From corded or cordless to stick or robot, there are countless decisions to keep in mind when buying a new vacuum cleaner. But where does the bagless or bagged debate come into play?
While a bagless vacuum uses a built-in bin to store debris, a bagged vacuum collects and traps dirt in a separate bag. But is one better than the other and should you be using a bagless vacuum over a bagged cleaner, or vice versa?
To help you learn between the two and decide which type might suit you best, we’ve explained the key differences here in our bagless vs bagged vacuum guide.
Once you’ve decided between a bagless or bagged vacuum, make sure you visit our best vacuum cleaner and best cordless vacuum lists too.
Bagged vacuums trap collected dirt and debris
A bagged vacuum collects and stores dirt and debris in an attached bag, whereas a bagless model holds the dust in its built-in bin. With the latter, dust isn’t contained as carefully as a bagged vacuum which means there’s more chance of a mess getting dropped while you’re manually emptying it.
Not only does this mean you could inadvertently make more of a mess after you’ve vacuumed, but allergy sufferers may struggle with dust particles that are re-released into the air.
Instead, bagged vacuums trap all the collected debris in their removable bag. In fact, many vacuums like the Henry XL Plus can even seal the dust bag once it’s full to avoid any accidental spills and messes.
To play devil’s advocate, it’s arguable that bagless vacuums that don’t completely seal dust can sometimes work in your favour. For example, if you ever accidentally vacuum up an important item, such as toys or even jewellery, then you can always easily access the bin’s contents and salvage it.
Bagged vacuums typically have a larger capacity
Those with larger homes should keep in mind the capacity of their vacuum, as the bigger it is, the less frequently you’ll need to worry about emptying it.
Generally speaking, bagged vacuums like the Numatic Henry boast a larger capacity than bagless vacuums; however, this isn’t always the case, as the bagged Henry Quick cordless has just a one-litre capacity, making it smaller than the Dyson Ball Animal Multifloor.
Depending on the capacity and how big your home is, bagged vacuums can hold multiple weeks worth of mess until the bag needs changing.
On the other hand, some bagless vacuums like the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty IP3251UKT and some of the best robot vacuums come equipped with a self-empty station, which helps to expand the capacity of the vacuum.
Bagless vacuums don’t require many additional costs
Although you can go a few weeks or even months without needing to worry about this, remember that vacuum bags are disposable and not reusable. While many vacuums should come equipped with one or two to get you started, you will eventually need to purchase additional vacuum bags.
The exact price depends, but roughly you should expect to spend around £10-£20 every few months or so. We’d also advise you purchase the correct dust bag for your vacuum to ensure dust is correctly collected and avoid affecting your warranty too.
Bagless vacuums need some extra maintenance
While you won’t need to worry about buying additional bags, a bagless vacuum does require some extra maintenance. As dust is collected straight into its on-device bin, you will need to ensure you keep the vacuum’s filter clean. The steps will vary depending on the model, but generally you’ll need to remove the filter, hand wash it and then leave it to fully dry.
After a while, you may also need to replace the filter, although this will depend on the vacuum and how often you use it.
Verdict
Although it depends on the specific model, generally speaking bagged vacuums are better suited for larger households or allergy sufferers as they typically have a bigger capacity and lock in dust.
However, as some of the best cordless vacuums are bagless, they’re more versatile and convenient. Not only that, but many come equipped with a self-empty station which offers the best of both worlds.
