For frequent clean-ups on floors, stairs and upholstery, consider stick vacuums and their brushes. For a deeper clean of rugs and carpets, compare cylinder models with the right attachments. A robot vacuum can clean floors regularly, but results vary depending on the floor covering, according to UFC-Que Choisir, and it may not remove the need to clean upholstery by hand. In every case, check how well it performs on your surfaces, which accessories are included and how easy it is to remove hair from the brush.
If hair clings to rugs, sofas or pet beds, look for test results on fabric fibres and check whether a turbo brush or a mini brush suitable for upholstery is included. Performance on hard floors alone won’t tell you how well it cleans carpets.
If you want to quickly vacuum the stairs, sofa or skirting boards after your dog or cat, consider how easy the vacuum is to manoeuvre, how long the battery lasts in the mode you’ll use and how easily you can access the brush to remove tangled hair.
A robot vacuum can clean your floors regularly on its own. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that its performance varies depending on the floor type. Compare test results for your floor coverings, as well as how well it cleans edges and how often the bin needs emptying.
Start by choosing a format that suits your usual cleaning routine, then look at the brush and how well it performs on the surfaces where hair is hardest to remove. A pet hair brush may also be an accessory worth checking for a vacuum you already own, rather than a reason to choose a fourth type of vacuum.
Worth considering: for quick, frequent clean-ups, especially on stairs or upholstery with a suitable mini brush.
Bear in mind: battery life and bin capacity need extra attention if your cleaning sessions are longer. Also check how to clean the roller.
Worth considering: for cleaning larger areas, with a brush suited to rugs and an attachment for upholstered furniture.
Bear in mind: the cord, storage space and replacement bags. UFC-Que Choisir says bagged cylinder vacuums expose you to less dust during maintenance than bagless models.
Worth considering: for scheduling regular floor cleans between more thorough cleaning sessions.
Bear in mind: performance varies depending on the floor covering, as UFC-Que Choisir notes. You’ll also need to empty and maintain the bin or its base station.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Hair on rugs and upholstery | Performance on fabrics and rugs; whether an upholstery brush is included and compatible. | When hair gets caught in the rug or sofa, I want to know whether the vacuum head can lift it out. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Quick clean-ups and hair wrapping round the brush | Access to the roller and a feature that helps prevent hair wrapping round it; battery life in the mode you’ll use. | If I vacuum often after my pet, having to take the brush apart every time becomes a hassle. Around 29% of consumers put this need first. |
| Automated cleaning | Performance on the floor coverings in your home and along edges; bin management. | I want to schedule routine hair pick-ups from the floors, while still being able to clean upholstery separately. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this regular cleaning. |
| Emptying and maintenance | How to empty the vacuum, clean the filter and find compatible bags or brushes. | For everyday maintenance, I want to be able to empty the bin or replace the bag easily, and find the parts I need. Around 21% of consumers consider ease of maintenance their main priority. |
The motor’s power rating doesn’t tell you on its own how well the vacuum removes hair from a rug or fabric. The floor head and brush matter too.
Look for tests carried out on the surfaces you need to clean, and check which accessories come in the box.
UFC-Que Choisir has found that robot vacuum performance varies depending on the type of floor. It’s worth checking how well a model handles edges, corners and rugs separately.
Compare results for these areas and find out how to empty the bin and maintain the brushes.
An emptying station takes up space and needs maintenance too.
A manufacturer’s filtration percentage depends on the product and the conditions it refers to. On its own, it doesn’t prove that the vacuum reduces allergies in your home.
Check the type of filter, the conditions attached to the claim and the cleaning or replacement instructions.
Removing hair from the roller, cleaning the filter and emptying the bin all affect how easy it is to vacuum regularly.
Before you choose, find out how to remove the brush and check the product codes for compatible bags, filters or parts.
A bagged cylinder vacuum needs replacement bags; a bagless model needs its dust container emptied and cleaned.
Rowenta offers stick, bagged cylinder and robot vacuums, with accessories to compare depending on the surfaces you need to clean.
The cordless range may appeal to households that favour quick clean-ups and are looking at options for long hair.
The ProAnimal range includes several formats. Compare the brush and accessories supplied with the specific model rather than relying on the range name.
These models suit two of the uses covered here: quick clean-ups with a stick vacuum and scheduled floor cleaning with a robot. For hair caught in upholstery or rugs, compare the brushes on offer and look for results on your floor coverings before choosing.
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Worth considering for regular clean-ups if pet hair is your main concern. Compare the brush and included accessories for your stairs and upholstery, as well as performance on your rugs.
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For regular cleaning if you’re looking for a stick vacuum with a brush described as anti-tangle. The product title states a 45-minute run time; check how long it lasts in the mode you’ll use and which accessories are included for upholstery.
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Worth considering for quick clean-ups on floors and rugs if a handheld stick vacuum suits your needs. The product title lists an anti-tangle brush and a 55-minute run time; this figure applies to bare-floor mode and may not reflect how long it lasts when cleaning rugs.
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For frequent cleaning if brush maintenance is an important part of your decision. The product title describes an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of run time; check how long it lasts in the mode you need for your rugs and which accessories are designed for upholstery.
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Worth considering for scheduled everyday floor cleaning rather than vacuuming the sofa. The product title mentions an anti-tangle brush; compare how it performs on your rugs, along edges and in corners, as well as how to maintain the emptying system.
Not for every use. UFC-Que Choisir says that, in its tests of cylinder vacuums, bagged models vacuum more effectively than bagless ones and expose you to less dust during maintenance. For hair on upholstery, also check which brush is included and whether compatible bags are available.
Check whether the feature that helps prevent tangles applies to the main brush, the mini brush or both, and whether the roller is easy to remove for cleaning. A motorised brush doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll never have to remove long hair by hand.
Don’t rely on a robot to clean your sofa, and check how well it performs on your rugs before making it your only vacuum. UFC-Que Choisir says that robot vacuum performance varies depending on the floor type. Scheduled cleans are mainly suited to keeping floors clean regularly.
It describes a feature claimed under conditions specific to the product, not a guaranteed health benefit in your home. For example, Rowenta states that its Power XXL Animal Care RO3172EA filters more than 99.98% of dust and allergens. Check the conditions behind this claim and how to maintain the filter, and don’t assume the same applies to another model.
Keep the receipt and the description of the model you bought: they may be useful if the product doesn’t match the stated specifications. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies in France to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a retailer to an individual. It is separate from a retailer’s returns policy for change-of-mind purchases.