Homes with carpets, sofas or other fabrics that collect pet hair
If pet hair settles on more than just the floor, check for a mini turbo brush or a powered brush that’s suitable for fabrics, as well as a floor head.
Who are these options for?
People who prefer frequent, quick cleaning sessions
A cordless stick can tackle specific areas, while a robot can clean accessible floors for you. You’ll still need to consider run time, emptying the container and cleaning the brushes.
Shoppers who care about emptying and maintenance
Choosing between a bag and a container changes how you dispose of dust. Before you buy, check which bags or filters fit, along with the right brushes and, for a cordless model, the battery for that exact model.
What should you check before choosing?
First decide whether you need a vacuum for your main clean or for quick top-ups. Then consider the surfaces you need to tackle and the maintenance you’re happy to do.
Bagged cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: for the main clean in a large home, especially if you’d rather remove a full bag than clean a container.
Bear in mind: it’s a corded appliance that you’ll need to move around, and you’ll have to replace the bags.
Bagless cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: for a thorough clean of your floors if you’d prefer not to use bags.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty and clean the container and filters regularly. Que Choisir also notes that emptying a bagless model exposes you to more dust than emptying a bagged one.
Cordless stick vacuum
Worth considering: for quickly picking up pet hair around your pet’s bed or on the stairs.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, the quoted run time at low power doesn’t necessarily reflect how long the vacuum will last on the setting you use.
Robot vacuum cleaner
Worth considering: for scheduled cleaning on clear, accessible floors.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir found that results vary depending on the floor, and that the container needs regular emptying. You’ll need another solution for sofas.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and fabrics | Check which brushes are included for hard floors, carpets and upholstery. For fabrics, confirm whether a mini turbo brush or mini powered brush is included or compatible with the exact model. | Pet hair also collects on my sofa or carpets, so the floor head alone won’t determine which vacuum I choose. |
| Emptying | Compare replacing a bag with emptying and cleaning a container. According to Que Choisir, emptying a bag exposes you to less dust than emptying a bagless container. | I’d rather remove a full bag, or I’m happy to clean a container regularly to avoid using bags. |
| Cleaning routine | Decide whether you’ll use the vacuum for a full clean or for specific areas. For a stick vacuum, check the quoted run time on the power setting you plan to use, not just the maximum run time. | I need to clean the whole home, or simply pick up pet hair between full cleans. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot, check that it can reach the areas you want to clean, what’s involved in maintaining the container and brushes, and whether the app is compatible and how updates are handled. Que Choisir notes that results vary depending on the floor. | I’d like to schedule cleaning for accessible floors, while keeping another solution for sofas and raised surfaces. |
| Compatible parts | Make a note of the model’s full reference, then look for the right bags or filters, brushes and rollers, and, if needed, the compatible battery and charger. | I want to be able to maintain my vacuum without finding out after I buy it that an accessory has a different reference number. |
What should you watch out for?
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Relying only on a stick vacuum’s maximum run time
Que Choisir explains that the quoted maximum run time is measured at low power, so it doesn’t tell you how long the vacuum will last during a more demanding clean.
Compare run times on the setting you’ll use, and check that the brushes are suitable for your surfaces.
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Assuming a ‘pet’ label means a sofa brush is included
Pet hair on cushions and upholstery calls for a suitable accessory. A product range’s name alone doesn’t tell you what’s included with every version.
Check which accessories come with the vacuum and whether a mini brush or turbo brush is compatible with the model you’ve chosen.
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Forgetting about consumables and maintenance
Bags need replacing, while the containers and filters on bagless vacuums need regular maintenance. Brushes and rollers also need to be suitable for your appliance.
Make a note of the model’s full reference and check which consumables and wear parts fit before you choose.
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Expecting a robot to clean every surface
Que Choisir points out that robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor. A robot that cleans floors can’t tackle a sofa or raised surfaces on its own.
Use it for accessible areas, and consider a manual vacuum if fabrics and upholstery are part of your cleaning routine.
A few models from well-known brands
These examples can help you identify different types of vacuum and their accessories. Always check the specific version you’re interested in.
Miele
The Complete C3 Cat & Dog and Guard M1 Cat & Dog Flex bagged cylinder vacuums are worth considering if carpets and fabrics are part of your cleaning routine.
- Miele lists a turbo brush and Active AirClean filter for these models. Its online shop specifies GN bags for the Complete C3 and CO bags for the Guard M1.
- Check that your chosen model and its consumables are available. The brand’s accessory descriptions aren’t an independent comparison of performance.
Rowenta
Rowenta’s French range includes cylinder vacuums, cordless sticks and robot vacuums. Accessories vary by model.
- Rowenta lists a mini turbo brush and parquet floorhead for the Silence Force Effitech cylinder vacuum, and lists parts for some other ranges.
- Rowenta says it keeps technical parts for almost all its products for 15 years after purchase. Check whether the model you’re considering is covered by this commitment and identify the parts that fit it.
Dyson
The V15 Detect is a cordless stick vacuum to consider if you’re looking for a model for quick clean-ups on floors and fabrics.
- For the V15 Detect Absolute, Dyson describes a self-de-tangling mini motorised brush designed to tackle pet hair, among other things.
- Before you buy, check which accessories come with your chosen version and whether compatible filters, brushes and batteries are available.
Vacuum cleaners available on Joybuy
This selection includes cordless sticks for quick clean-ups, robot vacuums for accessible floors and a bagged cylinder vacuum for everyday floor cleaning. Choose according to the surfaces you need to clean, rather than expecting every model to do the same job.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5, cordless stick vacuum cleaner
Worth considering for regularly picking up pet hair from floors and cleaning fabrics with a suitable accessory. The product listing states up to 65 min of run time. Check the run time on the setting you’ll use, as well as the reference numbers for compatible filters, brushes and batteries.
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BISSELL PowerClean FurGuard Select, cordless stick vacuum cleaner
This style is suitable for quick clean-ups of pet hair. If you also need to clean stairs or upholstery, check which accessories are included, the run time on the setting you’ll use and which parts are compatible with this model.
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EUREKA E20 Plus, robot vacuum cleaner
This model is designed for scheduled cleaning on accessible floors and features app control and a brush designed to reduce hair tangles. Check that it has the features you need, and plan to use a manual vacuum for sofas and other fabrics.
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Lubluelu L15 Max 3-in-1, robot vacuum and mop
This robot with laser navigation is worth considering for scheduled floor cleaning. Check app and network compatibility, what’s involved in maintaining the container, and the reference numbers for replacement filters and brushes.
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Electrolux EB61C2GRN, 550 W bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner
Worth considering for everyday floor cleaning if you’d rather remove a bag than empty a container. For pet hair on sofas or carpets, check which brushes are included or compatible, then find the right bags and filters for this model. The stated power alone isn’t enough to judge how well it cleans up pet hair.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cordless stick replace a cylinder vacuum in a home with a pet?
It may be enough if you mainly clean small areas and its run time on the setting you use covers your sessions. However, Que Choisir describes a stick vacuum as more of an additional option, and a cylinder vacuum as better suited to larger areas. If you regularly clean lots of carpets and fabrics as part of your main routine, compare the brushes available too.
Do you need a bag to vacuum up pet hair?
No, but it changes how you empty the vacuum. Que Choisir says that removing a bag exposes you to less dust than cleaning a bagless container. On the other hand, you’ll need to find and replace bags that are compatible with your chosen model.
Which brush should you check for a sofa or carpet?
For upholstery, look for a mini turbo brush or mini powered brush. For floors, check that the head is suitable for your flooring. Confirm which accessories are actually included with the exact model, as they can vary across a range.
How can you check consumables before buying?
Make a note of the vacuum’s full reference, then look for the right bags or filters, brushes and rollers, and, for a cordless model, the compatible battery and charger. Miele, for example, specifies GN and CO bags for different ranges. Always check the compatibility information for your exact model.