This may sound very ignorant, but I was under the impression that bagged vacuums we're a thing of the past.
Most people think the same thing (I also thought this, until recently). Not sure why, but it may be a testament to the power of marketing. When you see the differences in how they operate and what's needed to maintain them, there is a gulf between them.
Bagless
Pros
- No need to purchase or change special bags
- Cheap
Cons
- Waste disposal is unpleasant and messy
- Frequent, messy cleaning and maintenance required
- Respiratory protection advised when disposing of waste and/or cleaning
- Allergy sufferers should avoid
Bagged
Pros
- Easy waste disposal
- Minimal maintenance and cleaning
- Superior filtration; excellent options for allergies
Cons
- Need to buy and change special bags
- Higher intital cost
Both need filter changes, but this is often forgotten or not even mentioned with the bagless vacuums. With the bagged units, changing the bag simultaneously changes one of the filters. Both have ongoing costs, one is just more apparent.
Suction is lost on both types once filters start to clog. With bagless, the dust is hitting the filter immediately upon use and you are losing suction from the very beginning. With bagged, suction begins to decrease once the bag exceeds 1/22/3 full. Unless your house is constantly filthy, the bagged unit is much less of an issue here, whereas the bagless requires filter cleaning after
every single use to restore it to full suction capability. Do that often enough and the bags start to appear much more attractive.
