cyclonic air and particle separation. Dirt bins are usually transparent, and the user can easily see when it is time to clean the dirt bin. Most of the vacuums with dirt bins have a way of easy and clean disposal of the dirt from dirt bins.

Note that bagless systems with dirt bins (canisters) don’t lose suction, regardless of the amount of dirt in the bin – until the canister is fully filled with the dirt. However, it is advisable to clean the dirt bins after each use, especially after cleaning larger areas.

A full dirt bin or full vacuum bag can be noticed due to weaker suction. However, many models have sensors and indicator lights that warn the user to empty the dirt bin or vacuum bag.

To achieve a better level of air filtration, both bagged, and bagless canister vacuum cleaners use several layers of filtration, with the last layer being in the form of a fine, often HEPA-grade, air filter. Such filters can be washable, but in any case, after a certain period (read the manual, please, of your vacuum cleaner), they must be replaced in order to continue to achieve the desired level of air filtration.


Which canister vacuum cleaner to choose? Which is the best canister vacuum cleaner depends on many things, mostly on personal preferences and needs, area that needs to be cleaned, surface type etc.