If you mainly need to clean rugs or carpets where pet hair gets embedded in the fibres, choose a cylinder vacuum cleaner by comparing test results on fibres and checking which brush is used, rather than focusing on the advertised power alone. A cordless stick vacuum is better suited to quick clean-ups, while a robot vacuum can help keep floors clean between sessions. According to Que Choisir, cordless stick vacuums have limited battery life at full power, and robot vacuum results vary depending on the surface. If pet hair also builds up on sofas, pet beds or stairs, check that a suitable brush is included or compatible with the exact model you’re considering.
If pet hair gets caught in the fibres, look at how the model you’re considering performs on rugs and carpets. Que Choisir uses synthetic fibres designed to mimic pet hair in its tests of cylinder vacuum cleaners. You should also plan for a suitable attachment if hair gets onto furniture and stairs.
If you often need to remove visible hair from a small area, a cordless stick vacuum can be useful as a back-up; a robot vacuum can keep floors clean between manual cleans. Check the battery life at the setting you’ll use, along with how often you’ll need to empty the bin and clean the brushes. Que Choisir notes that robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor type.
A brush for upholstery is just as important as choosing the right vacuum for your floors. Manufacturers offer different attachments for these areas, so check what’s included in the box and whether it’s compatible with the exact vacuum model.
Start with the surfaces where pet hair is hardest to remove, then check whether the vacuum’s design suits how often you’ll use it and the maintenance it requires.
Consider it: as your main vacuum for cleaning several types of floor, including rugs or carpets, provided the model you choose performs well on fibres.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move the appliance around and manage a power cord; if it uses a bag, you’ll also need to buy replacements.
Consider it: for quickly removing pet hair from high-traffic areas or furniture with the right attachment.
Bear in mind: battery life depends on the setting you use. In its tests of dozens of stick vacuums, Que Choisir found an average battery life of around ten minutes at full power.
Consider it: as an extra for regular cleaning of your floors, after checking how the model performs on the surfaces in your home.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty and maintain the robot, and use another tool for sofas, pet beds and stairs.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded pet hair | Compare fibre test results for the exact model and the type of rug or carpet you have. Note which head was used during the test, and check performance on hard floors separately. Que Choisir includes fibres designed to mimic pet hair in its test protocol for cylinder vacuum cleaners. | My rugs trap pet hair, so I want to know how well the vacuum collects it, not just read about its motor power. |
| Upholstery and awkward corners | Check whether a mini brush or upholstery tool is included, whether it’s compatible with the model and whether it can reach narrow spaces. An attachment described as suitable for furniture doesn’t, by itself, prove how well it performs on every type of fabric. | Pet hair also gets onto the sofa, pet bed, stairs or car seats, so a vacuum designed for floors alone won’t meet my needs. |
| How long you need to clean for | For a stick vacuum, compare battery life at the setting you’ll use, not just the maximum advertised time. For a robot vacuum, check test results on your floors, as well as how it cleans along edges and in corners. | I often vacuum for a few minutes at a time, or I need to clean the whole home without stopping. These call for different features. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Check how easy it is to access the bin or bag, filters and brush roll. For a bagged model, check which bags are compatible; for a bagless one, make sure you’re happy to empty and clean it as set out in the instructions. | When pet hair builds up quickly, I’d rather know what maintenance I’ll need to do regularly. |
| Repairability | In France, the Ministry of the Economy lists vacuum cleaners among the products covered by the repairability index. Check the model’s rating and find out which parts and consumables you might need; the index doesn’t measure how well it collects pet hair. | I want to be able to maintain the vacuum and look into repair options before choosing. |
These details don’t tell you how well a vacuum collects embedded pet hair. Que Choisir’s test protocol for cylinder vacuum cleaners assesses synthetic fibres on rugs in a specific test setup.
For your rugs or carpets, look for fibre test results for the exact model and check which vacuum head was used.
The maximum advertised battery life doesn’t necessarily reflect how long it will run at full power. In its tests of dozens of stick vacuums, Que Choisir found an average battery life of around ten minutes at this setting.
Compare battery life at the setting you’ll need for your floors, and find out whether the battery can be replaced.
A robot vacuum moves around on floors, but pet hair can remain on pet beds, sofas and stairs. Que Choisir also points out that robot vacuum results vary depending on the type of floor.
Check test results for fibres, rugs, edges and corners, and keep a suitable manual tool for areas above floor level.
Bags for a bagged cylinder vacuum need replacing, while brushes and filters require maintenance as set out in the instructions. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index, which indicates how easy or difficult they are to repair.
Check the model’s rating and make sure compatible parts, filters and bags are available before you decide.
These ranges give you an idea of the available designs and attachments. Always check the specification and test results for the exact model.
According to Bosch Home France, the ProAnimal range includes cordless, bagless and bagged models.
Rowenta France describes its Animal Care Pro RO8366EA cylinder vacuum as having a large turbo brush for rugs and a mini turbo brush for furniture and sofas.
Dyson France lists its 971426-01 mini motorised brush as suitable for removing pet hair from pet beds, sofas, car seats and stairs.
This selection includes cordless stick vacuums for manual cleaning and robot vacuums for regular floor care. If you mainly need to clean rugs and carpets, also compare fibre test results for a suitable cylinder vacuum. These products alone won’t determine which option is right for you.
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This stick vacuum, designed for pet hair, is worth considering if you want to clean areas where it often builds up by hand. Before relying on it for rugs, carpets or stairs, check which attachments are included with the version on sale, its battery life at the setting you’ll use and its fibre test results.
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The cordless design is worth considering for quick clean-ups on floors. The product listing mentions a removable battery, an anti-tangle brush and up to 60 minutes of battery life. Check the runtime at the setting you’ll use, and make sure it comes with a suitable attachment if you also clean sofas.
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This stick vacuum is worth considering if you need to clean by hand regularly. The product listing mentions an anti-tangle brush, a removable battery and up to 65 minutes of battery life; this doesn’t indicate how long it will run at the highest setting. If upholstery is a factor in your choice, check exactly which tool is included.
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This robot vacuum is worth considering for regular floor cleaning, but it won’t replace the tool you use for sofas and stairs. The product listing mentions LiDAR navigation, a dual anti-tangle system and a mopping function. Check test results for this exact model on fibres, rugs and edges.
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This robot vacuum is worth considering for keeping the floors clean in a home with pets. The product listing mentions an anti-tangle brush and app control. Before choosing this version, confirm its emptying features and compare its test results on fibres and rugs. You’ll still need another tool for upholstery and other surfaces above floor level.
No. The advertised motor power alone isn’t enough to judge how well a vacuum collects pet hair. To choose a cylinder vacuum, compare the model’s fibre test results and check which head was used. Que Choisir tests synthetic fibres designed to mimic pet hair on rugs.
Not if you also need to vacuum sofas, pet beds, stairs or the car: you’ll need a suitable tool for those areas. For floors, Que Choisir says robot vacuum results vary depending on the surface. Check the model’s test results on fibres, rugs, edges and corners before deciding how it will fit into your cleaning routine.
Que Choisir says that, in its comparisons of cylinder vacuum cleaners, bagged models vacuum more effectively than bagless ones and expose users to less dust. However, you’ll need to replace the bags. If you prefer a bagless model, check how to empty its bin and maintain its filters. In either case, compare how the model performs on the surfaces in your home.
It tells you how easy or difficult the product is to repair, not how well it removes pet hair. For vacuum cleaners sold in France, the Ministry of the Economy lists them among the products covered by this index. Check the rating for the model you’re considering, as well as the parts and consumables needed to maintain it.
Remove hair caught in the brush, empty the bin or replace the bag, then maintain the filters as directed in the model’s instructions. Before buying, check whether the brush roll is easy to access and whether you can get the right consumables for that model.