For regular cleaning of floors, carpets and sofas, a cylinder vacuum with tools for carpets and upholstery is a good choice for your main cleaning routine, particularly in a larger home. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that it is less manoeuvrable than a stick vacuum. A cordless stick vacuum makes short, frequent cleans easier, but check its runtime in the mode you’ll use. A robot vacuum can help keep accessible floors clean, but it won’t clean furniture or stairs.
Start by considering where pet hair builds up and how long you usually spend cleaning. This will help you choose the right type of vacuum.
If you’re looking for a vacuum for your main cleaning routine, check that it has a brush for carpets, an upholstery tool and crevice tools. UFC-Que Choisir assesses how well vacuums pick up fibres, including pet hair, from different types of flooring.
A cordless stick vacuum can be easier to grab for a quick clean. If pet hair also builds up on your carpets, check the runtime in the mode you’ll use. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between quick touch-ups and longer, deeper cleans.
A robot vacuum can clean accessible floors between your regular cleaning sessions. You’ll need another vacuum for sofas, stairs and areas it can’t reach. UFC-Que Choisir tests floors, edges and corners separately.
Worth considering: for your main cleaning routine in a larger home, especially if pet hair gets caught in carpets and builds up on several surfaces.
The trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir describes it as heavier and less manoeuvrable than a stick vacuum. You’ll also need a power socket.
Worth considering: for quick, frequent cleans to pick up pet hair without getting out a cylinder vacuum.
The trade-off: runtime depends on the mode you use. UFC-Que Choisir considers it better suited to quick cleans than deep cleaning.
Worth considering: as an extra vacuum for cushions, car seats and other small areas.
The trade-off: on its own, it won’t cover regular cleaning of all the floors in your home.
Worth considering: for scheduled cleans of accessible floors between more thorough cleaning sessions.
The trade-off: it won’t clean sofas or stairs. Check its performance in corners and on carpets separately.
Once you’ve chosen a type, compare the brushes and tools for the surfaces where pet hair actually builds up in your home.
| Feature | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Carpets and upholstery | Compare tests on fibres and carpets carried out using the same method. Check that the version on sale includes a carpet brush and a tool suitable for furniture. | Pet hair gets caught in my carpet and builds up on my sofa, so a floor brush alone won’t cover all my needs. |
| Brush maintenance | Check how easy it is to access the roller, remove hair and use any cleaning tools supplied. A claim such as ‘anti-tangle’ doesn’t mean you can skip checking it. | When pet hair or human hair gets tangled, I want to be able to clean the brush regularly. UFC-Que Choisir recommends removing built-up fibres to prevent a loss of performance. |
| Runtime and manoeuvrability | For a stick vacuum, look for the runtime in the mode you’ll use on your carpets, rather than relying on the advertised maximum. For a cylinder vacuum, check its reach and the capacity of its bag or bin. | If I do a quick clean every day, manoeuvrability matters. If I’m cleaning the whole home in one go, I also need to minimise interruptions. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot vacuum, compare its performance on your types of flooring, along edges and in corners. Then check its navigation and how easy it is to access the brush. | I’d like to keep the floors clean between regular cleans, while still having a way to clean furniture and stairs. |
These details alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up pet hair from a carpet or sofa. UFC-Que Choisir assesses how well vacuums pick up fibres from different types of flooring.
Compare tests on the surfaces that matter to you, and check which brushes are actually included with the model you’re considering.
Runtime can be shorter when using a higher power setting. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this limitation with stick vacuums, which is particularly important if you need to spend longer cleaning carpets.
Estimate how long your cleaning sessions take and look for the runtime in the mode you plan to use.
Pet hair and human hair can still get caught around the roller. UFC-Que Choisir recommends removing it regularly to prevent a loss of performance.
Before you buy, check how to access the brush and whether a cleaning tool is included.
A robot vacuum moves around accessible floors, but it can’t clean a sofa, cushions or stairs.
Use it for floor cleaning and keep a vacuum with an upholstery tool for other surfaces.
Accessories vary by model, so a range marketed to pet owners doesn’t guarantee that every model comes with the same equipment.
The ProAnimal range includes several types of vacuum cleaner. Bosch highlights brushes designed for pet hair and a roller that’s easy to clean.
Cat & Dog models include both a cylinder vacuum and a stick vacuum, but their brushes and accessories differ.
Dyson offers cordless stick vacuums and, depending on the model, tools for pet beds, cars and stairs.
Some Animal Care models and kits combine a carpet brush with a smaller tool for furniture.
These are cordless stick vacuums presented for cleaning up pet hair. If you also need to clean sofas, check the upholstery tool included with each version. For longer cleaning sessions on carpets, check the runtime in the mode you’ll use.
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The product listing presents this stick vacuum for picking up pet hair from carpets and hard floors. Its title mentions a flexible hose and a pet brush. If you’re planning longer cleans on carpets, check the runtime for the mode you’ll use: the figures given for this model don’t all match.
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Its self-standing design and removable battery may be useful if you clean frequently. The listing describes a combination brush for furniture. Check what’s included in the box and the runtime in the mode you plan to use on your carpets.
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This stick vacuum is presented with an anti-tangle brush and a self-standing design. The listing also mentions an upholstery tool. If your sofa is a key area to clean, check what kind of tool it is, along with the runtime in the mode intended for carpets.
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The handheld mode can be useful for smaller areas, while the stick vacuum is presented for floors and carpets. If you also want to clean your sofa, check what the supplied accessories are designed for. Check the runtime in carpet mode separately.
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Its two speeds and removable battery may be worth considering if you clean for different lengths of time. Before choosing it for carpets or a sofa, check which floor brush and upholstery tool are actually included, then look at the runtime on the highest setting.
No. Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum cleans carpets and upholstery. UFC-Que Choisir tests how well vacuums pick up fibres, including pet hair, from several types of flooring. Also check the floor head and the accessories actually included.
For your main cleaning routine in a larger home, especially one with carpets, consider a cylinder vacuum with suitable brushes. UFC-Que Choisir describes it as well suited to larger homes, but less manoeuvrable. A stick vacuum is better for quick, frequent cleans: check its runtime in the mode you’ll need for carpets.
An upholstery tool can be useful if pet hair gets into your sofa or car seats. Rowenta and Miele describe tools of this kind for some models. Check that a suitable accessory is included with the exact model you’re buying.
Not if you also need to clean sofas, cushions or stairs. A robot vacuum can help keep accessible floors clean. When choosing a model, check its performance on carpets and hard floors, along edges and in corners separately, as UFC-Que Choisir does in its testing process.
Check it regularly and remove any built-up pet hair and human hair. UFC-Que Choisir recommends doing this to prevent a loss of performance. Rowenta recommends cleaning the brush on its ZR954C01 robot vacuum weekly. Follow the guidance for your own model rather than applying this schedule to every vacuum.