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Bagged or bagless matters less than matching the vacuum type to your floors. Answer four quick questions about floor types, pets, stairs and dust sensitivity for a type recommendation plus the features worth paying for.
Which type suits whom
| Type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Upright | Wall-to-wall carpet, pet hair, large homes | Heavy on stairs |
| Stick / cordless | Hard floors, quick cleanups, apartments | Short runtime on high; small bins |
| Robot | Maintenance cleans on open floors | Struggles with thick rugs, clutter and stairs |
| Canister | Mixed floors, stairs, upholstery, cars | Bulkier to store |
Features worth paying for
- Pets: anti-tangle brush roll and a sealed HEPA filtration path.
- Allergies: sealed HEPA system (whole-machine filtration, not just a HEPA filter) plus a larger bin you empty outside or a self-empty dock.
- Stairs: light body weight or a lift-away / canister hose that reaches without carrying the whole machine.
FAQ
Can a robot replace a full-size vacuum?
For open hard floors with no pets, often yes for daily upkeep. With thick carpet, pets or stairs, treat it as a complement and keep a stick or upright for deep cleans.
Bagged or bagless?
Bagged holds more dust with less mess when emptying and suits allergy-sensitive homes; bagless saves buying bags but needs regular filter washing and careful emptying.
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