If pet hair gets embedded in carpets and upholstery, and you’re looking for a main vacuum cleaner, start by checking how canister models perform on each of your floor types. According to Que Choisir, cordless stick vacuums are better suited to quick clean-ups; a robot can clean on its own between manual sessions, but results vary depending on the flooring. In all three cases, compare tests on fibres and the maintenance needed for the specific model, rather than relying on its advertised power alone.
If pet hair clings to your carpets, sofa or bedding, look for a main vacuum cleaner that performs well on these surfaces, not just hard floors. Que Choisir’s testing includes fibre tests on carpets, using fibres comparable to pet hair.
If you regularly need to pick up visible pet hair, how easy the vacuum is to grab and manoeuvre matters as much as how long you can use it in one go. If you’re considering a stick vacuum, check its battery life at the power setting you’ll use.
A robot vacuum can clean between manual sessions. However, you’ll need to check how it handles obstacles, how well it performs on your carpets, and what’s involved in maintaining its bin and brushes.
Start by choosing a vacuum based on the surfaces where pet hair is a problem and what you need it to do: handle your main cleaning, tackle frequent quick clean-ups or clean independently.
Consider it: for regular cleaning across several floor types, especially if carpets and upholstery need a thorough clean.
Bear in mind: it’s a corded appliance that you’ll need to move around; if you choose a bagged model, you’ll also need to replace the bags.
Consider it: for quick clean-ups in small areas or on easy-to-reach upholstery.
Bear in mind: run time depends on the setting you choose; Que Choisir considers stick vacuums better suited to supplementary cleaning.
Consider it: for regular, automatic cleaning of your floors between manual sessions.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to keep an eye on obstacles, the bin and the brushes, and shouldn’t assume it will perform equally well on every carpet.
| What matters | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded pet hair | Look at fibre test results on carpets and check which accessories are included for upholstery. | If pet hair gets trapped in a carpet or sofa, I want to tackle those fibres before prioritising a quick clean; around 36% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cleaning different floor types | Compare results on hard floors, wooden floors and carpets separately, and check which floor heads are included. | If my home has a mix of tiles, wooden floors and carpets, I’m mainly looking for a vacuum for everyday cleaning across these surfaces; around 29% of consumers are said to share this priority. |
| Quick clean-ups | Check how easy the stick vacuum is to manoeuvre, how noisy it is and how long the battery lasts at a useful power setting. | If I often need to remove pet hair from a small area, I want an appliance that’s easy to get out and put away; around 21% of consumers are said to have this as their main requirement. |
| Automatic cleaning | Check how the robot performs on your floors, how it navigates and what’s involved in maintaining its bin and brushes. | Between manual cleaning sessions, I mainly want the floors to be cleaned without having to handle a vacuum; around 14% of consumers are said to put this need first. |
The watts, volts or pascals quoted won’t, on their own, tell you how well a vacuum picks up fibres from a carpet. Que Choisir tests suction on different floor types and also uses fibres comparable to pet hair.
Look for results on the types of flooring in your home. If upholstery matters, check which brush or accessory comes with the exact model you’re considering.
For a cordless stick vacuum, the advertised run time may refer to a low-power setting. Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power for the stick vacuums it covers.
Compare run times at each setting and consider how much of your home you need to clean on a single charge.
According to Que Choisir, robot vacuum results aren’t always convincing. How well one deals with pet hair depends, among other things, on your flooring and the model you choose.
Check test results for your floors, the brush system and the maintenance involved before relying on one as your only vacuum cleaner.
An auto-empty station can mean less frequent manual emptying, but any bags it uses and the brushes will still need to be maintained or replaced.
Choosing between a bagged or bagless canister vacuum, a stick vacuum and a robot changes how you empty it and maintain its accessories. This is especially important if you vacuum pet hair frequently.
Check how easy it is to access the bin or bag, clean the brushes and find replacement parts for the exact model.
Worth considering if you’re comparing canister, stick and robot vacuums from the same brand.
Consider it when comparing canister and stick vacuums for the surfaces you need to clean.
Worth considering in the cordless stick vacuum category if quick clean-ups on floors and upholstery are part of your routine.
A brand to consider if you’re looking at a robot vacuum for automatic floor cleaning.
Worth considering among robot vacuums if navigation, a docking station or a mopping function are important to you.
These models are suited to quick clean-ups with a cordless stick vacuum or automatic floor cleaning with a robot. If you’re looking for a canister vacuum for your main cleaning, compare its test results on your floor types separately.
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Worth considering for frequent cleaning on hard floors or carpets, and for picking up pet hair. The product listing advertises an anti-tangle brush, an LCD screen, 65 kPa suction and up to 70 minutes of run time. Before choosing, compare battery life at your preferred setting and check its performance on embedded fibres.
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Worth considering for automatic cleaning between manual sessions. The product listing specifies LiDAR navigation, an anti-tangle system, a mopping function and advertised suction of 8 000 Pa. Check its performance on pet hair and carpets, along with the maintenance needed for the station and brushes.
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Worth considering if you’d like to combine automatic cleaning with a mopping function. The product listing advertises FlexiArm mops, hot-air drying, an anti-tangle system and 12 000 Pa suction. Check its pet hair pick-up separately, and make sure you understand how to use the mopping function around carpets.
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Worth considering for frequent quick clean-ups on floors and carpets. The product listing advertises an anti-tangle brush, a self-standing design and up to 65 minutes of run time. If you need to clean your sofa too, check which accessories are actually included and how well it performs on embedded fibres.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups and cleaning around furniture. The product listing specifies a removable battery, an anti-tangle brush, a self-standing design and up to 60 minutes of run time. Check how long it lasts at a useful power setting and look at carpet test results before making it your main vacuum cleaner.
Don’t assume so based on its format alone: Que Choisir considers stick vacuums better suited to supplementary cleaning. If you want to use one as your main vacuum cleaner, check how the specific model performs on carpets, fibres and hard floors, then make sure its battery will last long enough at the setting you need to clean your whole home.
A robot can keep your floors clean between manual sessions, but that doesn’t mean it will perform well on every carpet. Que Choisir notes that results vary, so check test results for the flooring in question and allow for time to empty the bin and maintain the brushes.
Check whether a mini turbo brush is included with the exact version of the vacuum. Que Choisir highlights it as a particularly useful way to remove pet hair and dust from upholstered armchairs and sofas.
Compare their run times at the same useful power setting, rather than looking only at their advertised maximum battery life. Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power; check how long the specific model lasts at the setting you plan to use on your carpets.