To pick up pet hair regularly without getting out a bulky appliance, choose a cordless stick vacuum if you tend to clean in short bursts. Check its runtime in the mode you’ll use and how well it performs on your flooring. A cylinder vacuum may be a better fit for longer sessions on rugs or carpets, while a robot is mainly useful for automating regular cleans. It won’t necessarily perform as well on fibres, edges and corners. If you’re adding a brush, check that it’s compatible with your exact vacuum model.
A cordless stick vacuum can make quick cleans easier when there’s visible hair on hard floors and in high-traffic areas. If you need to clean several rooms, its runtime in the mode you’ll actually use is key.
If hair gets caught in the fibres, look for test results on carpets rather than relying on a single advertised power figure. Depending on how long your cleaning sessions are, consider a cylinder vacuum or a stick vacuum with a brush that’s been tested on these surfaces.
A robot vacuum can handle regular cleans between more thorough sessions. When choosing a model, check its results separately on the flooring in your home, as well as on fibres, along edges and in corners.
Worth considering: if you want to grab your vacuum quickly for short, frequent cleans.
Trade-off: according to UFC-Que Choisir, stick vacuums last around ten minutes on average at full power.
Worth considering: for longer sessions, particularly in a large home or one with rugs and carpets.
Trade-off: you’ll need to move the appliance around and have a power socket nearby. A bagged model also needs replacement bags.
Worth considering: if you want to schedule regular cleans between more thorough sessions.
Trade-off: automation doesn’t guarantee good results on embedded hair, along edges or in corners.
Start with the areas where pet hair builds up, then compare test results with how long and how often you clean.
| Priority | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Hair on carpets | Compare test results on embedded fibres, rugs and hard floors separately. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing includes fibres similar to pet hair. | Hair gets caught in my rugs or carpets, so I want to judge how well it cleans the fibres, not just look at the advertised power. |
| Runtime | For a stick vacuum, check how long it runs in the mode and with the brush you’ll use, as well as how long it takes to charge. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average runtime of around ten minutes at full power. | I clean several rooms in one go and want to finish without stopping to recharge. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot vacuum, check the model’s results on carpets, tiles, wooden floors, edges, corners and fibres. These are the surfaces and areas assessed in UFC-Que Choisir’s testing. | I’m interested in scheduled cleans, but I also need to consider the areas where my pet sheds. |
| Maintenance | Check how to clean the brush and filters, then find out which bags or parts are compatible with the exact model. Check that parts are available when you’re choosing. | I want to be able to remove tangled hair and maintain my vacuum without having to search for a suitable brush or filter afterwards. |
| Noise | Compare noise levels and cleaning results in the modes you’ll use. UFC-Que Choisir points out that high suction power and low noise rarely go hand in hand with stick vacuums. | If I clean often, the noise level in the mode I need matters just as much as how well it removes pet hair. |
These figures alone don’t tell you how well an appliance will clean each type of flooring. For carpets, UFC-Que Choisir’s tests on embedded fibres give you a more direct answer about how well it picks up trapped hair.
Compare results on hard floors and carpets separately, giving priority to the surfaces you have at home.
The advertised runtime on low power may not reflect the mode you’ll use for pet hair. UFC-Que Choisir reports that stick vacuums last around ten minutes on average at full power.
Check the runtime in the mode you need, with the brush you’ll use, then compare it with the area you clean in one session.
Accessories are designed for specific models. For example, Rowenta says its ZR740004 brush is compatible with three robot vacuum models.
Check your appliance’s full model number and consult the manufacturer’s compatibility list before ordering.
Brushes may need regular cleaning to remove pet hair. The filters, bags and other parts you need will depend on the model you choose.
Check the maintenance requirements and compatible part numbers before buying, rather than assuming they’ll be the same as those for another appliance from the same brand.
These examples are mainly useful for checking accessories for specific models. A brand’s inclusion here doesn’t tell you how all its appliances perform.
Rowenta offers accessories for robot vacuums, including options for homes with pets.
Dyson lists filters, batteries and accessories by vacuum range and model number.
Roborock robot vacuums are worth considering if you’re looking to automate regular cleans.
This selection includes cordless stick vacuums for manual cleaning and robot vacuums for automated cleans. For each model, compare the advertised specifications with the surfaces you need to clean and how long your cleaning sessions take.
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Worth considering if you want to schedule regular cleans. Its description mentions an app, an automatic emptying station and an anti-tangle system. The advertised runtime is up to 180 minutes. If your home has carpets, also compare the model’s results on fibres and different floor types.
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Designed for frequent manual cleans, this model is described as having an anti-tangle brush, a removable battery and a charging dock. Its advertised 55-minute runtime applies to bare-floor mode. If you’re cleaning carpets, check the runtime in the appropriate mode.
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The handheld conversion and flat-reach design could be useful for cleaning around furniture. The brush is described as anti-tangle. The advertised 65-minute runtime is for standard mode, so check how this compares with the time you’ll need to use the brush on carpets.
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This stick vacuum has a removable battery and converts into a handheld vacuum, making it worth considering for cleaning several areas of your home. Its description mentions an anti-tangle roller and up to 60 minutes of runtime. Check which mode that figure applies to for your needs.
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Designed to automate cleaning, this model’s description mentions app scheduling, LiDAR navigation and a dual anti-tangle system. A mopping function is also listed. For pet hair, focus on the model’s results on carpets, fibres, edges and corners, as well as the compatible consumables.
Yes, if you mainly do short cleans and want an appliance that’s easy to grab. Be sure to check the runtime in the mode you’ll use: UFC-Que Choisir reports an average of around ten minutes at full power. Results on carpets also matter if hair gets caught in them.
Consider a cylinder vacuum for longer sessions, or a stick vacuum with test results showing good performance on embedded fibres. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing specifically assesses fibres similar to pet hair on carpets. For this need, those results are more useful than an advertised power figure on its own.
Don’t assume it can. A robot can automate regular cleans, but you’ll need to check the results for each model. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing distinguishes between carpets, hard floors, fibres, edges and corners.
Compare your vacuum’s full model number with the brush’s published compatibility list. For example, Rowenta limits its ZR740004 brush to three robot vacuum models. An accessory name that mentions pets doesn’t necessarily mean it will fit your appliance.
Check which filters and brushes fit your model, and whether you’ll need bags if you’re buying a bagged cylinder vacuum. For a stick or robot vacuum, also check which other parts are likely to wear out, along with their compatibility and availability, before you choose.