To remove pet hair from floors and furniture, start by choosing the right attachments for your surfaces. A floor head alone won’t do the same job as a mini brush for the sofa or a turbo brush for carpets. A cordless stick vacuum is handy for targeted cleaning if the version you choose includes the tools you need; a cylinder vacuum is worth considering for carpets and longer cleaning sessions. Choose a wet and dry vacuum cleaner for compatible hard floors, and whatever type you go for, check how to maintain the brush, filter and dust container.
If pet hair builds up on cushions, car seats or stairs, check that the vacuum comes with a small brush designed for upholstery and that you can remove hair from its roller. Miele France and Dyson France describe attachments for these surfaces, but whether they’re included and compatible depends on the specific model.
If carpeted floors are your priority, check the brush designed for carpets, then look at the attachments you’ll need to reach furniture and corners. Miele France and Rowenta France offer these combinations with certain models, but they’re not available across their entire ranges.
If you’d also like to wash the floor as you clean, a wet and dry vacuum cleaner may suit your needs, provided your flooring is compatible. Remember to maintain the roller and tanks. For carpets or sofas, you’ll need to check separately for suitable attachments.
Consider it: for frequent, quick cleans between floors and furniture, if the version you choose includes the upholstery tool you need.
Keep in mind: battery life on a cordless model varies with how you use it. Check the weight you’ll be carrying and how long it takes to recharge, too.
Consider it: if rugs and carpets are your priority, or you want to tackle longer cleaning sessions without relying on a battery.
Keep in mind: it takes up more space to store and move around. A bagged model also requires compatible vacuum bags.
Consider it: for targeted cleaning of sofas, stairs or car seats with a suitable brush.
Keep in mind: this type of vacuum can’t replace a floor head for regularly cleaning large areas.
Consider it: if you mainly want to vacuum and wash compatible hard floors.
Keep in mind: you’ll need to maintain the tanks and roller after use. This type of vacuum won’t clean carpets and upholstery on its own.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Upholstery and corners | Whether it comes with a mini brush designed for upholstery and a crevice tool; and whether attachments are included or merely compatible. | If pet hair gets left on the sofa or in corners, I want to reach those areas without relying on the floor head. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Rugs and carpets | A brush designed for the type of carpet you have, and access to the roller so you can remove tangled hair. | If pet hair gets caught in my rugs, I’d prioritise a brush suited to their fibres. This would be the main requirement for around 29% of consumers. |
| Quick cleans | Weight, whether it can be used in handheld mode, and the stated battery life for the mode you’ll use. | For picking up small amounts of pet hair frequently, I want to be able to grab the vacuum, use it and put it away easily. Around 21% of consumers would put ease of use first. |
| Hard floors that need washing | Whether the flooring is compatible, and how to maintain the roller and tanks. | If pet hair and marks are mainly a problem on my hard floors, I’d also like to wash them as I clean. This would be the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A mini brush for sofas may be sold separately, even if it works with the vacuum you’ve chosen. The floor brush supplied may not be suitable for the same task.
Check the list of accessories included with the exact version you’re buying, then make sure any extras you want to add are compatible.
You may need to pay extra for an essential attachment.
The wet and dry vacuum cleaners described by Rowenta France are designed for hard floors. Their washing function doesn’t replace a dry brush designed for carpets or upholstery.
Choose a wet and dry vacuum if compatible hard floors are your main surface, and select a separate tool for other surfaces.
Wet cleaning also means emptying the tanks and maintaining the roller.
Pet hair and human hair can get tangled around a roller. Easy access to this part matters for everyday use, even if the brush is described as helping to prevent tangles.
Check the instructions to see how to remove and clean the roller, empty the dust container and maintain the filters.
The stated battery life of a cordless stick vacuum depends on the model and how it’s used. On its own, it won’t tell you whether the vacuum will be comfortable to carry or use on your furniture.
Check the battery life for the mode you plan to use, charging time, weight and the attachments included with the model you’ve chosen.
Some cordless Dyson models and mini brushes are designed for targeted cleaning of floors and upholstery.
Miele’s documented models let you compare a stick vacuum with a furniture tool and a cylinder vacuum equipped for carpets.
Rowenta’s documented models include dry vacuum cleaners with attachments for carpets and furniture, as well as wet and dry vacuum cleaners for hard floors.
These models suit two types of manual cleaning: cordless vacuums for targeted cleaning of floors and furniture, and a wet and dry vacuum cleaner to consider if pet hair is mainly a problem on compatible hard floors. Check the accessories included with the version you choose before picking a model for your sofa or carpets.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for cleaning floors, carpets and furniture; check which upholstery tool is included.
The product name lists an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of battery life. Check battery life for the mode you’ll use, and how to clean the brush.
Image unavailable
If you’ll be switching between floors and furniture, check that the upholstery brush is included with the version on sale.
The product name lists a removable battery, an anti-tangle brush and up to 60 minutes of battery life. Remember to clean the filter and roller regularly, too.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for floors and carpets, with the option to use it in handheld mode. Check what the included tool is designed for before choosing it mainly for your sofa.
The product name lists an anti-tangle roller and up to 55 minutes of battery life. This maximum figure doesn’t show how long the battery lasts in each mode.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to vacuum and wash sealed hard floors. Check that each floor type is compatible before use. For carpets and furniture, choose a suitable attachment separately.
The product name mentions a self-cleaning system. Wet cleaning still means managing the tanks and maintaining the roller.
Image unavailable
The convertible design may appeal if you switch between cleaning floors and furniture. If carpets or upholstery are a priority, check which attachments are actually included.
The product name lists up to 40 minutes of battery life. Check the weight and how easy it is to access the brush for maintenance, too.
Look for a small brush designed for upholstery for your sofa, a suitable turbo or powered brush for carpets, and a crevice tool for corners. Check the exact model to see whether each attachment is included or merely compatible.
No. Even with a brush designed to reduce tangles, you should check the roller and remove pet hair as instructed for your model. Before buying, find out whether the roller can be removed and how to maintain the dust container and filters.
Not if carpets and sofas are your priority: the wet and dry vacuum cleaners described by Rowenta France are designed for hard floors. For upholstery and carpets, look for a suitable dry brush and check that the attachments are compatible with the vacuum you choose.
No, not just for targeted manual cleaning. A stick vacuum with the right attachment, a cylinder vacuum equipped for the surfaces you need to clean, or a separate handheld vacuum can tackle specific areas directly. A robot vacuum is better suited to a separate goal: automating your cleaning.