If pet hair builds up on carpets, floors and fabrics, choose a vacuum cleaner with brushes and accessories suited to each surface for your main cleaning. A cylinder vacuum is a good option to compare first for this kind of use. According to UFC-Que Choisir’s guides, cordless stick vacuums are better suited to quick clean-ups, while robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor type. Robots also can’t clean stairs or furniture. A wet-and-dry floor cleaner serves a different purpose: tackling wet messes on hard floors, without replacing a vacuum for carpets and upholstery.
If you also clean the sofa and pet beds, compare how well the vacuum performs on your floor coverings and check which accessories come with the model you’re considering: a carpet brush, a small upholstery brush and a crevice tool. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests list these accessories for some Rowenta models, not for every product in the range.
A cordless stick vacuum can be handy to grab and put away when you want to quickly pick up pet hair from high-traffic areas. UFC-Que Choisir presents it as a useful option for quick clean-ups in particular. Check its run time in the mode you’ll use and make sure its brush is suitable for the surfaces you need to clean.
A robot vacuum can clean accessible surfaces regularly between more thorough manual cleans. According to UFC-Que Choisir, results depend on the type of floor, so always have another appliance for stairs, furniture and fabrics.
First choose the appliance that will handle your main cleaning, then consider the accessories and maintenance your cleaning routine will require.
Consider it: for cleaning several types of surface, particularly carpets and rugs, with brushes suited to pet hair and upholstery.
The trade-off: check how much storage space it needs and how easy it is to move around. A model with a bag will also need compatible replacement bags.
Consider it: for quick, frequent clean-ups on floors or in specific areas, such as your pet’s bed.
The trade-off: run time depends on the model and setting, so make sure it’s long enough to cover the area you need to clean.
Consider it: for scheduling cleans on accessible floors between more thorough cleaning sessions.
The trade-off: keep a manual vacuum for stairs and fabrics. The brushes and emptying system will still need maintenance.
Consider it: as an extra appliance if your pets often bring wet marks onto compatible hard floors.
The trade-off: it won’t replace vacuuming carpets and fabrics. The dirty-water tank and roller need cleaning after use.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Surfaces and pet hair | Check test results for your types of flooring, where available. Make sure the package includes a carpet brush, a small upholstery brush and a crevice tool. | Pet hair gets stuck in my carpets and on the sofa, but I also need to clean hard floors and corners. |
| Brush maintenance | Check how to remove tangled hair, access the roller and clean the filters, following the instructions. A brush described as anti-tangle still needs to be checked. | With pet hair to pick up regularly, I want to be able to get the vacuum back in working order without a complicated process. |
| Cleaning time | For a stick vacuum, compare the stated run time in the mode that’s useful for your floors. For a robot, check which areas it can access and what scheduling options it offers. | I sometimes need a quick clean, but I also need to clean the whole home: one type of use doesn’t cover both routines. |
| Wet marks | Check which floors are suitable for the washing function and whether a vacuum-only mode is available. Bear in mind that you’ll need to empty and clean the water system. | My pet brings mud onto the tiled floor, but I don’t want to wet a carpet the appliance can’t clean. |
| Consumables and storage | Check the reference numbers for bags, filters and brushes, as well as the space needed for the appliance or its docking station. For applicable new vacuum cleaners in France, the repairability index is another point of comparison highlighted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition. | I’ll use the vacuum regularly and want to be able to maintain its wear-and-tear parts, then store it easily. |
These figures alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up pet hair from carpets, hard floors or corners. The cleaning head and accessories also affect what you can clean.
Compare the available results for your floor coverings and check which brushes and crevice tool are actually included.
According to Les Numériques, a robot can’t climb stairs, and it can’t clean furniture or fabrics either. As UFC-Que Choisir points out, results on floors vary too.
Use it on accessible floors and keep a manual option for areas it can’t reach.
Depending on the model, its docking station and brushes may also need replacement bags or parts.
UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes floor cleaners from all-purpose vacuum cleaners. Rowenta specifically advises against using its X-Clean on carpets: wetting a surface that isn’t designed for this could leave it damp.
Check the instructions for approved floor types and available modes before using it on a carpet or fabric.
After cleaning up a wet mess, remember to allow time to empty the dirty-water tank and clean the roller.
An appliance used frequently needs its filters and brushes checked regularly; some models also use bags. How easy it is to maintain depends on the model you choose.
Note down the reference numbers for consumables and check that replacement parts are available. In France, the repairability index for applicable new vacuum cleaners offers another point of comparison, according to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition.
These brand examples can help you identify different types of appliances and accessories. Always check the specifications of the version you’re considering.
Worth looking at for cylinder vacuums with accessories for carpets and upholstery, as well as wet-and-dry cleaners for hard floors.
Worth comparing if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum with accessories for floors or upholstery.
Worth considering if you want a robot to clean accessible floors regularly.
Worth comparing with other robot vacuums if managing pet hair around the brush is important to you.
These models offer two ways to manage pet hair day to day: a stick vacuum for targeted manual clean-ups and a robot for scheduling cleaning on accessible floors. Compare their brushes, maintenance needs and limitations based on your carpets and fabrics.
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Worth considering for manual clean-ups on floors and in areas where pet hair gathers. The product listing mentions a hose, a pet brush and suction power of 55 kPa; this figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean your carpets. Check the run time in the mode you’ll use and whether compatible filters and batteries are available.
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Its anti-tangle brush is designed to help remove pet hair from floors regularly. The product listing states 65 kPa and up to 70 minutes of run time, but doesn’t specify which mode this figure applies to, so compare it with the setting you’ll use. Also check which upholstery accessories and compatible consumables are available.
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This stick vacuum is worth comparing for frequent clean-ups on hard floors and carpets. Its stated run time is up to 55 minutes in bare-floor mode, so don’t assume it will last as long on another setting. If pet hair also gathers on the sofa or stairs, check the exact list of included accessories, particularly whether it comes with a small motorised brush.
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Worth considering for scheduled cleaning on accessible floors, alongside manual cleaning for stairs and fabrics. This version comes with a docking station and a mopping function. If you have thick or long-pile carpets, check the mopping restrictions and how to set no-go zones. Also check which consumables are compatible with the station.
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This robot suits scheduled cleaning on floors, but you’ll still need a manual appliance for furniture, fabrics and stairs. The product listing mentions an anti-tangle brush and app control. Check the settings for your carpets, as well as the availability of replacement parts and consumables.
Not if you also need to clean stairs, furniture or fabrics: a robot only handles accessible floors. Les Numériques points out that it can’t climb stairs, while UFC-Que Choisir notes that results vary depending on the floor covering. Remember to empty it and maintain its brushes too.
Look for a brush suited to carpets, a small upholstery brush and a crevice tool for edges and corners. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show that accessories can vary between models from the same brand, so check what’s in the box rather than relying only on stated compatibility.
Follow your model’s instructions and remove pet hair when it becomes tangled around the roller. Rowenta recommends cleaning some of its pet turbo brushes once a week, but this isn’t a universal rule for every brush.
Only if the instructions for that model explicitly allow it and specify the right mode. Rowenta, for example, advises against using its X-Clean on carpets. A vacuum-only mode on another appliance doesn’t mean that all wet-and-dry cleaners are suitable for fabrics.