For regular cleaning of hard floors, rugs and upholstery in a home with pets, start by comparing canister vacuum cleaners with brushes suited to each surface. Choose between a bag and a dust container based on the maintenance you’re happy to do. A stick vacuum can be handy for quick clean-ups, while a robot can help keep floors clean, but won’t replace manual cleaning of upholstery. Que Choisir recommends looking at performance on the surfaces and fibres you need to clean, rather than relying on the stated power alone.
If pet hair also settles on cushions or the sofa, look at both performance on your floor coverings and the accessories available for upholstery. Que Choisir includes fibres in its tests of canister vacuum cleaners.
For quick clean-ups between full cleans, a stick vacuum could be a good fit if its battery life and accessories suit the task. A robot can help keep floors clean, provided it performs well on your floor coverings.
With a bagged canister vacuum, check which bags and filters it takes. For a bagless model, be prepared to empty the dust container and maintain the filter as instructed.
First decide what you need the vacuum for, then check that its accessories and performance suit the surfaces you clean.
Worth considering: for regular cleaning of a mix of floors and upholstery, if the necessary brushes are included or compatible.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to buy compatible bags regularly and replace the filters as instructed.
Worth considering: for full cleaning sessions if you’d rather use a dust container than bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the dust container and maintain the filter. ‘Bagless’ doesn’t mean ‘maintenance-free’.
Worth considering: for regularly picking up pet hair in specific areas.
Keep in mind: according to Que Choisir, cordless stick vacuums often have limited battery life and suction power. Check that they’ll suit your cleaning sessions.
Worth considering: for scheduled cleaning of floors, while keeping a manual vacuum for furniture and upholstery.
Keep in mind: performance on rugs, along edges and in corners varies by model. Que Choisir tests these areas.
| Factor | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and upholstery | Compare tests on hard floors, rugs and fibres using the same method. Check the floorhead and whether an upholstery tool is included or compatible. | There’s pet hair on my rugs and sofa, so a floorhead alone won’t cover all the surfaces I need to clean. |
| How often you clean and manoeuvrability | For a cordless stick vacuum, check the battery life in the mode you’ll use and which accessories are suitable. For a canister vacuum, consider its reach, capacity and ease of movement. | If I mainly do quick clean-ups, I’ll prioritise a vacuum that’s easy to get out. For cleaning the whole home, I’ll also consider interruptions and how easy it is to handle. |
| Maintenance | Check which bags, filters and brushes are compatible. For a bagless dust container, read the instructions for emptying it and cleaning the filter. | I’d rather decide now whether to replace bags or regularly empty a dust container. |
| Robot vacuum coverage | Check how the model performs on your floor coverings, near walls and in corners. Consider which areas will still need to be cleaned by hand. | I’d like to schedule floor cleaning, but I also need a solution for stairs, cushions and furniture. |
This figure alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum picks up fibres from different surfaces. Que Choisir tests suction on a range of floors and types of dirt.
Look for tests covering the surfaces in your home, and check which brush or accessory is designed for upholstery.
An upholstery accessory is only useful if it fits the exact vacuum model you have.
Before ordering, compare the model numbers of the vacuum and brush against the manufacturer’s compatibility list.
If the brush isn’t compatible, you’ll need to find the right accessory before you can use it to clean upholstery.
A bagged canister vacuum needs compatible bags, while a bagless model still needs its dust container emptied and its filter maintained.
Check the model’s consumable part numbers and read the maintenance instructions before you buy.
Que Choisir found that mopping results vary between models. Its mopping test covers tiled floors, not every type of floor covering.
Check which floors your chosen model can be used on, and keep a manual option for rugs, upholstery and hard-to-reach areas.
Bosch offers ProAnimal canister vacuum cleaners with and without bags. The details below apply to the models mentioned, not the entire range.
Miele lets you search for bags and filters by range for its bagged canister vacuum cleaners.
Dyson offers cordless stick vacuums for homes with pets. It’s worth looking at each model and its accessories separately.
These Joybuy options are corded or cordless stick vacuum cleaners to consider for targeted cleaning in a home with pets. If you’re choosing a main vacuum for all your floors and upholstery, you’ll also need to compare canister models and suitable accessories.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for regularly picking up pet hair from floors and cleaning stairs or upholstery. Check which accessories are included and the battery life in the mode you’ll use.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if pet hair settles on rugs, hard floors and upholstery. The product title claims up to 65 minutes of battery life, but doesn’t specify the mode, so check how long it will last for the cleaning you have in mind.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for pet hair on floors and upholstery that can be cleaned with a suitable brush. The product title claims 60 minutes of battery life but doesn’t specify the mode, so check the runtime and accessories for your needs.
Image unavailable
Compare it for cleaning floors and the sofa, after checking that an upholstery tool is included. The product title lists two speeds and a removable battery, so check the runtime in each mode and which accessories come in the box.
Image unavailable
Its stick and handheld design could suit spot cleaning if the included accessories are right for your surfaces. The product title lists a 0,5 l dust container and a 4,5 m cable, so check that it’ll reach where you need it to in your home.
Not necessarily. Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums as suitable for quick, supplementary cleaning, with often limited battery life and suction power. If you also clean rugs and upholstery, compare performance on those surfaces, the accessories and the runtime in the mode you’ll use before making one your only vacuum.
Check for a brush suited to rugs and a nozzle or small brush for upholstery, then confirm that they’re included or compatible with the exact model. Bosch lists a turbo brush and an upholstery nozzle for the BGB41PET1; this specification doesn’t apply to other models.
Note the exact vacuum model, then check which consumables are compatible and follow the manufacturer’s replacement instructions. Miele France lists GN HyClean Pure bags for the Complete C2 and Complete C3 ranges, among others. Check compatibility with your specific model.
Take it to a collection point for electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it in household waste. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition outlines the collection scheme. Find out where your nearest drop-off points are.