For frequent pick-ups of visible pet hair, a cordless stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups. If a lot of hair gets trapped in carpets and upholstery, consider a cylinder vacuum with a compatible brush instead. A robot vacuum can maintain accessible floors regularly, but UFC-Que Choisir points out that its performance on pet hair depends, among other things, on the model and floor covering. It won’t necessarily replace a thorough clean.
If pet hair quickly builds up again on hard floors and around your pet’s favourite spots, you mainly need a vacuum that’s easy to grab for a quick clean. UFC-Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums as generally suited to everyday touch-ups, provided the battery lasts long enough for your cleaning sessions.
When hair gets caught in the fibres of carpets, sofas or pet beds, check how the vacuum performs on these surfaces and which brush it uses. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests distinguish between floor coverings. A turbo brush designed for carpets must also be compatible with the vacuum you choose.
A robot vacuum can run on a schedule between manual cleans, as long as it can reach the areas that need attention. You’ll still need to empty it and check its brushes: for its Roomba s Series rubber brushes, iRobot recommends more frequent checks in homes with pets.
Your choice depends first on where pet hair builds up and how much time you want to spend on manual cleaning. Check that any upholstery accessories are compatible with the specific model: they don’t make it a separate type of vacuum cleaner.
Consider it: for quick, frequent pick-ups of visible pet hair.
Bear in mind: the battery limits how long you can clean for. UFC-Que Choisir advises taking battery life and suction power into account.
Consider it: for a dedicated cleaning session on carpets, rugs and other surfaces where pet hair gets trapped.
Bear in mind: a turbo brush needs maintenance, and its fitting must match your model. Rowenta specifies, for example, tube diameter requirements for some accessories.
Consider it: to schedule cleaning on accessible floors between more thorough cleans.
Bear in mind: prepare the areas it needs to cover and maintain the vacuum. UFC-Que Choisir notes that pet hair pick-up may not be up to scratch on every type of floor.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Households this suits |
|---|---|---|
| Quick, frequent clean-ups | Battery life in the mode you’ll use and how easy the dust container is to empty. | If I pick up visible pet hair almost every day, I want to be able to get the vacuum out and put it away without disrupting my routine. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise these quick clean-ups. |
| Carpets, rugs and upholstery | Performance on the relevant floor coverings and whether a compatible brush for upholstery is included. | Pet hair gets caught in the fibres of my carpets or sofa, so a thorough clean matters more than a quick pass over a hard floor. Around 33% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Automated floor cleaning | Performance on your floors and whether the robot can reach the areas that need cleaning. | I want to schedule cleaning on accessible floors, while allowing time to maintain the robot and clean elsewhere if needed. Around 20% of consumers would put automation first. |
| Maintenance and repairability | Access to brushes and filters, compatible parts and the repairability index displayed. | If pet hair means I need to clean the vacuum regularly, I want to be able to maintain it and find out which parts it might need. For around 20% of consumers, this would be their main priority. |
This label doesn’t tell you which brushes come with the vacuum or whether they’re suitable for your carpets and sofas.
Check which accessories are included, their model numbers and any available test results for the floor coverings in your home.
Brushes need regular checks in homes with pets. For the rubber brushes on Roomba s Series models, iRobot recommends checking them twice a week in these households.
Check your model’s manual for maintenance intervals and how to access the brushes, dust container and filters.
A published figure alone won’t tell you how well it will pick up pet hair from carpets, wooden floors or tiles. UFC-Que Choisir tests robot vacuums on several types of flooring.
Look for tests covering pet hair and the floors in your home, then check whether the robot can get under furniture and over thresholds.
A brush, filter or battery may need replacing during the vacuum’s lifetime.
Compare the repairability index displayed and check the availability of parts for the model you’re considering.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a stick vacuum with a small motorised brush for upholstery.
Worth considering for a cylinder vacuum or accessories designed for carpets and pet hair.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a Roomba to schedule floor cleaning.
Worth considering for a robot vacuum with a dock and navigation features, depending on the model.
These models cover two of the uses discussed here: cordless stick vacuums for regular manual cleaning and robot vacuums for automated floor care. Start by choosing one that suits your floors and the amount of maintenance you’re happy to do, then check the specifications of your preferred model.
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Worth considering for short, repeated cleaning sessions on floors where pet hair is visible.
The product listing states a battery life of up to 45 minutes and an anti-tangle brush. Check how long it lasts in the mode you’ll use and how it performs on your carpets.
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Worth considering if you want to clean regularly without being tethered to a cable.
The product listing states a battery life of up to 65 minutes and an anti-tangle brush. Check the battery life in your chosen mode and how it performs on the surfaces you need to clean.
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Worth considering for automated cleaning on floors the robot can access.
The product listing mentions anti-tangle technology and mop washing at 75 °C. Check how it performs on your floors and what maintenance the manual recommends.
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Worth considering for automated cleaning if your home’s layout suits a robot vacuum and its dock.
The product listing mentions an OMNI station, ZeroTangle 3.0 system and mop washing at 75 °C. Check how well it picks up pet hair from your floors separately, as well as the maintenance it requires.
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Worth considering for automated floor care, taking the carpets in your home into account.
The product listing states that it has a dual anti-tangle system and washes its mops at 75 °C. The manual recommends avoiding mopping long-pile carpets and setting no-go zones for thick rugs. Also check how well it vacuums your floors.
Not in every home. Choose it as your main vacuum only if its performance on your floors and its access to the areas that need cleaning meet your needs. UFC-Que Choisir notes that robot vacuums may not be up to scratch when picking up pet hair. If in doubt, plan to do more thorough cleans by hand as well.
Follow your model’s instructions. For example, specifically for the rubber brushes on Roomba s Series models, iRobot recommends checking them twice a week in homes with pets. Rowenta recommends cleaning some of its turbo brushes weekly.
It helps you assess how repairable a model is before you buy it. France’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition states that vacuum cleaners are among the products covered. Compare the index displayed and check the information available about parts for the model you choose.
The legal guarantee of conformity applies when you buy from a professional seller; a commercial warranty does not replace it. Your Europe, the European Union’s portal, states that the minimum period is two years from the date you receive the goods and clarifies that the legal guarantee applies to the seller.