Households that vacuum their floors often
If hair quickly builds up in high-traffic areas, being able to get the vacuum out, manoeuvre it and empty the bin easily all matter in your daily routine. Check how easy it is to access the filter, too.
Who is this guide for?
Households with carpets and upholstery
If hair clings to carpets, cushions or sofas, check which brushes are included and whether they’re suitable for each surface. The type of vacuum alone won’t tell you whether it comes with the right attachment.
Households looking to automate floor cleaning
A robot vacuum lets you schedule cleaning on accessible floors. You’ll still need to clear the areas you want it to clean and maintain its brushes and bin, as well as the dock on some models.
Which features should you prioritise?
Start by choosing a vacuum that suits the surface you find hardest to clean, then check the attachments and maintenance requirements of the specific model.
Stick vacuum
Worth considering: for short, frequent cleaning sessions, especially if it comes with an upholstery tool for furniture.
Bear in mind: battery life varies depending on how you use it. Check the runtime in the mode you need and how often you’ll have to empty the bin.
Cylinder vacuum
Worth considering: if carpets and rugs are your priority and the model comes with a suitable turbo brush.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to move a corded appliance around, and if you choose a bagged model, you’ll need to buy compatible bags.
Robot vacuum
Worth considering: for scheduled cleaning on accessible, uncluttered floors.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to clean the brushes, even with an auto-empty dock. Sofas and cushions will need a different tool.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Frequent floor cleaning | How easy it is to manoeuvre, battery life in the mode you plan to use and access to the bin. | If hair shows up on my floors every day, I want to be able to do a quick clean without a complicated set-up. Around 33% of consumers say being able to clean frequently and easily is their top priority. |
| Carpets and upholstery | A brush designed for carpets and an attachment suitable for furniture. | If hair clings to my carpets or sofa, I mainly need a tool that’s right for those surfaces. This is the priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Maintenance and spare parts | How easy it is to access the brushes and filters, spare-part references and the repairability index, if shown. | Before buying, I want to know whether I’ll be able to clean the components and find parts that fit my model. Around 20% of consumers say maintenance is their main consideration. |
| Automated floor cleaning | How much room the robot and its dock need, as well as the brush maintenance instructions. | For uncluttered floors, I’d rather schedule cleaning than do it all by hand. Around 20% of consumers put automation first. |
What should you look out for?
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Relying solely on the ‘pet’ label
A floor head, a turbo brush for carpets and a small furniture brush are designed for different jobs. A range name doesn’t confirm what’s included in the box.
Make a list of the surfaces you need to clean, then check which attachments are included and whether any separate attachments are compatible with your exact model. Bosch, for example, advises checking the E-Nr reference for certain accessories.
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Assuming an auto-empty dock means no maintenance
Hair can still get caught around the brushes, even if the robot’s bin empties into a dock. For relevant Roomba models, iRobot Support recommends cleaning the main brushes twice a week in homes with pets.
Check the manual for the robot you’re considering and find out how to remove and clean its brushes before choosing a dock.
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Comparing advertised figures alone
An advertised suction figure or runtime doesn’t tell you which attachments are included or how long the battery lasts in the mode you’ll actually use.
For a stick vacuum, consider the mode you plan to use, the brush you need and how to maintain the bin and filter. For a cylinder vacuum, check the references for compatible bags and filters, too.
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Overlooking references for wear-and-tear parts
Filters, rollers and brushes vary between models. ADEME describes the repairability index as a way to assess factors such as documentation, ease of dismantling and access to spare parts, not as a measure of how well a vacuum cleans up hair.
Make a note of the vacuum’s full model reference and check the matching parts. If a repairability index is shown, compare it with that of similar types of appliance.
Brands to consider
These examples can help you identify specific formats and attachments to look for. They don’t necessarily reflect the features of every model from each brand.
Rowenta
An option for frequent clean-ups with a stick vacuum and an attachment for upholstery.
- According to Rowenta, the X-Force Flex 14.60 Animal Care comes with an LED mini power brush, a washable 0.9 L bin and a filter-cleaning alert.
- Check what’s included and the maintenance instructions for the version you choose. These features apply to this model, not all Rowenta stick vacuums.
Miele
An example of a bagged cylinder vacuum to consider if carpets and upholstery are among your priority surfaces.
- Miele says the Guard L1 Cat & Dog Flex comes with a turbo brush for carpets and rugs, as well as an upholstery nozzle.
- This model uses HyClean Pure TU bags. Check which consumables are compatible with the appliance you’re considering.
Bosch
The ProAnimal range offers several formats and brushes to consider for the surfaces in your home.
- Bosch offers rollers and turbo brushes designed to clean pet hair from floors and carpets.
- For certain accessories, Bosch advises checking the E-Nr number. Being part of the ProAnimal range doesn’t in itself guarantee compatibility.
iRobot
Worth a look if you want a robot to clean your floors and are comparing auto-empty docks.
- iRobot says the Roomba Max 705 Vac + Base AutoEmpty comes with two rubber brushes designed to resist tangles.
- iRobot Support recommends cleaning the main brushes on relevant Roomba models twice a week in homes with pets.
Dyson
Cordless vacuums to consider if you value flexibility when cleaning floors and easy-to-reach surfaces.
- Dyson offers brushes and attachments for different tasks, including cleaning up pet hair.
- Check the contents of the exact pack if you need a small brush for cushions or your sofa.
Vacuum cleaners to consider on Joybuy
This selection includes stick vacuums for manual cleaning and robot vacuums for maintaining accessible floors. If carpets or furniture are your priority, check which brushes come with the version you choose.
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MONSGA X UNINELLHOME UV5 cordless
Worth considering for frequent manual clean-ups, with the option of cleaning easy-to-reach fabrics too. The listing states up to 65 minutes in standard mode and mentions an anti-tangle brush. Check the runtime in the mode you plan to use and which attachments are included. The suction power shown in the product name is 60.000 Pa.
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UNINELL HOME UV1 cordless, 450W
A stick vacuum to consider for cleaning floors and carpets by hand. Its name states that it has a removable battery, up to 60 minutes of runtime and 45,000 Pa of suction. These figures don’t show how long it lasts in each mode. The listing says it’s for dry debris and advises letting the washable filter dry completely after cleaning.
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ECOVACS DEEBOT X9 PRO Omni with dock
Worth considering for automating floor cleaning rather than cleaning sofas and cushions. The product name mentions a mopping function, an Omni station, ZeroTangle 3.0 and advertised suction power of 16,600 Pa. You’ll also need to maintain the brushes and filters according to the manual.
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roborock Q7 L5+ with auto-empty dock
A robot vacuum to consider for scheduling floor cleaning. The product name states that it has LiDAR navigation, a mopping function, a dual anti-tangle system and advertised suction power of 8,000 Pa. The auto-empty dock doesn’t remove the need to clean the brushes.
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Eureka E20 Plus with auto-empty dock
Worth considering if you want to automate floor cleaning with an auto-empty dock. The product name states that it has 8,000 Pa of suction and up to 180 minutes of runtime, but this doesn’t indicate how well it will pick up hair from your carpets. The listing specifies a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection and advises leaving space around the dock.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ‘pet’ label enough to help you choose?
No. Check which brushes are actually included for your carpets, floors or upholstery, then make sure any attachments sold separately are compatible with the exact vacuum model.
Does a robot vacuum with an auto-empty dock mean you don’t need to clean the brushes?
No. The dock takes care of the emptying function included with that model, but hair can still build up on the brushes. Check the maintenance instructions for the robot you choose.
How often should you clean a Roomba’s brushes in a home with pets?
iRobot Support recommends cleaning the main brushes on relevant Roomba models twice a week in homes with pets. For other robots, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Does the repairability index tell you how well a vacuum picks up hair?
No. For relevant new vacuum cleaners in France, this index tells you about repairability, not how well the vacuum cleans up hair. According to the French ministries responsible for ecological transition and ADEME, it can help you assess factors such as documentation, ease of dismantling and access to spare parts. Compare it across models of the same type.