To keep the floors clean in a home with pets, choose a robot vacuum based on your floor types and how much maintenance you’re happy to do, rather than focusing on a single advertised power rating. If pet hair builds up in the dustbin, an auto-empty station can mean you need to empty it less often. If fibres become wrapped around the brushes, look at their design and how easy they are to clean. Neither the ‘anti-tangle’ label nor direct suction alone guarantees good results: check how the exact model performs on your types of flooring.
If you also have hard floors, look for results on each type of flooring and on fibres. UFC-Que Choisir tests robot vacuums on different floor types, so a result on one surface isn’t enough to judge how a model will perform on another.
You’d like to empty the dustbin less often and spend less time untangling the brushes between manual cleans. An auto-empty station and brushes designed to prevent tangles can help with these two separate tasks, but they won’t eliminate the need to maintain your robot.
You want to be able to identify the parts and maintenance instructions for the model you buy. In France, ADEME lists robot vacuums among the appliances covered by the repairability index.
When choosing a robot vacuum for pet hair, first compare its results on your floors, then consider the work involved in maintaining the brushes, dustbin and wear parts. The performance of a rotating brush or direct suction depends on the specific model. An auto-empty station addresses a different issue: handling the dust it collects.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair on mixed flooring | Tests of the exact model on your floor types, particularly rugs or carpets, including tests with fibres or pet hair where results are available. | If my pets shed on both a rug and a hard floor, I want to know whether the robot picks up hair from both. Around 34% of consumers would prioritise performance on mixed flooring. |
| Tangles in the brushes | The design of the main and side brushes, how to remove them, and the cleaning instructions for the exact model. | If pet hair or human hair often gets wrapped around a brush, I want to spend less time untangling it. Around 33% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Emptying the dustbin | Whether it has a station, how the dust is collected, and which tasks still need to be done by hand. | If the dustbin fills up quickly, I’d rather not have to empty it after every clean. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise emptying it less often. |
| Maintenance and parts | The repairability index displayed in France and the parts or consumables compatible with the exact model. | Before choosing a robot for regular use, I want to be able to find its wear parts and instructions. Around 8% of consumers would make long-term maintenance their top priority. |
Good results on hard floors don’t guarantee equally good pick-up on rugs or carpets. UFC-Que Choisir tests robot vacuums on different floor types.
Look for a test of the exact model that specifies the floor types and dirt tested, especially if pet hair and fibres are your main concern.
This label describes a feature claimed by the manufacturer; it doesn’t mean there’s no maintenance involved. iRobot’s published instructions, for example, include cleaning certain parts of the robot.
Check how to remove hair from the brushes and access the filter, dustbin and parts compatible with your model.
Untangling and cleaning can still take time if you use the robot frequently.
Auto-emptying can mean you need to empty the robot’s dustbin less often, but the station also has a collection system that needs maintenance.
Check the cleaning steps and compatible consumables before choosing a station.
Depending on the system, you may also need to replace bags or other consumables.
ADEME identifies parts availability, ease of disassembly and documentation as factors to consider when assessing repairability. The fact that a part is available for another model from the same brand isn’t enough.
Check the repairability index and identify the brushes, filters and other parts that fit the model you’re considering.
The Roomba range includes robot vacuums and, depending on the model, bases that handle various maintenance tasks.
Some models, including the Q7 L5+, combine an auto-empty station with features described as anti-tangle.
The range includes robot vacuums with stations and parts specified for certain models.
The DEEBOT range includes models with auto-empty stations; brush designs and maintenance requirements vary by model.
Samsung offers the Jet Bot range and discusses using a robot vacuum in homes with pets.
These Joybuy robot vacuums offer different combinations of brushes, mopping and auto-empty stations for regular floor care. Choose a model to suit your flooring and the tasks you’d like to do less often, then check its performance on pet hair and its maintenance requirements.
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Worth considering if you want to empty the dustbin less often while keeping an eye on pet hair building up in the brush.
The product listing specifies an anti-wrap function, DuoDetect AI navigation, 8,000 Pa of suction power and a stated runtime of 180 minutes. Look for tests on your floors and check which parts and consumables are compatible.
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Worth considering if you want one system for vacuuming, mopping and maintaining the mop pads.
The product listing specifies an OMNI station, a ZeroTangle 3.0 brush, mop pad washing at 75 °C and 25,000 Pa of suction power. These features don’t indicate how well it will pick up pet hair from your floors; check the station’s maintenance requirements and consumables too.
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Worth considering if you want auto-emptying and brushes designed to help prevent tangles.
The product name specifies a dual anti-tangle system, FlexiArm mop pads, hot-air drying and 12,000 Pa of suction power. Before choosing, compare test results on your floors and check the maintenance tasks and parts for this model.
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Worth considering if both emptying the dustbin and maintaining the brushes matter to you.
The product listing specifies an auto-empty station, a dual anti-tangle system, LiDAR navigation and 8,000 Pa of suction power. Check test results for the Q7 L5+ on your flooring, as well as compatible brushes and consumables.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a robot with mopping and a station to care for different types of flooring regularly.
The product name specifies LiDAR navigation, app control, 10,000 Pa of suction power and a stated noise level of 55 dB. If tangled pet hair is your main concern, check the brush design. Also look for tests on your floors and check which parts are compatible.
No. It can mean you need to empty the dustbin less often, but it won’t clean every part of the robot for you. iRobot’s instructions include maintenance for the brushes, filter, dustbin and sensors. Check the instructions for the model you choose, as well as how to maintain its station.
Look for a test of the exact model on rugs or carpets that also assesses how well it picks up fibres or pet hair. UFC-Que Choisir tests robot vacuums on several types of flooring, so an advertised feature or a result on hard floors alone isn’t enough to judge how it will perform on your carpet.
Yes. ADEME includes robot vacuums among the appliances covered by the index in France. Check the index for the model you’re considering, then find out which wear parts are compatible and what information is available to help you replace them.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new goods bought from a professional seller in France. The DGCCRF states that you can claim under it for two years. It covers a lack of conformity and shouldn’t be confused with returning an item simply because you’ve changed your mind.