To keep dog hair under control between deep cleans, start by choosing a vacuum to suit your floors and cleaning routine: a robot for scheduled cleaning on uncluttered floors, a stick vacuum for quick clean-ups, a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean of carpets and upholstery, or a vacuum mop for hard floors with muddy paw prints. According to UFC-Que Choisir, robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor covering, while stick vacuum battery life depends on how you use it. So check the brushes, accessories and maintenance requirements too, rather than relying on the advertised power alone.
If dog hair quickly reappears on uncluttered floors, a robot vacuum can clean regularly without you having to get a vacuum out every day. You’ll still need to empty the dust bin and maintain the brushes, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If hair gets caught in carpet fibres or on the sofa, check how the model performs on these surfaces and which accessories are included. UFC-Que Choisir’s test methods assess results on different floor coverings.
If muddy paw prints come with the dog hair, a vacuum mop may suit your needs on compatible floor coverings. UFC-Que Choisir describes floor cleaners as being primarily designed for hard floors, so you’ll need a different solution for rugs and upholstery.
Best for: scheduling frequent cleaning in rooms with enough clear floor space.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to maintain the dust bin and brushes. According to UFC-Que Choisir, results vary from one floor covering to another.
Best for: quick clean-ups around your dog’s bed, the sofa or high-traffic areas.
Bear in mind: battery life and dust bin capacity can limit longer cleaning sessions. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the short running time at full power in particular.
Best for: a main vacuum that can also give carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture a thorough clean.
Bear in mind: the cable and bulk can make it less convenient for quick clean-ups; bagged models also require replacement bags.
Best for: hard floors where dog hair often comes with muddy paw prints.
Bear in mind: the roller and tanks need cleaning. According to UFC-Que Choisir, you shouldn’t assume this type of appliance can replace a vacuum for every surface.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Automated cleaning | Navigation suited to your rooms and performance on your floor coverings; access to the dust bin and brushes. | I want to stop hair building up on the floors between manual cleans. This would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Quick manual clean-ups | Battery life in the mode you use and ease of handling; dust bin capacity. | Around the dog’s bed or the sofa, I’d rather get a vacuum out for a few minutes. Around 27% of consumers might put this convenience first. |
| Rugs and upholstery | How well it picks up hair from fibres and whether the model actually includes accessories for rugs or furniture. | Hair gets stuck in my rugs or sofa, so I prioritise a thorough clean, even if the vacuum takes longer to get out. This would be a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Muddy marks on hard floors | Compatible floor coverings and maintenance of the roller and tanks. | In the hallway, I need to tackle muddy paw prints as well as dog hair. Washing would be the top priority for around 13% of consumers. |
A power rating on its own doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up dog hair. UFC-Que Choisir tests robot vacuums on different floor coverings, for example, while the floorhead is another important factor when choosing a cylinder vacuum.
Where test results are available, compare how well each model picks up fibres from carpets and hard floors, then check which brush comes with the version you’re buying.
A stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups, but battery life can be much shorter at higher power settings. In its tests of dozens of stick vacuums, UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power.
Check the running time in the mode you’ll need for your floors. If rugs and upholstery need longer sessions, consider whether you’ll need a second vacuum.
UFC-Que Choisir describes floor cleaners as being primarily designed for hard floors. So a vacuum mop alone won’t deal with hair embedded in rugs, carpets or the sofa.
Check which floor coverings are suitable for the model and consider a separate vacuum if dog hair also builds up on upholstery.
Frequent cleaning means you’ll need to clean the brushes and filters and, depending on the appliance, replace bags or other parts. In France, the DGCCRF says that corded household vacuum cleaners, cordless battery-powered vacuums and robot vacuums are among the categories covered by the repairability index.
Check the index and make sure brushes, filters and any replacement bags for the specific model are available.
The ProAnimal range includes stick and cylinder vacuums, both bagged and bagless, to suit different household floors.
Miele’s Cat & Dog bagged cylinder vacuums are worth considering if you have a lot of rugs and carpets at home.
The brand offers robot and stick vacuums as well as vacuum mops, so start by choosing the type that suits your needs.
Dyson’s stick vacuums for homes with pets are worth considering for quick manual clean-ups.
These models suit three different needs: scheduling cleaning with a robot, tackling quick messes with a stick vacuum, or vacuuming and washing compatible hard floors. If dog hair is embedded in rugs or upholstery, check the performance and accessories of the model you’re considering, whatever type it is.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning around your home. Check how it performs on your rugs.
LiDAR navigation, a mopping function, an anti-tangle system and automatic emptying are listed for this version, with an advertised suction power of 8 000 Pa. The brushes and collection system still need maintenance.
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Worth considering if you want to automate cleaning while taking the rugs in your home into account.
An anti-tangle brush, app control and a collection station are listed for this model. Check whether the mopping function is suitable for your rugs, and remember to maintain the brush and station.
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Worth considering for automated cleaning if you also have enough space for its station.
An OZMO Roller mopping function, ZeroTangle 3.0 system and Omni station are listed for this version. The dirty water tank, brushes and filters still need maintenance, so compare how it performs on your floor coverings.
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A stick vacuum is handy for targeted clean-ups. Check whether it comes with the accessories you’ll need if you also plan to clean the sofa.
An anti-tangle brush, handheld use and charging station are listed for this model. The advertised battery life of up to 55 minutes applies to bare floors, so check the running time for rugs.
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Worth considering for dog hair and muddy paw prints on compatible hard floors, but not for cleaning rugs or the sofa.
An automatic self-cleaning system is listed for this version, with an advertised battery life of up to 30 minutes. Check that your flooring is compatible and remember to maintain the tanks and roller.
A robot can keep floors clean with regular runs, but it won’t necessarily replace a manual vacuum for rugs, upholstery or targeted cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir finds that results vary depending on the floor covering, so check how it performs on the surfaces in your home. You’ll also need to empty the dust bin and clean the brushes.
Check how well the model picks up hair from fibres and which brushes or upholstery accessories come with the specific version. An advertised motor power rating alone won’t tell you how well it performs on these surfaces. UFC-Que Choisir’s test methods assess different floor coverings separately.
Check the brushes, filters and dust bin regularly, as well as the tanks and roller on a vacuum mop. Before choosing a model with a bag or station, check which consumables and replacement parts it needs and where you can get them.
Check the repairability index for the model you’re considering. According to the DGCCRF, corded household vacuum cleaners, cordless battery-powered models and robot vacuums are among the categories that must display this index in France. The score out of 10 indicates how repairable a product is; also check that parts for the specific model are available.