If pet hair builds up on your carpets as well as your sofa, a bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering first, provided you choose one with the right brushes included. Que Choisir highlights the suction performance of cylinder vacuums and reports that bagged models outperform bagless ones. A cordless stick vacuum makes quick clean-ups easier, while a robot can keep your floors clean. Check the runtime and performance on your surfaces, and have a handheld vacuum for upholstery and other surfaces away from the floor.
The surfaces that collect the most pet hair will influence your choice of vacuum just as much as how easy it is to use day to day.
If you clean both floors and cushions or bedding, look separately at suction performance on carpets and the accessories designed for fabrics. Que Choisir highlights the suction performance of cylinder vacuums. For your sofa, check that the model you choose comes with a suitable upholstery tool or mini brush.
A cordless stick vacuum can be easier to grab when you only need to tackle a few areas. Que Choisir describes this type mainly as a supplementary cleaner. If you plan to use it on carpets, check how long it runs at the power setting you need, rather than relying on the maximum quoted runtime.
A robot vacuum can take care of regular cleaning on accessible floors. When choosing a model, look for tests on the floor types in your home, as well as separate assessments of edges and corners, as covered in Que Choisir’s testing process. You’ll still need another appliance for the sofa and stairs.
Start with the surfaces you need to clean, then check the brushes, runtime and maintenance requirements of the exact model.
| Priority | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Main vacuum | Compare test results on the types of flooring in your home and check which brushes are included. Que Choisir reports that cylinder vacuums outperform other types, and that bagged cylinder models outperform bagless ones. | If I regularly clean a large area and carpets, I could opt for a bagged cylinder vacuum, as long as I’m happy to use a cord and replace the bags. |
| Bagless collection | Check performance on carpets, access to the dust container and filter maintenance instructions. According to Que Choisir, bagless cylinder vacuums expose you to more dust than bagged models during use and maintenance. | I’d rather empty a dust container than replace bags, and I’m happy to maintain the collection system regularly. |
| Carpets and rugs | Look for tests on the relevant fibres and floor covering. Check whether a turbo brush or motorised brush is included and whether its roller can be cleaned. Motor power alone isn’t enough to judge how well it collects pet hair. | Pet hair clings to the carpets in my home, so I want to know how the vacuum performs on this surface, not just on hard floors. |
| Sofa and upholstery | Check for an upholstery tool or mini brush, then make sure it’s compatible with the exact model. Consider the type of covering you need to clean. | Cushions, pet beds and stairs need an accessory that can be used away from the floor; a floor brush on its own won’t do the job. |
| Quick clean-ups | For a cordless stick vacuum, compare the runtime at the setting you’ll use, the charging time and the battery. Que Choisir describes this type as particularly easy to manoeuvre, but mainly suited to supplementary cleaning. | I want to be able to vacuum pet hair quickly between more thorough cleans without having to stop part-way through the area I’m tackling. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot vacuum, look for test results on your floors, carpets, corners and edges. Also check how easy it is to access the brush and maintain the dust container or docking station. | Pet hair often collects on my floors, and I’d like to automate cleaning while keeping a manual option for the sofa. |
| Routine maintenance | Check how easy it is to access the roller, how to clean the filter and which consumables are compatible with the model. Brushes designed for pet hair also need maintenance. | I want to remove tangled hair and keep the vacuum in good condition without neglecting the maintenance steps in the instructions. |
A power rating on its own doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up pet hair caught in a carpet. Que Choisir also highlights the importance of the design of the vacuum head.
Compare tests carried out on the floor coverings in your home and check which head or brush comes with the vacuum.
Accessories for carpets and upholstery vary between models and ranges. A brush sold separately won’t necessarily be included in the configuration you’re buying.
Before ordering, check the list of included accessories, the brush model and whether it’s compatible with the exact variant.
If the right accessory is sold separately, factor in its cost and compatibility too.
For a cordless stick vacuum, the quoted runtime under the least demanding conditions won’t tell you how long it will last at high power on carpets.
Look for the runtime with the setting and brush you plan to use, then compare it with the size of the area you need to clean.
Pet hair can wrap around a rotating brush. The bag or dust container and filters also need the maintenance recommended for the appliance.
Check that you can access the roller and read the instructions and consumables information for the specific model. For example, Rowenta recommends cleaning the pet turbo brush on the robot concerned once a week; this doesn’t apply to all brushes.
These examples can help you identify specific configurations and accessories. Features of one range won’t necessarily apply to every model from the same brand.
The Cat & Dog range includes bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums to consider if you’re looking for a turbo brush.
The Unlimited 7 ProAnimal BCS711PET cordless stick vacuum is worth considering for frequent clean-ups if the brush is an important factor in your decision.
Accessories for some Rowenta models make it possible to consider floor and upholstery cleaning separately.
A mini motorised brush may suit homes where you need to clean sofas, mattresses or stairs.
These models include cordless stick vacuums for manual cleaning and a robot for floor maintenance. To choose between them, check the accessories for your upholstery and how well they perform on your floor coverings. Their features aren’t the same as those of a cylinder vacuum.
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For cleaning floors and carpets, the product details list an anti-tangle floor brush and a small pet brush for surfaces away from the floor. A removable battery is also listed. Check the runtime at the setting you’ll use, performance on your carpets and the filter maintenance instructions.
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For frequent cleaning and stairs, the product details list a removable battery, a motorised floor brush and a separate brush for stairs. Check which accessory is suitable for your sofa, how long it runs with the motorised brush and how it performs on your carpets.
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For regular cleaning across several rooms, the product details list an anti-tangle floor brush, a removable battery and a 1.8 L dust container. Check the runtime with the brush and setting you plan to use, the accessories for your upholstery and the filter maintenance requirements.
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For switching between floors and upholstery, the product details list an anti-tangle floor head, a handheld mode and an upholstery tool. Check what type of tool is included, how it performs on your carpets and how long it runs at the setting you need. The suction and runtime figures in the product details don’t appear to be consistent with each other.
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For automated floor cleaning, the product details list LiDAR navigation, an anti-tangle system and an emptying dock with a bag. Check how the Q7 L5+ performs on your carpets, along edges and in corners, and which bags are compatible. You’ll still need a manual vacuum for the sofa and stairs.
No. Instead, compare performance on the surfaces in your home and check which brushes are included for carpets and upholstery. A ‘pet’ label alone doesn’t prove how well a specific model performs.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth prioritising if suction and dust exposure during maintenance matter to you. Que Choisir reports that bagged cylinder vacuums outperform bagless models and expose you to less dust. A bagless model is still an option if you’d rather empty and maintain a dust container than replace bags. Either way, compare performance on your floors.
It may be suitable for quick clean-ups, but don’t assume it will replace a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean of carpets and upholstery. Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums mainly as supplementary cleaners and highlights the suction performance of cylinder vacuums. Before switching your main vacuum, compare test results on your surfaces, runtime at the setting you’ll use and the accessories included.
No. A robot vacuum can clean accessible floors, but not cushions or stairs. For these areas, you’ll need a manual vacuum with a suitable accessory. For the robot itself, look for tests on your floor coverings, edges and corners.
Follow the instructions for your brush and remove any hair tangled around the roller. As an example specific to its accessory, Rowenta recommends cleaning one of its robot pet turbo brushes once a week. This isn’t a rule that applies to every model.