Start by thinking about which surfaces collect the most hair and how often you’ll vacuum. A cordless stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups, a cylinder vacuum is worth considering for rugs and carpets, while a robot is best for maintaining accessible floors. If you’d also like to wash hard floors, check how the appliance handles rugs and always plan to use a separate solution for sofas and stairs. Whatever you choose, the attachments and brush maintenance matter just as much as the advertised figures.
If you often clean floors, pet beds or stairs between full cleans, look for a vacuum that’s easy to pick up and use, can reach under furniture and comes with attachments for upholstery. With a cordless stick vacuum, also check the battery life in the mode you’ll use.
Rugs and carpets need a brush suited to their pile. For sofas and pet beds, check that the vacuum comes with a compatible mini motorised tool. A floor head won’t necessarily be suitable for either of these tasks.
A robot can clean accessible floors regularly. You’ll still need to maintain its brushes and dustbin or dock, as well as use another way to clean upholstery and stairs.
The type of appliance mainly determines where and when you can use it. Que Choisir notes that robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor, and that a cordless stick vacuum’s maximum advertised battery life is measured at the lowest power setting. So compare appliances in conditions that reflect your home.
Consider it: if you want to grab your vacuum for quick clean-ups and tackle stairs or upholstery with the right attachments.
Bear in mind: battery life depends on the setting you choose, which may limit how long you can clean carpets, as Que Choisir points out.
Consider it: if cleaning rugs and carpets is your main priority, with a brush suited to the model and floor covering.
Bear in mind: it’s less convenient to get out and move around than a stick vacuum for frequent, smaller clean-ups.
Consider it: if you want to schedule floor cleaning and the robot can move around the rooms you want it to clean.
Bear in mind: sofas and stairs will still need cleaning separately, and you’ll need to check the brushes regularly.
Consider it: if your washable hard floors are marked as well as covered in pet hair.
Bear in mind: the washing system adds parts to maintain and won’t remove pet hair from fabrics.
| Priority | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Quick clean-ups | Check that the vacuum can reach under your furniture and, for a stick vacuum, check battery life in the setting you’ll use. | I want to pick up visible pet hair as soon as it appears, without having to prepare for a full clean. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise this convenience. |
| Rugs and upholstery | Check that the brush is designed for rugs and that there’s an attachment compatible with upholstery. | When pet hair gets caught in the carpet or on the sofa, I prioritise those surfaces over clear floors alone. This would be the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Scheduled cleaning | Check how easily the robot can move around your home, how it handles rugs, and what’s involved in maintaining the dustbin and brushes. | I’d rather schedule floor cleaning, while setting aside time to maintain the appliance. Around 20% of consumers would put this automation at the top of their list. |
| Washing hard floors | Make sure your floors are washable, and check how the appliance handles rugs and how to maintain its washing system. | If my hard floors are marked as well as covered in pet hair, I want to tackle both in one clean. This combination would be the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Que Choisir explains that this figure is measured at the lowest power setting. The battery life you get may therefore differ when using the setting and brush you plan to use on your rugs.
Compare battery life in the setting you’ll use and for the area you need to clean.
This feature doesn’t mean you can skip checking the brushes. For example, iRobot recommends checking the brushes on the Roomba s series twice a week in homes with pets.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering to find out how to remove and clean the brush.
You’ll still need to remove pet hair and maintain the filters or dock, depending on the appliance.
A robot works on floors. Its washing function is for washable floor coverings and won’t remove pet hair from upholstery, pet beds or stairs. Que Choisir also notes that results vary between robots and floor types.
If pet hair builds up on upholstery, make sure you have a suitable attachment. If you have rugs, check exactly how the model handles its mop pads.
In France, the ministries responsible for ecological transition state that vacuum cleaners are among the products covered by the repairability index. The Ministry of the Economy explains that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual.
Check that spare parts are available for your chosen model, find out who the seller is and keep your proof of purchase.
The Guard M1 Cat & Dog cylinder vacuum is designed in particular for homes with rugs and carpets.
Some Dyson stick vacuums and attachments are designed for frequent cleaning of floors and upholstery.
Roomba robots are designed for scheduled floor cleaning, with features that vary by model.
The brand offers robots with docks and washing functions for floor care.
The brand’s robot mops may suit homes looking to care for hard floors while keeping rugs in place.
These models include stick vacuums for manual cleaning and robots for floor care. If pet hair tends to build up on rugs or upholstery, check that the brushes and attachments are suited to those surfaces before choosing.
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Worth considering for frequent floor cleaning, with a design that’s easy to move under furniture. The product details list an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of battery life in standard mode. Check how long it lasts with the brush and setting you’ll use, and which upholstery attachments are included.
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Worth considering for manual cleaning of hard floors and rugs if a removable battery is important to you. The product title lists 60 minutes of battery life and an anti-tangle brush. Check how long it lasts in the setting you’ll use and whether there’s an attachment for your upholstery.
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For scheduling floor cleaning, provided the robot can move around your home. The product details describe an anti-tangle brush, an emptying dock and mop pads that lift over rugs. Check the lift height against your floor coverings. You’ll need another tool for the sofa and stairs.
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Worth comparing if you want to combine floor care with a washing function. The product details list ZeroTangle 3.0 brush technology and an OMNI station. Check how it handles your rugs and how much space the station needs. The brushes and tanks will still need maintenance.
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Worth considering for manual floor cleaning and reaching under some furniture. The product details list an anti-tangle brush, a lay-flat position and 55 minutes of battery life on hard floors. Check how long it lasts on rugs and which upholstery attachment is included.
Not if you also need to remove pet hair from sofas, pet beds or stairs. A robot is mainly for maintaining accessible floors. Que Choisir notes that its results vary depending on the floor covering, and its brushes and dustbin will still need maintenance.
Look for a mini motorised brush that’s specifically compatible with your vacuum and suitable for the fabric you want to clean. For example, Dyson France describes a mini anti-tangle brush for the V16 Piston Animal. Check which attachment actually comes with the model you’re considering.
Follow the instructions for your model and adjust how often you check the brushes depending on how much pet hair builds up. For the Roomba s series, iRobot recommends checking the rubber brushes at least once a week, increasing this to twice a week in homes with pets.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. If the appliance doesn’t match its description or has a conformity defect, keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller. An extended commercial warranty is separate from this statutory guarantee.
Yes. ADEME recommends airing your home after cleaning and vacuuming. This advice is about ventilating your home; it doesn’t mean that any particular vacuum cleaner offers a medical benefit.