For regular cleaning of carpets and hard floors in a home with pets, a cylinder vacuum is worth considering as your main appliance. UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models vacuum more effectively than bagless ones, although you should still check how your chosen model performs on different fibres. A cordless stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups, provided the battery lasts long enough on the setting you use. A robot can take care of some accessible floors, but results vary depending on the surface.
If pet hair clings to your carpets and you also have wooden or tiled floors, compare performance on each surface and check which floorhead is included. Good results on a smooth floor alone don’t tell you how well a vacuum will lift embedded fibres.
A cordless stick vacuum can be more convenient to grab for a quick clean. If you also want to clean carpets, check how long it runs on the power setting you’ll need.
A robot vacuum could be a good option for accessible floors. However, check how it performs on carpets, around edges and in your home’s layout, and remember to factor in cleaning the dustbin and brushes.
First decide what role the appliance will play in your home, then compare its performance on your flooring, how easy it is to use and the maintenance it needs.
Worth considering: as your main appliance for regular cleaning across different floor types.
The trade-off: you’ll need to plug it in, move it around and replace the bags. However, UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged cylinder vacuums perform better than bagless models.
Worth considering: if you’d rather empty a dustbin than buy replacement bags.
The trade-off: emptying and cleaning the bin comes in addition to maintaining the filters. Check how the model performs on your carpets and hard floors.
Worth considering: if quick clean-ups and easy handling matter most in your day-to-day routine.
The trade-off: according to UFC-Que Choisir, the stated battery life is often based on a low-power setting. Check how long it lasts on the setting you’ll need for your carpets.
Worth considering: to automate cleaning in accessible areas of your home.
The trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir reports that results vary depending on the floor. Carpets, corners and edges need particular attention.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and fibres | Look for test results on carpets or rugs with pile, hard floors and, if necessary, wooden floors with gaps between the boards. Check which floorhead comes with the model. | Pet hair clings to my carpets, but I also clean smooth surfaces. |
| Ease of use | Check the weight, the reach of a cylinder vacuum and the accessories supplied for stairs or furniture. | I want to move the appliance between rooms and reach the areas I clean most often. |
| Battery life | For a cordless stick vacuum, compare the run time on the setting you’ll actually use, the medium settings and the charging time. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the stated battery life is often based on a low-power setting. | I don’t want to have to stop halfway through cleaning a carpet because I’ve had to turn up the power. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Compare replacing bags with emptying a dustbin, and check how easy it is to access the filters and brush. | I’d like to decide in advance whether I prefer buying consumables or regularly cleaning the dustbin. |
| Automated cleaning | For a robot vacuum, check its navigation, performance on carpets and around edges, and how to maintain the dustbin and brushes. | I’d like to automate cleaning on accessible floors without assuming it will clean corners and carpets in the same way. |
These figures alone don’t tell you how much dirt a vacuum will remove from carpets, hard floors or gaps between floorboards.
Compare test results on your flooring and on fibres similar to pet hair, then check which floorhead is included.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the stated battery life of a cordless stick vacuum is usually based on use at low power.
Check the run time on the setting you’d use for carpets and pet hair, and don’t forget to consider charging time.
Avoiding bags also means emptying the dustbin and maintaining the filters. UFC-Que Choisir also reports that bagged cylinder vacuums perform better than their bagless counterparts.
Check how the dustbin and filters open, then compare the models’ performance on the floors in your home.
A robot’s performance varies depending on the floor. Carpets, corners and edges may need another pass.
Check how it performs in these areas, how it navigates your rooms and how often you’ll need to clean the dustbin and brushes.
Rowenta’s range includes different formats to consider depending on your floors and how you plan to use your vacuum. In a test of the RO7386EA Silence Force Animal Care Pro cylinder model, UFC-Que Choisir describes a turbo brush designed for pet hair.
Dyson is one of the brands to consider if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum and easy handling is a priority.
Roborock is a robot vacuum brand to consider if you want to automate some of your floor cleaning.
This selection includes cordless stick vacuums for regular cleaning and a bagged cylinder model for those who prefer this format. For each one, compare the brush and performance on your own flooring before choosing a main appliance.
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The advertised pet hair brush may be useful in a home with animals. Check how it performs on your carpets and hard floors. The product name states 55 kPa, but this figure alone doesn’t establish how well it will perform on these surfaces.
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The advertised anti-tangle brush could be a useful feature if you regularly pick up pet hair. Check how it performs on your flooring. The stated battery life is up to 65 min, so check how long it lasts on the setting you’ll need for carpets.
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If hair or pet fur gets tangled around the brush, take a look at this model and compare its performance on carpets and hard floors. Its title states a 45 min battery life without specifying the setting, so check how long it lasts at the power level you’ll use.
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This cordless stick vacuum is designed for homes with pets. Before choosing it for carpets, compare how well it picks up pet hair and check the battery life on the setting your cleaning will require.
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A bagged model is worth considering as a main appliance for regular cleaning across different floor types. Check which brushes are actually included and how the EB61C2GRN performs on carpets and pet hair: the 550 W stated in its name doesn’t tell you this.
No. The stated motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well it will pick up dirt from fibres and different floor types. Compare test results on carpets, hard floors and wooden floors with gaps between the boards, as well as checking which floorhead comes with the model.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering if performance across several floor types is your priority: UFC-Que Choisir reports that bagged models perform better than bagless ones. A bagless model saves you buying bags, but you’ll need to empty the dustbin. Either way, compare the specific model’s performance on carpets and fibres.
Don’t assume it can if your home has carpets, corners and embedded pet hair. UFC-Que Choisir notes that robot vacuum results are not always convincing. Consider one as an extra until you’ve checked how it performs on your surfaces and around edges.
Check and clean the brush according to the model’s instructions, and clean the filters and dustbin at the recommended intervals. ADEME highlights the benefits of maintaining your vacuum regularly; also check that the brush is easy to access for cleaning.