Bagged Vacuum Vs. Bagless Vacuum

Buying the best vacuum cleaner for your cleaning needs requires many important factors to consider, and one such most essential consideration includes either a bagged vacuum or a bagless vacuum?

The term bagged or bagless in a vacuum cleaner determines the method of disposal of dirt and debris collected in a vacuum cleaner.

Well, the most common are bagged vacuum cleaners, and for a good reason. They are convenient and easy to use, and you don’t have to change dust bags as often as you would with a bagless vacuum. But, a lot of people are interested in bagless vacuum cleaners. They claim that a bagless vacuum cleaner is cleaner and more efficient.

However, they both have their pros and cons. So, what’s the difference between the two, and should you consider making the switch? Before you decide, it’s a good idea to understand the benefits and disadvantages of each type.

What is a Bagged Vacuum Cleaner?

As the name resembles, these vacuum cleaners come with a disposable bag to collect dust, dirt, and other particles in them and require periodic replacement. Some bagged vacuum cleaners also come with HEPA filters to trap allergens, so there are fewer chances of inhaling these particles into your lungs.

Once the bag is full, you remove it and discard it without touching the collected dust, hair, or other debris. Some models even come with an indicator light to let you know when the bag needs replacement.

Why Buy A Bagged Vacuum Cleaner?

Here are some of the benefits of Bagged Vacuum Cleaners

1. Less Mess and a Hygienic Alternative

Bagged Vacuum Cleaners are very popular for their hygienic feature. They collect dirt, debris, and other particles inside the closed bag, so there is no possibility of dirt getting spilled from it. Plus, you just need to remove the bag and dispose of it directly without any need of opening it and emptying it. This avoids the dirt spillage and even saves your hand from getting messier.

2. Requires Easy Maintenance

Vacuum maintenance is a must-have part to ensure uninterrupted performance. And the bagged vacuum cleaners excel when it comes to maintenance.

They come with enough capacity of dust bags to hold more dirt and debris than their bagless counterparts. So, you don’t need to replace them more frequently. Plus, the filters are in-built directly into the dirtbag, so it saves you from the hassle of cleaning filters.

3. An Ideal Option for Allergy Sufferers

The bagged vacuums themselves act as a great filter that traps out the smallest dust particles and allergens and filters clean air out.

Next, they have disposable and sealed dust bags, so there are no chances of spillage while disposing of them.

Another best part is that the bagged vacuums with HEPA filters are best to remove more dust and allergens from the air than any other type of filter available.

The Disadvantages of Bagged Vacuum Cleaners

Here are some of the disadvantages one generally faces with bagged vacuum cleaners.

1. Bag Replacement May Incur Additional Costs

Bag replacement is necessary for a bagged vacuum cleaner when they get full to ensure interruption-free performance. So, this is an extra ongoing expense to purchase the vacuum cleaner bag every few weeks of usage.

It is sometimes even difficult to find replacement bags, especially if you are using an older model. In this case, you may have to purchase a new machine which is again an extra expense.

One more thing that adds to your expenses is that sometimes you are not able to find out that the dirtbag is full, especially with the older models. So, most of the time, the user replaces the bag before it gets full. This is again a waste of money, time, and effort.

2. Decreased Performance When Using With a Full Dirtbag

Vacuum cleaners need a new bag every few weeks. When the bag gets close to full, the vacuum’s performance decreases. It isn’t easy to assess the level of the bag (whether full or close to full). Hence, you may end up in a loss of money by replacing the half-full bag.

Some newer models may be available with indicator light, but it does not eliminate the guesswork.

Furthermore, bagged vacuums tend to get clogged easily, which reduces their suction power even if the bag is not full.

3. Bagged Vacuums Start to Smell if Bags are not Changed Frequently

If you have pets and you use your vacuum to clean pet food, pet urine, or other smelly things, you must have to change the bags more frequently otherwise, your vacuum will start giving a fowl smell.

4. Not Eco-Friendly

Though vacuum cleaner bags are made up of paper, they also contain other material that is not recyclable. So, when you dump the dirtbag along with the trash in it, they can cause environmental pollution.

What is a Bagless Vacuum Cleaner?

A bagless vacuum cleaner does not have any bag attached to it; instead, it comes with a dust collection box that is in-built into the vacuum cleaner’s body. Therefore, it is much more convenient than replacing a bag now and then.

The dust collection box is connected to a suction motor via a hose. So, whenever you use the vacuum, the dust and debris get collected inside the dirt compartment. They are transparent and come with an indicator to notify you about emptying the compartment when it gets full.

The Advantages of Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

Bagless vacuums are great for those who hate having to stock up on bags. They’re easy to use, clean, and maintain. They also save you money since you won’t need to buy as many bags.

1. Low Key Maintenance

Bagless vacuums are cheaper to run and require less maintenance than bagged models because you don’t need to buy replacement bags. All you need to do is empty the chamber, and you are good to go!

2. Easy to Assess When to Empty

Bagless vacuums have clear chambers that make it easy to see if the vacuum is full or empty. It also delivers a sense of satisfaction to see all the dirt and debris and dirt in your vacuum cleaner, which assures that the vacuum cleaner is doing its job perfectly. Even some advanced models also come with the dirt-compartment full indicator that notifies you it needs emptying.

3. Environment-friendly

Bagless vacuums are much better than bagged models because they reduce the unnecessary waste. Unlike a bagged vacuum, you don’t need to replace the bags every time it fills up. Just clean the chamber, and you are set to go for a new cleaning session.

4. Less Expensive

Bagless Vacuums are less expensive, and the best part is that there is no added expense of having to purchase replacement vacuum bags.

5. More Space Saving

A bagless vacuum cleaner takes up less space than a bagged model, making it perfect for homes with limited storage space.

Disadvantages of Bagless Vacuum Cleaners

1. Chances of Dirt Exposure are High

Since the bagless vacuum cleaners collect dust inside the built-in dirt chamber, there are high chances of dirt exposure while emptying them. When you open it for dirt disposal, some airborne particles and dust can recirculate back into the air.

2. Cleaning of the Dirt Chamber is Time Consuming

The dirt chamber of the bagless vacuums requires careful cleaning and drying. In fact, the dirt cup must be regularly cleaned, which is more time-consuming and labor-intensive than replacing vacuum cleaner bags.

It’s also important for bagless models to clean the filters on a regular basis for their efficient performance. And this can be time-consuming too.

So, which type of vacuum cleaner should you choose – Bagged Or Bagless?

Now you are clear about the benefits and drawbacks of both types of vacuum cleaners. Well, there is no best choice when it comes to deciding on either bagged or bagless models. It all depends on your needs, cleaning routine, and preferences.

Let’s go through a quick comparison chart to decide on which one is best for you.