What Is a Bagless Vacuum Cleaner? Is It Worth to Have One?

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

The two main types of vacuums available on the market are bagged and bagless. While bagged vacuums have been around for a long time, bagless vacuums are newer and are actually the most popular type of vacuum model used today. What is a bagless vacuum cleaner? Is a bagged or bagless vacuum better? This article explores bagged vs bagless vacuum models, the pros and cons of each, and explains the difference between the two so you can determine which type would better suit your personal and home needs. Keep reading to answer the above questions and more.

Bagged vs Bagless Vacuum Cleaners: What Is the Difference?

The Bagless Vacuum Cleaner Defined

As the name clearly suggests, a bagless vacuum cleaner does not contain or require a vacuum bag inside for use. Instead, bagless vacuums use a large built-in canister or compartment to catch dirt and debris as it is picked up from the floor or other surfaces. When the canister reaches capacity, which is easy to visually monitor, you simply detach it from the vacuum and empty it into the bin.

A bagless vacuum will almost always be an upright vacuum for ease of use. Upright vacuums allow the dirt and debris canister to be positioned upright, making it easier to remove without spilling or creating a mess.

The Bagged Vacuum Cleaner Defined

Unlike bagless vacuum cleaners, bagged vacuum cleaners require a bag inside to catch dust and debris as it is suctioned off of floors and upholstery. Each bagged vacuum cleaner model uses a specific type of vacuum bag designed to fit the interior of the vacuum itself properly. When the bag is full of dirt and debris, the entire bag is thrown out in the bin, and a completely new bag is reinserted.

Some bagged vacuum cleaners feature an indicator light that alerts you when the bag is full and needs replacing. Otherwise, you may have to manually remove a panel to check on the fullness of the bag from time to time. If the bag becomes too full, the vacuum cleaner will stop working effectively, and its suction level will drop significantly.

Can You Use a Regular Vacuum Without a Bag?

Bagged vacuum cleaners can not be used without vacuum bags. While it may be tempting considering the existence of bagless vacuums, it is strongly advised against. If you do use bagged vacuums without a bag in place, dirt can get stuck in smaller crevices and clog up the hose, motor, or worse. Never used bagged vacuums without a bag to avoid possible permanent damage.

Bagged or Bagless: The Pros and Cons of Each

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Bagless Vacuum Cleaner?

As we briefly mentioned above, bagless vacuum cleaners are currently the most common type of vacuum used. Of course, nothing is perfect, and bagless vacuum cleaners come with their own set of disadvantages as well. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a bagless model and what makes them so popular? Let’s find out.

Pros:

• Bagless vacuum cleaners are more cost-efficient because they don’t require the continued purchase of replacement bags. While some bagless models may have a higher cost upfront, the price drops, and the value increases over time because you don’t have to invest money into buying new bags.
• For the most part, bagless vacuum cleaners have stronger suction power, which makes them more effective at removing dust and dirt from your floor while also saving you valuable time and effort. When it comes to vacuum cleaners, suction power is the most important feature they can possess. Sure, other features and extra accessories can be great, but you will have to spend more time cleaning your carpets, stairs, and floors without great suction power.
• Bagless vacuum cleaners are also easy to dump, and they make it easy to know when emptying the canister is necessary. The canister is almost always clear or see-through, so you can visually watch as it fills up with dirt and dust. When it reaches the fill line, it is time to empty the canister. It usually can be done by depressing a single button. Once empty, the canister easily clicks back into place, and you are ready to start cleaning again.
• It also means that you do not have to hassle with a bag, which can often be tricky to insert correctly. Bagless models eliminate the need for purchasing or handling bags, something many people view as a huge benefit.
• The lack of a need for vacuum bags also helps minimize your waste production, making bagless vacuum cleaners an environmentally friendly option. Instead of requiring an additional container to store your dirt in, it goes straight into the bin bag.
• Bagless vacuums are often more compact in size. As we previously discussed, most bagless vacuum cleaners come in an upright structure which is known to be more compact and saves space when it comes time for storage.

Cons:

• When you use a bagless vacuum cleaner, you can expect increased exposure to dust and allergens compared to bagged vacuum cleaners. When emptying a bagless vacuum cleaner, the dirt, dust, and debris inside the canister are not contained inside a tidy vacuum bag. It results in some of the dust and allergens escaping into the air you are breathing while you empty the container.
• Bagless vacuum cleaners also require a more hands-on cleaning process. Cleaning the inside of the dirt canister is part of routine maintenance with a bagless vacuum cleaner, and it must be done by hand. However, it is not difficult and can generally be done with mild soap and warm water.
• Bagless cleaners must also be cleaned more frequently than bagged vacuum cleaners. Dirt, human hair, pet hair, and other debris have a tendency to build up in the smaller corners and crevices of a bagless vacuum cleaners canister, which make frequent cleanings necessary to keep the suction and other features running in optimal condition.

 

Lihat postingan ini di Instagram

 

Sebuah kiriman dibagikan oleh Manchester Vacs – Dyson & Sebo (@manchestervacs)

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Bagged Vacuum Cleaner?

We know we listed quite a few benefits associated with using bagless vacuum cleaners, so it may be hard to see the potential benefits of a bagged vacuum cleaner right now, but that is about to change. However, they obviously come with a few disadvantages. Let’s find out what they are.

Pros:

• When you use a bagged vacuum cleaner, you minimize the amount of interaction you have with the dust and dirt you suction off the floor. It also helps to prevent accidental spills or messes when it comes time to empty the bag.
• Being able to contain dust and prevent it from escaping into the air also makes vacuuming with a bagged vacuum cleaner more hygienic.
• Bagged vacuum cleaners are also great for allergy sufferers. Aside from containing the pet hair, dust, and other allergy irritants picked up off the floor, many bagged vacuum cleaners also filter the exhaust air and contain a HEPA filter. A HEPA filter is particularly beneficial for anyone who owns a pet or is allergic to dust.
• Overall, a bagged vacuum cleaner also requires less maintenance and upkeep to keep it running at its full potential. Unlike a bagless vacuum cleaner, the interior does not need to be cleaned nearly as much because the bags contain almost all of the dust and other debris you pick up while vacuuming.

Cons:

• Bagged vacuum cleaners often wind up costing you more in the long run, even if the initial price appears to be lower because you will need to buy specific, disposable bags as well. While the bags are generally not very expensive, the cost adds up over time.
• The need to buy bags can also be a hassle in and of itself. Not only will you need to find the specific bag size needed for your vacuum model, but you will also be unable to vacuum at all without them. Often, ordering them online is the most convenient, but that takes a couple of days, and an immediate solution isn’t always available, depending on where you live.
• As the bag fills on bagged vacuum cleaners, the suction performance gradually decreases. Unlike with a bagless vacuum cleaner, you can’t simply dump the bag to restore suction power.
• Bagged vacuums are often bulkier by design as well. Some are vertical, and some are canister or floor type models, but in general, they tend to be bulkier because the compartment needed for bags has to be larger. So you don’t have to replace the bag each time you vacuum your home.
• Using vacuum bags also creates more waste, making this option less environmentally conscious.

 

Lihat postingan ini di Instagram

 

Sebuah kiriman dibagikan oleh Nick Long (@nickjlong94)

Is a Bagless Vacuum Cleaner Right for Your Home?

By now, you should have the answer to our original question, what is a bagless vacuum cleaner, and a whole lot more. If you consider buying a new vacuum cleaner, which type of vacuum do you think would best suit your specific cleaning need, bagged or bagless?

Bagless vacuum cleaners tend to be better when it comes to cost because you don’t have to spend money on replacement bags. They are also more environmentally friendly, easy to use, easy to empty, and often have e better suction in a more compact size. However, they are not always the best for allergy sufferers and require a more frequent, hands-on cleaning of the dirt canister.

Bagged vacuum cleaners tend to be better at containing dust and other allergens, making them more ideal for allergy sufferers. They also minimize the amount of direct contact you have with debris lifted off from your floors, require less cleaning of the device itself, and often contain a filter or filters. However, bagged vacuum cleaners may cost more in the long run because you have to buy replacement bags continually. Finding the specific size of your bags can often be a hassle, the suction performance decreases as the bags fill, and they are often bulkier by design.

Get One for Your Home

Considering all you have learned, is a bagless vacuum cleaner the right choice for vacuuming your home? Or, would a bagged vacuum cleaner be better suited to your needs?

Let us know what you think in the comments below.