For regular cleaning in a home with pets, choose a vacuum type to suit your main task: a canister vacuum for a thorough clean, a stick vacuum for quick pick-ups or a robot vacuum to schedule cleaning on accessible floors. If pet hair tends to cling to rugs and upholstery, check that the brush is suitable for those surfaces and compatible with your vacuum. Whichever type you choose, you’ll still need to maintain its brushes.
If pet hair quickly reappears on floors and in high-traffic areas, being able to grab a stick vacuum or schedule a robot vacuum can matter more than it would for occasional cleaning. Also check that the vacuum can reach the areas you need to clean, and how long it takes to maintain the brush.
If pet hair gets caught in the fibres, check the head designed for rugs or upholstery. A turbo brush or mini turbo brush is only worth considering if it suits the surfaces you need to clean and is compatible with the exact model of vacuum.
If you use your vacuum frequently, compare how easy it is to replace parts and accessories. In France, the repairability index for eligible new vacuum cleaners gives a score out of 10, as explained by ADEME and the Ministry of the Economy.
First decide whether you need a vacuum for a thorough clean, quick pick-ups or to take care of some of your floors without you having to get involved each time. Accessories for rugs and upholstery are a separate consideration from the type of vacuum.
Consider it: as your main vacuum for longer cleaning sessions across large areas, rugs and several upholstered items.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move the vacuum around, and it needs to be plugged into a mains socket.
Consider it: for quickly clearing visible pet hair between more thorough cleans, a use highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir.
Bear in mind: how long you can use it depends on the power setting you choose.
Consider it: for scheduling cleaning sessions on floors that are sufficiently accessible.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clean the brushes, wheels and sensors, as iRobot’s instructions remind you.
| Your concern | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Frequent cleaning | For a stick vacuum, the run time on the setting you plan to use; for a robot vacuum, whether it can reach the areas you need to clean. | When pet hair keeps reappearing in high-traffic areas, I want to be able to clean up quickly without a lengthy set-up. Around 33% of consumers rank this convenience for frequent cleaning as their top priority. |
| Pet hair on upholstery | The brush designed for rugs or upholstery, whether it’s included in the package, and whether it’s fully compatible. | If pet hair clings to my sofa and rugs, I’m mainly looking for a tool that can clean those surfaces. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Automated floor cleaning | Which areas the robot can reach, whether it can cross thresholds, and how to clean its brushes. | I’d rather delegate regular floor cleaning, while still making time to maintain the vacuum. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Repair and maintenance over time | The repairability index for the eligible new model, as well as the availability of suitable brushes, filters and other parts. | With frequent use, I want to be able to maintain my vacuum and replace the parts it needs rather than replace the whole appliance. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
This label doesn’t tell you which tool to use on a rug or sofa. Miele and Rowenta describe brushes designed for these tasks, but compatibility depends on the exact model of vacuum.
Check which accessory is included or available separately, then check the list of compatible models and how to remove tangled hair.
A specialist brush may need to be bought separately from the vacuum.
A motor rating, expressed in Pa or AW, doesn’t tell you on its own how the floorhead will perform on your surfaces. UFC-Que Choisir tests robot vacuums on different floor types, including around edges and in corners.
Work out whether you mainly need to clean hard floors, rugs or upholstery, then look for specifications or test results for those surfaces.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, cordless stick vacuums are better suited to quick clean-ups. The maximum run time advertised may not be the same as the time available on a higher power setting.
Estimate how long you’ll need to clean the areas in question and compare this with the run time on the setting you plan to use. Also check whether the battery can be replaced.
A robot can clean floors it can reach; it won’t clean your sofa or areas it can’t access. iRobot’s instructions also recommend cleaning components such as the brushes, front wheel and sensors.
Keep a suitable option for upholstery, stairs and awkward corners, and remember to maintain your robot vacuum regularly.
Miele’s Cat & Dog canister vacuum range and brushes are worth considering if rugs and upholstery make up a significant part of your cleaning routine.
Dyson markets some of its stick vacuums for frequent cleaning in homes with pets.
iRobot robot vacuums are worth comparing if you’d like to schedule cleaning on accessible floors.
Check Rowenta accessories against the exact robot or vacuum you’re considering.
These models are suited to frequent pick-ups with a cordless stick vacuum or scheduled floor cleaning with a robot vacuum. If your priority is a thorough clean with a canister vacuum, use the criteria above to compare that type separately.
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Worth considering if you’d like to schedule cleaning on the floors in a home with pets, provided you have space for its station. The model name mentions 25,000 Pa suction and ZeroTangle 3.0 brushes; these specifications don’t replace testing it on your rugs. If removing pet hair from your sofa is a priority, check separately which tool can help.
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Worth considering if you want to grab a stick vacuum for the floors, then check which tools are designed for more targeted cleaning. The product name lists 60,000 Pa, an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of run time; this maximum figure doesn’t tell you how long it lasts on rugs. For upholstery, check which accessory is included rather than assuming it’s a mini turbo brush.
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An option to compare for scheduled cleaning on floors and rugs the robot can reach. This model is described as a robot vacuum and mop with automatic emptying, LiDAR navigation, an anti-tangle system and 8,000 Pa of advertised suction. Check how it performs on your rugs; these specifications alone don’t measure how effectively it removes pet hair.
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Worth considering if you’d like to schedule floor cleaning with a robot that vacuums and mops. The model description mentions an AutoEmpty base with a bag and a brush described as anti-tangle. You’ll still need to clean the brushes and sensors regularly, and check which replacement parts are suitable for this model.
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Worth comparing if you want to schedule cleaning on hard floors and rugs that the robot can reach. The product name mentions an all-in-one station, LiDAR navigation, app control and 10,000 Pa of advertised suction. If pet hair often gets tangled in your brushes, check the design of this model’s brush and how to clean it.
Vacuum cleaners are among the product categories that must display a repairability index in France, according to the Ministry of the Economy. The score out of 10 gives an indication of how easy a product is to repair. Compare the scores for the specific models you’re considering, but don’t confuse them with a measure of suction performance.
No. Even if a model has a brush described as anti-tangle, its components still need maintenance. iRobot recommends, in particular, keeping the front wheel, side brush, sensors and charging contacts clean on the relevant robot models.
Look for a brush designed for upholstery and rugs, such as a mini turbo brush or a turbo brush suited to the surfaces you need to clean. Check whether it’s included or available separately and, either way, make sure it’s compatible with the exact model of vacuum.
No: compare the run time on the setting you plan to use. UFC-Que Choisir says that the advertised maximum run time is measured on the lowest power setting, so it may differ from the run time on a higher setting used for rugs.