For frequent pet-hair pick-ups in a smaller area, a stick vacuum is handy for quick cleans; check the battery life in the mode you’ll use and how to maintain the brush. A robot vacuum lets you schedule cleaning on accessible floors, but you’ll still need to empty the bin and clean the brushes. If hair gets embedded in rugs or carpets, or you also vacuum upholstery, consider a cylinder vacuum with a suitable brush, bearing in mind the cord and any consumables you may need.
If you mainly do short cleans between more thorough vacuuming sessions, an appliance that’s easy to grab may matter more than a long advertised battery life. Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as being better suited to supplementary cleaning.
If hair clings to the fibres, check how the vacuum performs on rugs or carpets and whether it has a brush designed for these surfaces. Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses fibre pick-up on rugs separately from dust pick-up on hard floors.
A robot vacuum is worth considering if it can reach the areas you want to clean. You’ll also need to empty its bin and maintain its brushes: according to Que Choisir’s guide, robot vacuum performance varies depending on the floor type.
Worth considering: for quick pick-ups and short cleans.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to recharge it and clean the brush, especially if hair gets tangled around it.
Worth considering: for scheduling regular cleans in rooms it can access.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the brushes, even if it has an auto-empty station.
Worth considering: for a more thorough clean, especially when rugs, carpets and upholstery need a suitable brush.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to use a cord and, for a bagged model, replace the bags.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair on different floors | Compare performance on your floor coverings, particularly how well the vacuum removes fibres from rugs or carpets. Check that the floorhead is designed for these surfaces; Que Choisir includes rug-fibre pick-up in its test protocols. | Hair gets caught in my rugs: a result based only on hard floors won’t address my problem. |
| How often you clean | For a stick vacuum, check the battery life with the mode and brush you’ll use. For a robot, look at its scheduling options, access to the rooms and how often you’ll need to empty the bin. | I clean often, so I want to know whether the battery or bin will interrupt my usual cleaning routine. |
| Maintenance | Check the instructions for the exact model, including how to maintain the brushes, bin and filters. Find out which wear parts can be replaced. | With pet hair building up, I want to be able to clean the vacuum’s components before it affects how well it works. |
| Long-term use | In France, vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Also check which parts are available for your chosen model and, depending on its configuration, whether you’ll need bags, filters or a battery. | I plan to keep my appliance for a long time, so the availability of replacement parts and consumables is part of my decision. |
That figure alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum removes embedded pet hair. The floorhead and floor covering matter too; Que Choisir’s test protocols include assessing fibre pick-up on rugs.
Compare tests on the types of flooring in your home, rather than assuming a result on hard floors will apply to your rugs.
For a cordless stick vacuum, the advertised battery life may not tell you how long it will run with the mode and brush you use on carpets.
Check the battery life for the way you plan to use it and compare it with the areas you want to clean in one go.
An advertised anti-tangle feature doesn’t mean you can skip checking the brushes. For several Roomba series, iRobot recommends cleaning the brushes twice a week in homes with pets.
Check the maintenance instructions for the exact model, including those for the bin and filters.
How often you need to replace wear parts depends on the model and its care instructions.
A brush or filter made for one range may not fit every model in that range. The French Ministry of the Economy states that vacuum cleaners are covered by France’s repairability index.
Find the appliance’s exact model number, then check its repairability index and which parts you may need.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a stick vacuum and a brush designed for pet hair.
A robot vacuum brand to consider if you’d like to schedule floor cleaning.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a cylinder vacuum with accessories for rugs and carpets.
These models suit two of the uses discussed here: quick pick-ups with a cordless stick vacuum and scheduled cleaning with a robot. Compare their advertised features with the floor coverings in your home and your day-to-day requirements.
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A robot vacuum to consider if you want to schedule cleans on accessible floors. Its product listing states that it has LiDAR navigation, a mopping function, an auto-empty station and an anti-tangle system. For carpets, check how well it removes fibres and follow the Q7 L5+’s specific maintenance instructions.
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This cordless stick vacuum is worth considering for frequent cleans on hard floors and carpets. Its product description lists a removable battery, hard-floor, carpet and turbo modes, and an anti-tangle brush. Check the battery life with the mode and brush you’ll use; the description says to let the filter dry completely after washing and to check the brush.
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This robot vacuum is suited to homes where you want to schedule cleans and use an auto-empty station. Its product description lists a 2-litre bagless station, carpet detection, mop lifting and an anti-tangle brush. Check how it performs on your carpets and follow the E20 Plus’s maintenance instructions; the advertised features don’t replace a test of how well it removes pet hair.
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This cordless stick vacuum may suit quick pick-ups without a cord getting in the way. Its product description lists a removable battery, an anti-tangle roller and a combination brush designed for textured carpets, among other surfaces. If you’re considering it for pet hair on carpets, compare this description with fibre pick-up results and check the battery life with the brush fitted; the bin, filter and roller all need maintenance.
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This cordless stick vacuum is presented as suitable for hard floors, carpets and pet hair. Its product listing states that it has an anti-tangle brush, an LED-lit floorhead and a freestanding design. Before choosing it for frequent cleans, check the battery life in the mode you’ll use, the bin capacity and its maintenance instructions; the product listing isn’t a test of how well it removes embedded fibres.
Not necessarily: according to Que Choisir, robot vacuum performance varies depending on the floor type. If you have rugs or carpets, look for tests that assess fibre pick-up, and remember that you’ll still need to empty the bin and maintain the brushes.
Look for a result that specifically assesses fibre pick-up on rugs or carpets, rather than relying on a single power figure. Que Choisir includes rug-fibre pick-up in its vacuum cleaner test protocols.
Follow the maintenance schedule for the series you choose. For several Roomba series, iRobot recommends cleaning the brushes twice a week in homes with pets; this frequency doesn’t automatically apply to all robot vacuums.
Check the repairability index displayed for the appliance: the French Ministry of the Economy says vacuum cleaners are among the products covered in France. Then check which parts are available for the exact model you’re considering.