Bagged vs Bagless Vacuum Cleaners

November 10th, 2011

Appliance Questions Small Appliances

An ideological battle where consensus is a dirty word, the Bagged vs Bagless Vacuum Cleaners debate divides the cleaning community. But is it all just hot air? Here’s Appliances Online’s guide to help you filter through the nitty-gritty of the debate.

Bagless vacuum cleaner supporters say their machines liberate users from the tyranny of the bag.

And that’s not an unpersuasive argument.

Firstly, you’ll avoid the hassle of having to source the right kind of bag to fit your vacuum and then actually paying for it. The latter may be a long term expense if, like mine, your home is regularly filth-ridden.

With a bagless vacuum model, the dust and debris caught in the filter is deposited in your own receptacle which you get to re-use. All you need to do is empty it when it’s full – and often you can see this because the container will be made of clear plastic. Easy.

And there are a couple of added sweeteners. Firstly, they suffer none of the power loss that occurs when a bag begins to fill up. Secondly, it’s easy to retrieve valuable items accidentally vacuumed – virtually impossible to do with a bag vacuum cleaner.

Supporters of the bag variety meanwhile rally around the traditional benefits they offer. For a start, the bags generally provide more capacity and the vacuums will need to be emptied less frequently – which will be a particular advantage in larger homes.

Additionally, they say, bags offer easier and more hygienic disposal. And they have a point – consider the fact at least a small amount of dirt or dust is likely to be released when you remove the receptacle from the main body of a bagless vacuum.

In fact, naysayers will advise the only place to empty a bagless vacuum is outside – because of the risk of accidentally depositing grime and grit everywhere.

By contrast, if you are using a bag you won’t come in contact with dirt – it’ll be all sealed up and ready to throw away.

Well, there’s the argument – now for your choice. Is the bag a pain or something to be prized?

Check out Appliance Online’s range to decide. Leading brands Bosch, Dyson, Electrolux, Miele, Samsung and Volta give superb options for both varieties.