For regular cleaning in a home with a pet, start by thinking about your surfaces and how often you’ll vacuum: choose a corded cylinder vacuum for longer cleaning sessions across several surfaces, a cordless stick vacuum for areas that need frequent attention, or a robot vacuum to schedule floor cleaning. Whichever type you choose, check the specific model’s brush suitability for carpets and upholstery, relevant test results, and how long it takes to empty and clean.
If pet hair clings to your carpets, sofa or cushions, look at test results for these surfaces and check which accessories are included. UFC-Que Choisir tests surfaces with fibres designed to mimic pet hair on carpets as part of its cylinder vacuum testing protocol.
For areas around your pet’s bed, the entrance or the sofa, a vacuum that’s easy to grab may matter more than one designed for long cleaning sessions. With a cordless stick vacuum, also check battery life for each mode, as well as the bin and brush.
A robot vacuum can be a good fit if you want to clean floors regularly, provided it can navigate your home. Keep an eye on edges, obstacles, the bin and the filter.
Consider it: for longer sessions across several floor types, especially if carpets and rugs are part of your regular cleaning routine.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the cord and move the vacuum around, as well as choose a suitable head. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the latter for effective suction.
Consider it: for frequent cleaning in living areas without having to find a plug socket each time.
Bear in mind: battery life varies by mode. UFC-Que Choisir found that runtime was significantly shorter at full power in its tests.
Consider it: for scheduled floor cleaning, if the robot can move around your rooms easily.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to check hard-to-reach areas and maintain the bin, filter and brushes. iRobot support warns that the bin can fill quickly when there’s a lot of pet hair.
| What matters to you | What to check | Households it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Carpets, floors and upholstery | Test results for the surfaces in your home; a carpet brush and an upholstery tool included or compatible with the model. | When pet hair gets caught in the carpet and sofa, I want to tackle these surfaces during a thorough clean. Around 33% of consumers would put this ability to clean multiple surfaces first. |
| Frequent cleaning | Battery life by mode for a cordless stick vacuum; the vacuum’s weight in use. | If pet hair keeps appearing by the entrance or pet bed, I’d rather be able to do a quick clean without any preparation. Speed would be the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Scheduled floor cleaning | Test results for your floors, carpets and edges; the robot’s scheduling features and bin capacity. | I want the floors to be cleaned regularly, while still having time to check on the robot. Automation would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Vacuum maintenance | Access to the roller to remove hair; emptying the bin or replacing bags, and the availability of spare parts. | When the brush gets clogged and the bin fills up, I want to minimise the work involved after every clean. Ease of maintenance would matter most to around 17% of consumers. |
In France, the DGCCRF says the repairability index applies to corded domestic vacuum cleaners, battery-powered models and robot vacuums. It tells you about how repairable a product is, not how well it picks up pet hair. Use it alongside test results for your surfaces and the model’s list of accessories.
These figures alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum will clean a carpet or upholstery. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the role of the vacuum head and tests surfaces and fibres designed to mimic pet hair separately.
Compare tests carried out on the surfaces in your home, then check which brush comes with the model you’re considering.
Runtime can drop considerably at full power. So the maximum figure won’t tell you whether you can clean several rooms or carpets without recharging.
Check runtime by mode, the test conditions, the battery in the specific model and its repairability index.
Pet hair can fill the bin or wind around the roller. iRobot support warns that a robot’s bin can fill quickly when there’s a lot of pet hair.
Check how to access the roller, empty the bin and maintain the filters. If the vacuum uses bags, make sure they’re readily available.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the repairability index tells you how easy or difficult an appliance is to repair. It doesn’t measure how well it picks up pet hair from carpets or sofas.
Use the index to assess how repairable the model is, then check how well it suits your surfaces by looking at relevant tests and the accessories included.
According to Bosch, the ProAnimal range includes bagged, bagless and cordless vacuum cleaners. It gives you several formats to consider, but don’t assume they all come with the same accessories.
The X-Force Flex 11.60 Animal Kit and its associated accessories may appeal if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum for floors and upholstery.
Roomba models are worth considering if scheduled floor cleaning suits your household’s routine. Features vary by model.
This selection of Joybuy models includes cordless stick vacuums for frequent cleaning, a robot vacuum for floors and a convertible corded stick vacuum. For each one, compare the stated features with your surfaces and the accessories you’ll need for upholstery.
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Worth considering for regular cleaning on hard floors and carpets, as well as handheld use. The product title states a 55-minute runtime, an anti-tangle brush and a charging station.
Check which mode gives you that runtime, look for test results on your carpets and see which tool is designed for upholstery.
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This type of vacuum is worth considering for frequent cleaning of floors and areas where pet hair builds up. The product title states a runtime of up to 65 minutes, an anti-tangle brush and upright storage.
Check the runtime in the mode you’ll use and the list of upholstery tools. The brush description alone doesn’t tell you how well it’ll work on your surfaces.
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Worth considering for scheduled floor cleaning if a robot can navigate your home. The product description mentions app control and an anti-tangle brush.
Check its performance on your floors and carpets, as well as the emptying and maintenance involved. Available information gives conflicting suction power figures, so don’t use this figure to compare it with other models.
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This convertible corded model is worth considering if you want to switch from floors to handheld use without having to recharge. The product title lists a 4.5 m cord and a 0.5 L bin.
Check that the cord is long enough for your rooms and that the included tools are suitable for the carpets or upholstery you need to clean.
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Worth considering for quick cleans on floors and areas you can reach in handheld mode. The product title states that it has a removable battery, an anti-tangle brush and a 60-minute runtime.
Before choosing this model for carpets or upholstery, check the accessories included with the version on sale, runtime by mode and test results for the surfaces in question.
Yes. The DGCCRF lists corded domestic vacuum cleaners, battery-powered domestic vacuum cleaners and robot vacuums among the categories covered. Check the score out of 10 for the model you’re considering to assess its repairability, but don’t confuse it with a pet hair pick-up test result.
Start with test results for the floors and upholstery in your home, and check which head or brush is included. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the vacuum head design for cylinder vacuums and uses fibres designed to mimic pet hair on carpets as part of its testing protocol. Then check runtime, capacity and maintenance requirements for the type of vacuum you choose.
No. Check whether one is included and compatible with the exact model. If pet hair builds up on cushions, sofas or stairs, check the list of included accessories before choosing a vacuum or buying a separate brush.
A robot can clean floors on a schedule, but you’ll still need to check carpets, edges and upholstery throughout your home. iRobot support says the bin can fill quickly when there’s a lot of pet hair, and recommends emptying it and cleaning the filter regularly.