When the collector is taken off and the machine is turned on the filtered area below the collector sucks, not blows. Finally, I combed cat hair into the carpet and then ran the vacuum cleaner through on Automatic mode. Its flexible floor head, for example, has illuminating LEDs so you can see exactly what you’re vacuuming when the light levels are low.

When she’s not typing away at her computer, she can be found tending to her Dorset-garden, trying the latest water sport at the beach or acting as chauffeur to her two young kids. We know how frustrating it can be to get hair caught in your vacuum, which is why we’ve introduced ANTI-TWIST™ technology to our upright vacuums.But one of the benefits of a corded vacuum cleaner is the fact that you don’t have to worry about recharging batteries every time you use it and fretting that it’s going to stop working mid clean – something we’ve been caught out many a time here at TechRadar while using a cordless! It struggles on most hard surfaces and is close to useless at getting dust out of gaps between floorboards. We test both modes in a variety of other cleaning scenarios, such as on stairs or in a car, and consider how easy it is to use.

The HEPA filter is also a bonus for all things animal-based, as it traps allergens rather than releasing them back into the air. First, I sprinkled a teaspoon of flour on regular carpet, then sweeping backwards and forwards through the mess with the cleaner.Our pet-friendly upright vacuums have impressive power, with specialised brushes to loosen and lift out even the most stubborn pet hair. Pay in 3 is a form of credit, may not be suitable for everyone and use may affect your credit score. The Hoover H-Upright 500 Sensor Plus has a 11m cord, which means you can travel quite a way around your home before you need to stop and re-plug. Press the ‘auto’ button positioned conveniently below the main handle of the Hoover H-Upright 500 Sensor Plus and you can make use of its built-in floor sensor technology.

We found out the hard way that you must switch off the auto sensor and brush bar buttons when vacuuming delicate surfaces - when we attempted to vacuum over a Persian carpet with the auto sensor button and brush bar on the machine went into overdrive and tried to chew up the tassles. Credit is provided by Hitachi Personal Finance, a division of Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

You can also turn the brush bar on and off manually, the latter being particularly useful on thick-pile carpets or hard floors. All that said, the Hoover H-Upright 500 Plus remains a decent cleaner and the Automatic mode is useful. There isn’t a collar to push the dirt out as you get on some Dyson models, however, so you may have to get your hands in to pull out clumps.

If you’re on a tight budget, then the extra hassle of having to clip in the hose may just be worth it. As good as reach is, the H-Upright 500 Plus doesn’t make it easy to switch from one mode to another.Equipped with a powerful 550W motor, it delivers strong suction power to remove dust, dirt, and debris from carpets, floors, and upholstery. However as with all modern bag-less cleaners the weight has been moved much higher so initially you feel it on the wrist.