Bagged Vacuums: Vacuum cleaners with bags work by having a disposable bag which stores dirt and debri sucked up by the vacuum.

Pro’s:

• Easy to remove/replace bag
• Bag refills are easy to find
• Second layer of protection from contaminants with cloth bag

Con’s:

• Continually spend money on replacement bags
• If you don’t replace the bag when it’s full the vacuum will overheat
• Creating more waste through use of the disposable bags

Bagless Vacuums: Vacuum cleaners without bags work by utilizing a series of filters to separate dirt and debri.

Pro’s:

• No added cost of disposable bags
• Don’t have to worry about running out of bags
• Less waste

Con’s:

• It takes more time to clean the filters- some have up to 8 filters Filters are more costly to replace
• Contaminants are more likely to escape while emptying canister Suction is reduced during use
• Some filters can be tricky to find to find and clean

Bagged vacuums are easy to use and often have better suction. Something else to consider is that all HEPA vacuums are bagged vacuums. However, you do have to consider the additional cost of purchasing bags along with the waste of throwing away those bags. Bagless vacuums reduce waste and can help save money, but if you don’t properly care for the vacuum it will wind up costing you more and leaving your home dirtier.