For regular cleaning in a home with pets, start by choosing a vacuum to suit the surfaces you need to tackle. A cylinder vacuum with the right brushes is well suited to cleaning floors, rugs and upholstery, while a cordless stick vacuum makes it easier to deal with small areas. A robot vacuum can take care of some floor cleaning between these sessions, but it won’t clean sofas or pet beds and will need maintenance too. Whichever type you choose, check the accessories supplied with the version you’re buying, its useful reach or run time, and the parts and consumables you’ll need.
If you often clean around pet beds or on the stairs between full cleans, you’ll need a vacuum that’s easy to pick up and use. For cordless stick vacuums, UFC-Que Choisir advises distinguishing between the maximum run time claimed and the run time at full power.
Pet hair doesn’t just stay on the floor, so check that the brushes and tools supplied are also suitable for the rugs, carpets and upholstery you need to clean. The accessories listed by Miele, Rowenta and Dyson are specific to certain models or versions.
A robot vacuum can clean accessible areas regularly, as long as you prepare its route and maintain its dust bin and brushes. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results vary depending on the floor covering; upholstery and other surfaces above floor level need a different solution.
Cylinder, stick and robot vacuums suit different cleaning routines. A good place to start is by deciding what you want to clean yourself and what you’d like to automate.
Consider it: for regular cleaning sessions covering a large area, rugs and furniture.
Bear in mind: it needs to be plugged in while you use it; a bagged model will also need replacement bags.
Consider it: if you want to clean small areas quickly by hand, especially floors and stairs.
Bear in mind: available cleaning time depends on the mode you use. UFC-Que Choisir reports an average run time of around ten minutes at full power for stick vacuums.
Consider it: for scheduled cleaning on floors where the robot can move around.
Bear in mind: results vary depending on the floor, according to UFC-Que Choisir, and the robot won’t clean upholstery or other surfaces above floor level.
| What matters to you | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Quick, frequent cleaning | Run time in the mode you use and how easy it is to handle. | When pet hair reappears around pet beds between full cleans, I want to be able to tackle it without a lot of preparation. Around 27% of consumers put this need for speed first. |
| Rugs and upholstery | Brushes and tools included, suited to the rugs, furniture and pet beds you want to clean. | If pet hair also gets caught on the sofa and rugs, I want the right accessories to clean these surfaces. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise cleaning upholstery. |
| Automated floor cleaning | Mapping, no-go zones and maintenance of the dust bin or docking station. | I want a robot to handle regular floor cleaning, while keeping a solution for surfaces it can’t reach. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this kind of automation. |
| Maintenance and repairability | Compatible parts and consumables, a replaceable battery where applicable, and the model’s repairability index. | With frequent use, I want to be able to maintain the vacuum and replace parts that wear out. Around 20% of consumers put keeping their vacuum in working order ahead of other criteria. |
UFC-Que Choisir explains that the maximum run time claimed for stick vacuums is generally measured at the lowest power setting. It may not reflect a session on rugs using a motorised brush and a higher setting.
Compare run times using the mode and brush you’ll use, on the surfaces you actually want to clean.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the design of the floorhead affects the results. The motor’s electrical power alone isn’t enough to tell you how well a vacuum will pick up pet hair from rugs or furniture.
Check the floorhead and accessories supplied with the exact model, then, if possible, look for tests of that model on the surfaces you’re interested in.
Bags, filters, dust bins and brushes all need regular attention. For a cordless stick vacuum, the battery also affects how long it can be used.
Before choosing, check the reference numbers for consumables and replaceable parts. If you’re buying a model sold in France, also check its repairability index: the ministry responsible for the ecological transition says vacuum cleaners are among the product categories covered.
UFC-Que Choisir notes that robot vacuum results vary depending on the floor covering. An automatic emptying station can mean you need to empty the small dust bin less often, but you’ll still need to maintain the brushes and filters.
Check how the model performs on your floors, and plan to use a manual vacuum for upholstery and other surfaces above floor level, or areas that are difficult to clean.
The features below apply to the ranges or models mentioned, not every vacuum from each brand. Always check what’s included with the version you’re considering.
The bagged cylinder vacuum range includes Animal Care versions designed for different surfaces around the home.
The Cat & Dog bagged cylinder vacuum range is designed for cleaning floors, rugs and carpets by hand.
Cordless stick vacuums and their accessories can help with manual cleaning of floors and some upholstered areas.
The brand’s robot vacuums are designed for scheduled floor cleaning, rather than upholstery or other surfaces above floor level.
These models suit two of the uses discussed above: frequent manual cleaning with a cordless stick vacuum and automated floor cleaning with a robot. If pet hair is mainly on furniture or pet beds, pay particular attention to the stick vacuum’s upholstery tools; a robot won’t clean these surfaces.
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Worth considering for frequent manual cleaning of floors and rugs, as well as small areas you can reach with a handheld vacuum.
The product name lists an anti-tangle brush and up to 65 minutes of run time. Check how long it lasts in the mode and with the brush that suit your routine. Also check which upholstery tools are included and whether replacement parts are available.
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Consider it if you want to grab a stick vacuum easily for cleaning floors and rugs, with the option of using it on smaller areas too.
The product name mentions an anti-tangle brush and 45 minutes of run time. Check which mode this figure applies to and which accessories are included for the upholstery you want to clean.
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Worth considering for targeted manual cleaning of hard floors and rugs, if a charging stand suits your home.
The stated 55-minute run time applies to bare floors. Check how long it lasts with the setting and brush you’ll use. The product name mentions an anti-tangle brush; check which tools are included before relying on this model to clean upholstery.
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Consider it if you want a robot to handle floor cleaning, but don’t expect it to clean sofas, pet beds or stairs.
The product name lists a mopping function, a liftable brush and anti-tangle technology. Check exactly what the docking station can do, and remember to maintain the brushes and replace consumables.
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Worth considering if your priority is scheduling floor cleaning and you have space for a docking station that you can maintain.
The product name lists an OMNI station, OZMO Turbo 2.0 mopping and ZeroTangle 3.0 brushes. These names don’t replace checking that the robot is suitable for your floors; upholstery and other surfaces above floor level still need to be cleaned by hand.
Not if you also need to clean furniture and pet beds: a robot can clean accessible floors, but not upholstery or other surfaces above floor level. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that results vary depending on the floor covering. Check that it’s suitable for your floors and how often the dust bin needs to be emptied and cleaned.
Compare it with the mode and brush you’ll use, rather than focusing only on the maximum run time. UFC-Que Choisir says this is generally measured at the lowest power setting and reports an average run time of around ten minutes at full power for stick vacuums.
No: check which accessories are actually included and what surfaces they’re designed for. The turbo brushes and mini brushes listed by Miele, Rowenta and Dyson are specific to certain models; a marketing name alone doesn’t guarantee that every version comes with the same equipment.
Yes, it’s a useful guide when checking the exact model before buying. The ministry responsible for the ecological transition says vacuum cleaners are among the product categories covered by this index, which is scored out of 10 and indicates how easy or difficult a product is to repair. If available, check the details behind the score too.