A vacuum cleaner bag assembly adapted to be removably disposed within a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner bag assembly comprising: a panel assembly comprising a first panel and a second panel forming an enclosure having an interior volume, wherein an aperture extends through the first panel, the aperture adapted to receive debris exiting an outlet end of a hose assembly such that the debris is retained within the interior volume, each of the first panel and the second panel including an outer sheet (75, 79) and a liner sheet (77, 81), wherein each of the outer sheets comprises a first outer material and each of the liner sheets comprises a first liner material; and a shield member disposed within the interior volume and secured to one or more portions of the panel assembly, wherein the shield member comprises a second material that is different than each of the first outer material and the first liner material, the shield member extends vertically from a first point at or adjacent to a top portion of the panel assembly to a second point vertically disposed between a bottom portion of the aperture and a bottom portion of the panel assembly, the shield member is disposed opposite the aperture on the second panel and directly exposed to the aperture when the vacuum cleaner bag assembly is disposed within the tank such that the shield member protects a corresponding portion of the panel assembly from being impacted by debris passing through the aperture and into the interior volume; characterized in that the first outer material is a wood pulp and polyester blend material and the first liner material is a non-woven, high efficiency filtration material and the shield member includes a first portion and a second portion, the shield member being folded about a transverse axis that is disposed at or adjacent to the first point at or adjacent to the top portion of the panel assembly such that during normal operation, the first portion of the shield member abuts and applies a biasing force to the first panel of the panel assembly. a panel assembly comprising a first panel and a second panel forming an enclosure having an interior volume, wherein an aperture extends through the first panel, the aperture adapted to receive debris exiting an outlet end of a hose assembly such that the debris is retained within the interior volume, each of the first panel and the second panel including an outer sheet (75, 79) and a liner sheet (77, 81), wherein each of the outer sheets comprises a first outer material and each of the liner sheets comprises a first liner material; and a shield member disposed within the interior volume and secured to one or more portions of the panel assembly, wherein the shield member comprises a second material that is different than each of the first outer material and the first liner material, the shield member extends vertically from a first point at or adjacent to a top portion of the panel assembly to a second point vertically disposed between a bottom portion of the aperture and a bottom portion of the panel assembly, the shield member is disposed opposite the aperture on the second panel and directly exposed to the aperture when the vacuum cleaner bag assembly is disposed within the tank such that the shield member protects a corresponding portion of the panel assembly from being impacted by debris passing through the aperture and into the interior volume; characterized in that the first outer material is a wood pulp and polyester blend material and the first liner material is a non-woven, high efficiency filtration material and the shield member includes a first portion and a second portion, the shield member being folded about a transverse axis that is disposed at or adjacent to the first point at or adjacent to the top portion of the panel assembly such that during normal operation, the first portion of the shield member abuts and applies a biasing force to the first panel of the panel assembly.