Homes with rugs and fitted carpets
If pet hair gets caught in the fibres, look for a main vacuum with a brush suited to these floor coverings. Check results by floor type where available: UFC-Que Choisir tests fibre pick-up on rugs separately.
Which option suits your needs?
Homes that clean little and often
For picking up pet hair around beds, on sofas or on stairs, a stick vacuum makes frequent clean-ups easier. Check the battery life in the mode you’ll use and make sure it comes with an accessory suited to upholstery.
Homes with accessible floors
A programmable robot can clean the areas it can reach on a regular schedule. You’ll still need to clean its bin, brushes and wheels, though; iRobot warns that accumulated hair can block a wheel.
What should you check before choosing?
First decide what role the vacuum will play in your home, then check how it performs on your floors and exactly what’s included in the box.
Canister with suitable tools
Worth considering: as your main vacuum for several rooms, especially if you switch between hard floors, rugs and fitted carpets.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the cord and, with a bagged model, replace the bags.
Cordless stick vacuum
Worth considering: for quick, frequent clean-ups, including on stairs and around pet beds.
Bear in mind: battery life varies depending on the mode and attachment, so check it’s enough for your routine.
Robot as a helper
Worth considering: for scheduled cleans on clear floors between manual vacuuming sessions.
Bear in mind: you’ll need another way to clean stairs and upholstery, while the wheels and brushes need regular checks.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Floor coverings | Check test results for parquet, tiles, fitted carpets and fibres on rugs. Make sure the supplied floorhead is suited to each surface you need to clean. | Pet hair builds up on different surfaces in my home. I want to know how the model performs on the ones I actually clean. |
| Brushes and attachments | Check whether a turbo brush or motorised brush for rugs is actually included, along with an attachment suited to sofas and pet beds. Make sure you’re checking the exact pack variant. | Pet hair gets stuck in rugs or on fabrics, so I want to have the attachments I need from the start. |
| Maintenance | Check how easy it is to access the bin, filter and brushes, and the wheels on a robot. Anti-tangle features and an auto-empty station don’t remove the need for manual checks. | If I vacuum often, I want to be able to remove trapped hair and empty the bin without making every clean a chore. |
| Long-term use | Check consumables, available parts and the repairability rating, if displayed. ADEME notes that this rating also applies to corded, cordless and robot vacuums. | I’d rather plan for maintenance and the possibility of repairing the vacuum than judge it solely on its features at the point of purchase. |
What should you avoid?
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Choosing based only on wattage or a ‘pet’ label
Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up pet hair. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the floorhead and, in its testing protocol, reports results by floor type and fibre pick-up on rugs separately.
Identify the main floor coverings in your home, then compare the available test results for the specific model and the brush supplied with it.
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Assuming the brush you need is included
Accessories vary between models and variants. Stated compatibility doesn’t guarantee that the attachment comes in the box.
Check the list of included accessories for the exact model number, especially if you plan to clean rugs, stairs and sofas.
If the attachment you need isn’t included, you’ll have to buy it separately.
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Expecting a robot to clean upholstery and stairs too
A robot can keep the floors it can reach clean, but it can’t clean sofas or stairs on its own. According to iRobot support, hair building up around a wheel can affect its rotation and damage your floor.
Make sure you have a suitable vacuum for areas the robot can’t reach, and check its brushes and wheels regularly.
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Overlooking consumables and repairs
A bagged model needs replacement bags, and filters and other parts are worth factoring in too. ADEME recommends checking how easy electrical appliances are to repair.
Compare the collection systems, availability of parts and repairability rating, if displayed.
Which brands and ranges should you consider?
These examples show different formats and accessories to compare. Features in a range won’t necessarily apply to every model from the same brand.
Bosch
The ProAnimal range includes bagged and bagless canister vacuums. Bosch’s product pages detail the features of each model.
- According to Bosch, the bagged BGB41PET1 comes with an AirTurbo Pro turbo brush and integrated nozzles.
- The BGS41PET1 is bagless, and Bosch lists a 2.4 l bin. Choosing between the two systems also comes down to whether you’d rather replace bags or empty the bin.
Dyson
Dyson presents the V16 Piston Animal cordless stick vacuum for cleaning floors and tackling smaller areas.
- Dyson claims up to 70 minutes of battery life and says this model has an anti-tangle brush.
- Actual battery life depends on the mode and tool used, so check the accessories included with the variant you’re considering too.
iRobot
The Roomba Max 715 Vac with AutoEmpty base is an example of a robot vacuum that can be scheduled to clean accessible floors.
- iRobot says this model has two anti-tangle rubber brushes and an auto-empty base.
- The base doesn’t mean you can skip checking the brushes and wheels. iRobot support warns that hair building up around a wheel can cause problems.
Miele
The Guard L1 Cat & Dog Flex is a bagged canister vacuum. Miele highlights its turbo brush for rugs and fitted carpets.
- Miele’s product page describes a turbo brush designed to remove pet hair and dirt trapped in these floor coverings.
- Factor the cord and replacement bags into your routine.
Joybuy models for different needs
This selection includes stick vacuums for frequent clean-ups, a bagged canister vacuum for your main cleaning and a robot for keeping accessible floors tidy between cleans. Compare their accessories and features with your floor coverings before choosing.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5 cordless stick vacuum
Its cordless design is handy for quick clean-ups. Check which attachments you’ll need if you also plan to clean upholstery. The product listing states that it has an anti-tangle brush and offers up to 65 minutes of battery life. Check how long it lasts in the mode and with the tool you’ll be using.
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BISSELL PowerClean FurGuard Select stick vacuum
This stick vacuum is worth considering for frequent clean-ups around the areas your pets use. If stairs or upholstery are important to you, check which brushes are included with this variant. You’ll also need to empty the bin and clean the filter.
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Monsga M100 self-standing cordless stick vacuum
A stick vacuum can be a convenient choice for regular cleaning without having to get out a canister vacuum. The model name indicates an anti-tangle brush and a claimed battery life of 45 minutes. Check the conditions for this run time and which accessories are included if you also need to clean sofas.
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Electrolux 600 EB61C4OG bagged canister vacuum
This bagged canister vacuum is worth considering for cleaning several rooms. Before choosing it to tackle pet hair caught in rugs, check which brushes come with the EB61C4OG model and look for test results by floor type, if available. Remember to factor in the cord and replacement bags too.
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Lubluelu L15 Max 3-in-1 robot vacuum and mop
This robot could be a good option for scheduled cleans on accessible floors, alongside a separate vacuum for stairs and upholstery. Its name indicates laser navigation and the ability to save five maps. Check what maintenance the bin and brush need, depending on how much pet hair you have at home.
Frequently asked questions
Does a ‘pet’ label guarantee good results on every floor type?
No. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol distinguishes between performance on different floor coverings and fibre pick-up on rugs. Compare the results for your floors and check which brush is supplied, rather than relying on a ‘pet’ label or motor power alone.
Which brushes should you check for rugs and sofas?
For rugs and fitted carpets, check that a suitable turbo brush or motorised brush is included. For sofas and pet beds, look for an attachment designed for upholstery. Make sure you check the contents of the exact variant you’re considering.
How often should you maintain a robot vacuum in a home with pets?
Empty and clean it according to how much hair there is and how full the bin gets, and follow the model’s instructions. iRobot support recommends checking the wheels and brushes in particular: hair building up around a wheel can affect its rotation and damage your floor.
Does an auto-empty station mean you don’t need to maintain the robot?
No. It can mean you need to empty the bin less often, but you should still check the brushes and wheels whenever hair or debris builds up. Follow the maintenance instructions for both the station and robot you choose.
How should you factor in repairability?
Look for the repairability rating if it’s displayed for the model you’re considering. ADEME says it applies to corded, cordless and robot vacuums. You should also check whether the parts and consumables you’ll need are available.