For regular cleaning of pet hair from floors and soft furnishings, a cordless upright vacuum with a suitable brush can work well for quick clean-ups, provided it has enough battery life in the mode you use. A cylinder vacuum is worth considering for longer cleaning sessions and carpets, while a robot vacuum can keep accessible floors tidy between manual cleans. Whichever you choose, check the brushes supplied, how it empties and what maintenance it needs rather than relying on an ‘animal’ label alone.
If you clean floors, the sofa or pet beds in short bursts, consider how easy an upright is to pick up and whether it comes with an upholstery tool. Battery life and emptying also matter when you’re cleaning frequently. UFC-Que Choisir describes upright vacuums as suitable for quick clean-ups.
For fibres that trap hair, check the carpet head and upholstery tools rather than relying on a ‘pet’ label alone. UFC-Que Choisir includes fibres designed to simulate embedded pet hair in a carpet in its cylinder vacuum test procedure.
A robot vacuum is a convenient way to keep accessible floors clean on a regular basis. However, you’ll still need a manual option for stairs, furniture and skirting boards, which robots can’t clean, as Les Numériques points out.
Start by choosing a type of vacuum to suit the surfaces you need to clean and how long your sessions last. Then check that the brushes and tools are right for the places where pet hair tends to collect.
Worth considering: for thorough cleans over a large area or on carpets, with a head designed for carpet fibres.
Bear in mind: it has a cord and needs to be moved around; a bagged model also requires replacement bags.
Worth considering: if you want to grab a vacuum quickly for floors, stairs or the sofa, using the right attachment.
Bear in mind: running time depends on the mode you choose. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this limitation with high-powered upright vacuums.
Worth considering: for scheduled cleaning on accessible floors, helping to stop pet hair building up between manual cleans.
Bear in mind: stairs, furniture and skirting boards still need to be cleaned another way, according to Les Numériques.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Frequent clean-ups | Ease of use, an upholstery tool and battery life in the mode you’ll use. | I want to quickly pick up visible pet hair from the floor and sofa between bigger cleans. Around 36% of consumers prioritise quick clean-ups like these. |
| Carpets and soft furnishings | A brush designed for carpets and a mini tool suitable for fabrics, if needed. | When pet hair clings to my carpets or fabrics, I first look for a head designed for those surfaces. Around 29% of consumers share this priority. |
| Scheduled cleaning | Access to rooms, obstacle handling and maintenance of the robot’s brushes. | I’d rather schedule cleaning for accessible floors and clean furniture another way. Around 21% of consumers put this automation first. |
| Vacuum maintenance | Cleaning the rollers and filters, consumables and compatible replacement parts. | If removing hair from the brushes and cleaning the filters could make my daily routine more difficult, I’d choose a vacuum whose maintenance suits me. Around 14% of consumers make maintenance their top priority. |
These claims alone don’t tell you how the head will perform on your carpets and soft furnishings. In its cylinder vacuum tests, UFC-Que Choisir assesses how well models remove fibres designed to simulate pet hair embedded in a carpet.
Check what each brush is designed to do and whether the right tools are included for your surfaces. Look for carpet test results where available.
The advertised battery life of an upright may refer to a less demanding setting. UFC-Que Choisir notes that running time at full power can be much shorter.
Compare the running times for the mode you plan to use, and factor in recharging if you have longer cleaning sessions.
A robot can clean accessible floors, but Les Numériques points out that it can’t clean stairs, furniture or skirting boards.
Plan to use a manual vacuum or tool for areas above floor level, and check the robot’s brushes and wheels regularly.
Pet hair can build up around rollers and wheels. Filters and dust containers also need to be maintained according to the instructions for your model.
Before you choose, check how to access the brushes, which consumables are compatible and which parts can be replaced.
Miele’s bagged cylinder range includes the Guard M1 Cat & Dog, which Miele France presents with a turbo brush for carpets and rugs.
Some upright vacuums in the X-Force Flex range are available in Animal kits, combining a floor head with an upholstery tool.
The brand offers cordless upright vacuums with motorised brushes and tools designed for different surfaces.
Roomba robot vacuums are worth considering if you want to schedule cleaning for accessible floors.
These cordless upright vacuums are suited to manual cleaning of floors and, depending on the tools supplied, soft furnishings. The robots in this selection are better suited to scheduled cleaning of accessible floors; they won’t replace a manual vacuum for areas above floor level.
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Worth considering for frequent cleaning of floors and carpets, with pet hair listed as a suitable use.
The product title lists an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of battery life. Check how long it runs in the mode you need for your carpets, and whether upholstery tools are included.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for an upright vacuum for regular cleaning of floors or carpets.
The product title mentions a brush designed to help prevent tangles and up to 45 minutes of battery life. Check which mode this figure applies to before planning a longer cleaning session.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning of accessible floors between manual cleans.
The product title lists app control and a brush described as anti-tangle. You’ll need another tool for stairs, furniture and skirting boards.
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Its upright design and handheld mode could be handy for targeted cleaning of floors and stairs.
The product title lists an anti-tangle brush and up to 55 minutes of battery life. Check the running time in carpet mode. If pet hair tends to collect on fabrics, check which tools are included.
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Worth considering for automated cleaning of accessible floors, alongside manual cleaning of soft furnishings and stairs.
The product title mentions LiDAR navigation, app control, automatic emptying and an anti-tangle system. Check the maintenance requirements and tools supplied with this model.
The maximum running time may not apply to the mode you’ll use on carpets. UFC-Que Choisir says that upright vacuums have shorter battery life at higher power settings. Compare the running times for each mode and check whether you can recharge between sessions.
A robot can keep accessible floors clean, but it can’t cover every use of an upright or cylinder vacuum. Les Numériques points out that it won’t clean stairs, furniture or skirting boards. Keep a suitable option for these areas and for soft furnishings.
Check the brushes and wheels, empty the dust container or replace the bag, and maintain the filter according to your model’s instructions. Dyson recommends washing the filter in its cordless vacuums monthly and letting it dry completely before refitting it. Procedures vary between models.
A repairability rating helps you compare how easy it is to repair eligible models, but it doesn’t measure how well they remove pet hair. The French ministry responsible for ecology includes vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered. Check the rating for the model you’re considering, alongside its brushes and maintenance requirements.