If pet hair clings to carpets and upholstery, choose a cylinder or stick vacuum with a brush suited to these surfaces and an attachment for sofas. A robot vacuum can clean accessible floors regularly, but it won’t tackle upholstery. If you’re choosing a cordless stick vacuum, check the battery life in the mode you’ll use, as well as how to maintain the brushes and filters.
To care for both floors and carpet fibres, check that the vacuum has a brush suited to carpets rather than choosing based on the vacuum’s format alone. UFC-Que Choisir assesses robot vacuum performance separately for different floor coverings.
A manoeuvrable vacuum with a compatible mini brush can help you target these above-floor areas. Check whether the attachment comes with the configuration you’ve chosen, as this varies by model.
A robot vacuum can clean accessible floors and carpets on a schedule. You’ll also need a vacuum or attachment for sofas, pet beds and other upholstery it can’t reach.
Start with the surfaces you need to clean, then consider the attachments and practical considerations for each type of vacuum.
Consider it: for regular carpet cleaning with a main vacuum that doesn’t rely on a battery. Check which attachments are available for upholstery.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move the vacuum around and, if you choose a bagged model, replace the bags and compatible filters.
Consider it: for frequent, targeted cleaning, especially if it comes with a mini brush for upholstery.
Bear in mind: battery life depends on the power mode. UFC-Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums primarily as supplementary appliances.
Consider it: for frequent, scheduled cleaning of accessible floors. Check that it has useful features for your carpets.
Bear in mind: you’ll need another tool for sofas and other above-floor upholstery. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a robot vacuum’s pet-hair pick-up can vary.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Floor coverings | Look for tests or guidance covering hard floors, rugs and carpets. Check which brush is supplied and whether it’s suitable for each surface. | Pet hair ends up on both my floors and in the fibres of my carpets, so I don’t want to assume performance on one surface will be the same on another. |
| Above-floor upholstery | Check whether it comes with an upholstery tool, mini turbo brush or powered mini brush, and whether it’s compatible with the exact model. A manual tool can pick up a few visible hairs between vacuuming sessions, but it won’t replace carpet care. | I mainly clean the sofa, pet beds and stairs, so I need an attachment that can reach these areas. |
| Brushes | Look for brushes described as anti-tangle, and check the manual for cleaning instructions. This feature doesn’t mean you can ignore the roller. | When there’s a lot of long hair, I want to know how to remove any hair that gets caught in the brush. |
| Battery life | For a cordless stick vacuum, compare the stated run time for each power mode and configuration. Check whether the battery is removable and replaceable on the model you’re considering. | I need to be able to clean the rooms in question without assuming the maximum stated run time also applies at high power. |
| Maintenance | Check the manual for information on filters, brushes and dust containers. For a bagged model, check which bags and filters are compatible. | I’d rather know what regular maintenance is required and which consumables the vacuum needs before choosing it. |
A robot vacuum stays on the floor, while a floor nozzle alone won’t meet your needs for cleaning sofas and cushions.
Check which attachments come with the exact model reference and make sure they’re compatible with the vacuum.
You may need to buy a mini brush, turbo brush or compatible adapter separately.
The run time stated for a low-power mode won’t necessarily reflect how long you can clean carpets in a more demanding mode.
Compare the run times for each mode with the surfaces you need to clean, and check the battery replacement options.
A feature designed to limit hair wrapping around the roller doesn’t remove the need to clean the brushes, filters and dust container.
Check the manual for your model to find out which parts need cleaning or replacing, and note their reference numbers.
In France, vacuum cleaners are covered by the electrical and electronic equipment waste scheme described by the ministry responsible for the ecological transition.
Use an appropriate collection point or ask about having your old appliance taken back when you buy a similar one.
These examples relate to specific models and attachments; their features don’t automatically apply to every product from the same brand.
The Complete C3 Cat & Dog bagged cylinder vacuum is an example of a set-up for floors, carpets and upholstery.
The X-Force Flex 8.60 Animal Kit is an example of a cordless stick vacuum to consider for targeted cleaning.
For the V16 Piston Animal, Dyson describes a powered mini brush designed for pet hair on upholstery and stairs, among other uses.
The Qrevo 2 Pro is an example of a robot vacuum for scheduling cleaning on accessible floors.
These models are designed for two different uses: stick vacuums can tackle targeted areas with a suitable upholstery attachment, while robot vacuums clean accessible floors. For each model, check which attachments are included and the conditions behind the stated specifications.
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Worth considering if you want to clean both floors and targeted areas. Check what’s included in the kit for upholstery. The product listing states that it has an anti-tangle brush and offers up to 65 minutes of run time in standard mode. This shouldn’t be taken as the run time you can expect on carpets in Turbo mode.
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If you also want to clean above-floor areas, check whether the upholstery brush is included. The product listing states that it has a removable battery and offers up to 60 minutes of run time, but this maximum doesn’t necessarily reflect use on carpets or at high power.
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This robot vacuum is designed for scheduled cleaning on accessible floors, and is listed as featuring app control, an anti-tangle brush and an auto-empty station. Its title states a suction power of 8,000 Pa, but that figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it will pick up pet hair from your carpets. You’ll need another tool for above-floor upholstery.
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For regular cleaning of accessible floors, the product listing states that it has LiDAR navigation, automatic emptying and an anti-tangle system. The 8,000 Pa figure in the title alone can’t tell you how well it will pick up hair embedded in carpets. You’ll need another appliance for sofas.
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For scheduled floor cleaning, the product listing states that it has four cleaning modes and offers up to 165 minutes of run time. Check which mode is suitable for your carpets and the areas where pet hair builds up. This robot vacuum can’t clean sofas or other above-floor upholstery.
No. A robot vacuum cleans accessible floors, not sofas, cushions or pet beds. For upholstery, choose a manoeuvrable vacuum and check that a suitable attachment comes with the exact model.
Check which power mode and configuration the stated run time applies to. The maximum run time doesn’t guarantee the same performance on carpets or in a more powerful mode, so compare the conditions with the area you need to clean.
Check the brushes, filter and dust container as described in the vacuum’s manual. For a bagged cylinder vacuum, also check the reference numbers for replacement bags and filters. An anti-tangle brush doesn’t remove the need for the maintenance recommended by the manufacturer.
Take it to a collection point for electrical and electronic equipment, as described by the ministry responsible for the ecological transition. If you’re buying a similar appliance, ask the retailer about take-back options before making the trip.