If you often clean rugs or carpets covered in pet hair, start by looking at cylinder vacuums with a suitable brush and compare how they perform on these surfaces. A cordless stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups, as long as its battery life in the mode you use is sufficient. A robot vacuum can help keep floors clean between deeper cleans, but results vary depending on the floor type, as Que Choisir points out.
If pet hair gets caught in the fibres, look for a main vacuum with a brush designed for carpets and check how it performs on this type of surface. A cylinder vacuum with a suitable turbo brush is worth considering.
A cordless stick vacuum can be handy for quick clean-ups on floors and furniture. Check which brush is included for upholstery, how long the battery lasts in the mode you need, and how easy it is to clean the roller.
A robot vacuum can take care of some routine cleaning. You’ll still need to empty its bin and maintain its brushes, so don’t assume it will also clean sofas or remove hair embedded in carpets.
Worth considering: as your main vacuum if your carpets need frequent cleaning.
Bear in mind: it’s a mains-powered appliance that you’ll need to move around; with a bagged model, you’ll also need to replace the bags.
Worth considering: for quick, frequent clean-ups on floors and, with the right attachment, on furniture.
Bear in mind: battery life depends on the mode you choose, especially when carpets need more power.
Worth considering: as an extra for regular floor cleaning.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to maintain the bin and brushes, and performance varies by floor type, as Que Choisir reports.
| Priority | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair on carpets and upholstery | Compare test results on rugs or carpets, not just hard floors. Check which brush and furniture attachments are actually included. | Pet hair gets stuck in my carpet or sofa: I need a vacuum suited to these surfaces, not just open floors. |
| Brush maintenance | Check how easy it is to access the roller, remove tangled hair and maintain the bin or bag. An ‘anti-tangle’ feature doesn’t mean you can skip these checks. | I want to be able to remove hair from the brush easily after regular use. |
| Battery life and manoeuvrability | For a stick vacuum, check the battery life in the mode you’ll use on your floors. Que Choisir notes that the quoted battery life is usually measured at low power. Also check whether it can reach underneath furniture. | I need enough time to vacuum the areas where pet hair builds up without stopping to recharge. |
| Noise during use | Compare noise measurements taken under similar conditions, and consider the mode and brush you’ll use on carpets. | If I vacuum often, noise matters too when I’m using the setting needed to clean my carpets. |
According to Que Choisir, the stated battery life is usually measured at low power. It doesn’t tell you how long the vacuum will run on carpets in a different mode.
Look for the run time in the mode you’ll need and compare carpet-cleaning performance separately.
You’ll still need to check the bin and brushes on a robot vacuum. Que Choisir also points out that performance varies depending on the type of floor.
Before you buy, check how easy it is to access the brushes, how the dock works if one is included, and how well the robot performs on your flooring.
Bags need replacing, and the filters and brushes need maintaining.
Check which bags and filters are compatible with the model you’re considering, and make sure they’re readily available.
Keeping hair out of the roller and picking it up from carpets are two different things. When testing the Shark PowerPro IZ380EU, Les Numériques found that pet hair and long strands of hair remained caught in the brush.
For the specific model you’re interested in, look for carpet test results and information about how to clean its brush.
Miele’s cylinder vacuum range includes the bagged Guard M1 Cat & Dog, which is worth considering if carpets are a big part of your cleaning routine.
The X-Force Flex 8.60 Animal Kit RH9678WO is an example of a cordless stick vacuum for frequent clean-ups.
The R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry robot is an option for automated routine floor cleaning, alongside targeted cleaning.
These options include two cordless stick vacuums for regular clean-ups and a robot vacuum for routine floor care. If your carpets need a main vacuum, compare cylinder models with a suitable brush too.
Image unavailable
Designed for regular cleaning on floors and carpets, this stick vacuum is advertised with an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of battery life. Check how long it runs in the mode you’ll use on carpets, and don’t assume the brush will remove embedded pet hair just because of its stated design.
Image unavailable
This cordless model is worth considering for frequent floor cleaning. It’s advertised with up to 60 minutes of battery life and a removable battery. Check the run time in the mode you’ll use and which attachments are included for upholstery.
Image unavailable
Designed to complement manual cleaning on floors, this robot vacuum is advertised with an auto-empty dock, LiDAR navigation and an anti-tangle system. Check how well it performs on your carpets and what maintenance it needs; it won’t replace targeted cleaning of upholstery.
Not necessarily. Think of it first as a way to keep your floors clean between deeper cleans. Que Choisir says robot vacuum performance varies depending on the floor covering, so check how it handles your carpets and keep a separate solution for upholstery or areas that need targeted cleaning.
Check that the vacuum has a brush designed for carpets, such as a turbo brush on a cylinder model, and see which attachments are included for furniture. To assess how well it picks up pet hair, look for tests of the specific model on the type of surface you have rather than relying on power figures alone.
No. Check that the roller is easy to access and inspect it regularly. In its test, Les Numériques found pet hair and long strands of hair still caught in the Shark PowerPro IZ380EU’s brush.
Check which mode the quoted battery life applies to. Que Choisir says the figure is usually measured at low power; if you’re cleaning carpets, look for the run time in the mode you plan to use.