Homes with carpets and sofas
If pet hair builds up on both surfaces, look for a carpet-friendly floorhead and check that an upholstery tool is included or compatible. A floorhead on its own won’t meet all your needs.
What do you need it to do?
People who vacuum frequently
A cordless stick vacuum can be a good choice for quick cleans of floors and the places where your pet likes to lie. Compare its battery life on the setting you need and check which tools can be used on cushions and seats.
Homes looking to automate floor cleaning
A robot can take care of regular floor cleaning. However, you’ll still need a handheld vacuum with an upholstery tool for sofas, cushions and other raised surfaces.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the surfaces you need to clean, then look at the upholstery tool, cleaning time and brush maintenance before comparing different types of vacuum.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair on carpets | Look at the floorhead designed for carpets and test results for embedded fibres, rather than relying on the stated suction power alone. Que Choisir uses fibres similar to pet hair in its tests of stick and cylinder vacuum cleaners. | My carpets hold on to pet hair, so I want to know how the model performs on this surface, not just on hard floors. |
| Sofas and cushions | Check what’s included in the package and whether a mini brush, turbo brush or upholstery tool is compatible. Also make sure it can reach seats and edges. | I need a tool that I can use on cushions and the sofa, without having to handle the floorhead there. |
| Cleaning time | For a stick vacuum, check the battery life on the setting you’ll use on carpets. For a corded cylinder vacuum, check its operating radius and the position of your power sockets. | If I’m vacuuming several rooms in a row, I want to finish without having to stop to recharge. |
| Brush maintenance | Check how to access the roller, bin and filters. If an anti-tangle feature is advertised, find out what it means for maintaining that specific model. | Pet hair builds up around my brushes, so I’d prefer to be able to remove the roller and clean it easily. |
| Floors and other types of cleaner | For a robot, check the results on your types of flooring, as well as how it cleans edges and corners. If you’re considering a wet floor cleaner, check which floor coverings it’s suitable for: according to Que Choisir, this type of appliance does not replace a vacuum cleaner. | I want to automate floor cleaning or clean a damp hard floor, but I still need to plan how to clean upholstery. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Relying only on a stick vacuum’s maximum battery life
This figure doesn’t necessarily reflect how long it will run on the setting you use on carpets. In its tests, Que Choisir found that stick vacuums last an average of around ten minutes at maximum power.
Work out how long you’ll need to clean your rooms and look for a battery-life figure for the setting you plan to use. Check whether you can add a spare battery if needed.
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Expecting a robot to clean your sofa too
A robot moves across floors; it won’t clean cushions, armchairs or car seats.
Think of it as an extra for your floors, and keep a handheld vacuum with a tool suited to upholstery.
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Assuming a “pet” label guarantees the right tool
The small brush or tool you need for your sofa can vary by model and package. A carpet floorhead alone doesn’t tell you which tools are included for upholstery.
Check the exact package contents and what each tool is designed for before you buy.
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Forgetting about regular maintenance
Cleaning a rotating brush, emptying a bin or changing a bag are all part of using a vacuum cleaner. Even a brush described as anti-tangle needs to be checked.
Compare how easy it is to access the parts that need cleaning and, depending on the type of vacuum, check bags, filters and battery replacement options.
A guide to the brands
These examples of tools relate to specific models, so check they’re included in the version you’re considering.
Miele
The Cat & Dog range includes appliances with different tools depending on the model.
- Miele France lists a brush for the Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog that’s designed for upholstery and car seats.
- Check separately whether this brush is included with another model or in a different package.
Rowenta
The Animal Care range includes cylinder vacuums and robots, with different tools for each appliance.
- Rowenta France says the Silence Force² Animal Care Pro comes with a mini and a maxi turbo brush for upholstery.
- A robot brush designed for floors won’t replace the tool you need to vacuum a sofa.
Dyson
Dyson offers tools for homes with pets, including a small brush supplied with the V16 Piston Animal.
- Dyson France describes this mini brush as self-detangling and designed for hair and pet hair.
- This manufacturer’s description doesn’t guarantee that no manual maintenance will be needed, or that other models will deliver the same results.
Joybuy cordless stick vacuums for floors and carpets
These models are cordless stick vacuums designed for floors, carpets and pet hair. If the sofa matters as much as the carpet when you’re choosing, check which upholstery tool is included or compatible with each model.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5 cordless stick vacuum cleaner
Worth considering for frequent cleans of floors and carpets; check which tool you’ll need for the sofa.
The title states up to 65 minutes of battery life and describes the brush as anti-tangle. This figure doesn’t specify how long it lasts on the setting you’ll use on your carpets. Also check which upholstery tool comes with the model and whether it’s motorised.
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Daynee XL618E-8 with hose and pet brush
The hose and pet brush may be useful points of comparison if you also need to reach seats or awkward corners.
The title states a claimed suction power of 55 kPa, but that alone doesn’t tell you how well it performs on carpets or upholstery. Check exactly what the brush is designed for and how long the battery lasts in the mode you plan to use.
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UNINELL HOME UV1 450 W cordless stick vacuum cleaner
You can compare this stick vacuum for cleaning carpets and floors, then assess its suitability for the sofa separately.
The title states up to 60 minutes of battery life and a removable battery, but doesn’t specify how long it lasts on the setting needed for carpets. Check the design and intended use of the upholstery tool.
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Monsga M100 freestanding cordless stick vacuum cleaner
Compare it for cleaning carpets and floors; for sofas, check what’s included in the package.
The title states 45 minutes of battery life and describes the rotating brush as anti-tangle, but doesn’t specify how long it lasts on each setting. Check which tool is suitable for upholstery.
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Ultenic U-2O with folding tube
This model is presented as suitable for floors and carpets with pet hair; check separately what it offers for cushions and sofas.
The title states up to 60 minutes of battery life and describes the brush as anti-tangle. Compare its battery life on the setting you plan to use on carpets, and check whether an upholstery tool is included or compatible.
Frequently asked questions
How can you compare how well vacuums pick up embedded pet hair from carpets?
Look for a test that specifies the surface, the fibres used and how they’re embedded. In its tests of stick and cylinder vacuums, Que Choisir uses 1 g of fibres similar to pet hair, embedded in a carpet using a 15 kg roller. A stated power rating on its own doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum performs in this test.
Is a robot enough to deal with pet hair on the sofa?
No. A robot cleans floors, not cushions or seats. For upholstery, you’ll need a handheld vacuum, stick vacuum or cylinder vacuum with a suitable tool. Que Choisir tests robots on floors, edges and corners.
Can a floor washer replace a vacuum cleaner for carpets?
Not for cleaning pet hair from carpets and sofas. If you’re considering a wet floor cleaner, use it only on compatible floor coverings: Que Choisir says this type of appliance does not replace a vacuum cleaner.
Why check a stick vacuum’s battery life at high power?
The maximum battery life stated doesn’t necessarily reflect how long it will run on the setting you use in an area with lots of pet hair. According to Que Choisir’s tests, stick vacuums last an average of around ten minutes at maximum power, so compare battery life measured on the setting you’ll need for your carpets.
What maintenance details should you check before buying?
Check how easy it is to access the brush and filters, and which consumables are specific to the model. A bagged cylinder vacuum needs replacement bags; for a cordless stick vacuum, also check whether the battery can be replaced.