Difference between Bagged vs Bagless Vacuum Cleaners – Pros and Cons

Choosing between a bagged vs bagless vacuum cleaners is quite a headache for homeowners these days.

Both types of vacuum cleaners have got some benefits and some drawbacks as well. The final decision, however, depends upon your preferences, budget, and how much are you willing to sacrifice for mother earth. (I’ll discuss it later on)

This discussion, therefore, includes a comparison and contrast between bagged and bagless vacuum cleaners.

To clear out everything, I’ll first talk about bagged vacuum cleaners along with their pros and cons. Then, I’ll move on to the bagless vacuum cleaners. Finally, I’ll give my verdict based on what both types offer:

This is Scarlet Dowden, and you are reading a comparison of bagless vs bagged vacuum cleaners on Flash Reviews Australia.

Bagged vs Bagless Vacuum Cleaners Compared and Contrasted:

The main comparison is as follows:

Bagged Vacuum Cleaners:

A bagged vacuum cleaner, in short, collects all the debris, allergens, and microorganisms in a bag.

The bag, when filled to its full capacity is replaced with another one.

One other thing to keep in mind here is that this type of vacuum cleaner is a traditional one.

Plus, they also offer a better way of disposing of all the dirt and debris, etc.

Let us have a breakdown of bagged vacuum cleaners in terms of some benefits and drawbacks;

What are the Benefits of Bagged Vacuum Cleaners?

1. More Hygienic Option:

It’s a no-brainer that a bagged vacuum cleaner ensures a more hygienic way of cleaning up all the mess.

Not only does it collect all the dust and dirt into a replaceable bag, but you can also easily remove it without actually touching any debris.

In this way, all pollens, debris, allergens, and microorganisms remain in the bag.

You can simply dispose of the bag into a dump, which means that the dirt has no way of getting back to the home.

So, that’s the very first benefit you should know about a bagged vacuum cleaner.

2. Recommended Option for People Suffering from Allergy:

Furthermore, such types of vacuum cleaners have an effective way of trapping all dirt, pollens, and allergens.

The filters used in a bagged vacuum cleaner offer more efficient cleaning, thus making sure that your home gets rid of foreign debris without any hassle.

More than that, the bags in which the dirt gets entrapped are air sealed. Hence, it’s literally impossible for the debris to get out of these replaceable bags.

It’s, therefore, a recommended option for people who are suffering from different kinds of allergies.

3. Offer HEPA Filtration:

The latest bagged vacuum cleaners use HEPA filtration to make sure that everything gets entrapped into the machine without any hassle.

That said, HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Matter) tag is not a piece of cake for everyone.

In order to attain it, the filters have to go through excessive testing of entrapping at least 99.07% particulate matter with a size of 0.3 microns or larger.

So, HEPA-certified vacuum cleaners work effectively enough to keep the house allergen and pollen-free at the same time.

Note: HEPA Filtration is not limited to bagged vacuum cleaners only. In fact, bagless vacuum cleaners also use this type of filtration to entrap microorganisms. So, it’s a trait that’s present in both vacuum cleaner types.

4. Less Maintenance Required:

Compared with bagless vacuum cleaners, bagged cleaners require less maintenance.

You might be thinking, “How is it possible when we have to replace the bags every once in a while?”

Well, to take this thing into perspective, a simple bagged vacuum cleaner can entrap at least 2 pounds of debris until it gets full.

Although you have to replace the bags, but until and unless you clean your house every day (which is highly unlikely), you won’t need to change them too soon.

In this way, they offer less maintenance compared to bagless vacuum cleaners.

5. No Leaks:

Bagged vacuum cleaners offer no leakage quality as well. The vacuum sucks dirt and it gets directly entrapped into the bag via vacuum pipe.

That said, there is no leakage involved which, therefore, ensures a hassle-free cleaning interface.

6. Bags are easy to find:

You can easily find replaceable bags of such vacuum cleaners either online or from local stores.

However, it’s applicable only when you are using latest models.

7. Solid Trapping of Dust:

Even if the dirt escapes from the inner bag (filter), it automatically gets entrapped into outer bag.

So it will never leak out until and unless your vacuum cleaner isn’t working properly.

It’d be too much cliché to discuss the benefits of bagged vacuum cleaners only. Some disadvantages are also there.

Have a look at them:

Cons of Using Bagged Vacuum Cleaners:

1. Buying Replacement Bags:

Although cheap, you have to buy a good amount of replacement bags especially if you are conscious about cleaning your house every once in a while.

2. Non-Reusable Bags:

The bags are mostly non-reusable. That is, once filled, you’ll have no other choice rather than to dump the bag and replace it with an empty one.

3. Less Effective Cleaning:

Whenever the bag gets full, the vacuum cleaner will not perform up to the mark. I’ve experienced several times that a bagged vacuum cleaner doesn’t even trap dust when its bag is about to get full.

4. Not Eco-Friendly:

As I already mentioned above, using a bagged vacuum cleaner requires replacement of bags, which is not an eco-friendly option.

So, it’s a bad idea to invest in them, especially if you want to save the environment from getting polluted.

5. Issues in Finding Replacement Bags:

You’ll have to search A LOT for replacement bags if you own an old model.

6. Changing Bags Midway through Cleaning:

It happens sometimes that you have to change the bag midway through the cleaning process. It will not only waste your time but will also disrupt your cleaning routine.

Bagless Vacuum Cleaners:

Bagless vacuum cleaners don’t use bags as they use a dust trapping compartment instead that you have to empty outside once it gets full.

Technologically better than the bagged counterparts, these vacuum cleaners are a bit expensive.

However, they are worth every penny you spend on them. That’s because the cleaning these machines offer is well up to the mark.

Let’s have a look at some of the benefits a bagless vacuum cleaner offers:

What are the Benefits of Bagless Vacuum Cleaners?

1. Less Expensive:

Purchasing a bagless vacuum cleaner is a onetime investment.

That is, you won’t have to spend money purchasing replacement bags, which will surely save you enough money to spend on other things.

Furthermore, the chamber that collects all the debris could easily be emptied again and again without any need for replacement.

So, a bagless vacuum cleaner ensures less costs compared to its bagged counterpart.

2. Easy to Empty:

Most of the chambers installed in bagless vacuum cleaners are transparent.

In this way, you’ll always remain aware of when to empty the chamber whenever it gets full.

On top of that, you’ll also get satisfied enough while seeing the chamber getting filled with dirt as it’s the evidence of the machine working fine enough.

That’s not, however, the case with bagged vacuum cleaners as you cannot see the outer bags nor can you know when they got full.

3. Eco-Friendly:

No replacement bags means less pollution and a clean environment.

Bagless vacuum cleaners are an eco-friendly option compared to the bagged counterparts as they don’t use any replacement bags.

You can empty the chamber whenever you want and that’s it. No extra usage of bags at all!

4. No Midway Break:

As compared to the bagged vacuum cleaners, you won’t have to stop the cleaning process midway.

I’d suggest that you start cleaning with an empty chamber so that it doesn’t get full until you are done cleaning the house thoroughly.

5. HEPA Filtration:

Just like the bagged vacuum cleaners, bagless machines also use HEPA filtration interface.

In this aspect, a HEPA filter can easily last for 5 to 6 months. This means that less maintenance is required to keep the vacuum cleaner efficient enough.

6. More Popular Option:

People in Australia are choosing bagless vacuum cleaners over the other type.

So, it’s becoming a more popular option as homeowners tend to invest in something durable, eco-friendly, and cost-friendly at the same time.

The story, however, doesn’t end here!

Let us discuss some of the disadvantages of bagless vacuum cleaners as well:

Disadvantages of Bagless Vacuum Cleaners:

1. Messier:

Emptying the chamber could get messier at times as you’ll have to do the job manually.

Plus, you will not be able to clean the chamber thoroughly no matter how hard you try. 

2. Takes Time:

Taking out the chamber, emptying it thoroughly, and then putting it back consumes time and energy.

That’s not the case with a bagged vacuum cleaner where you have to put the bag out replace another and BINGO! You could start cleaning again.

3. Not Hygienic Enough:

You’ll surely come in contact with the debris while emptying the chamber and it could cause a sudden allergic reaction as well.

Better use a surgical mask with transparent goggles to remain on the safe side while dumping the dust off the vacuum chamber.

4. Requires Maintenance:

You have to clean up, brush, and wash the filters installed in a bagless vacuum cleaner, which requires time, efficiency, and use of resources.

My Takeaway:

Both types of vacuum cleaners have their own sets of benefits and disadvantages. It’s, therefore, really hard to choose the best among them.

I’d rather say that make your investment according to your needs and budget.

If you are not so environmentally conscious and okay with using replacement bags, then a bagged vacuum cleaner will suit you more.

However, if you want a clean environment with a cost-friendly option, then a bagless vacuum cleaner would be there to help you out.

What do you think would work out better for you? Tell us in the comment box mentioned above and we’ll surely respond to your feedback in a while.