Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair (2020)
Looking for ways to clean up pet hair is a priority for those whos animals shed lots of fur. Choosing the right vacuum, whether it be a robot vacuum or a compact handheld option, is a very important decision to be made as it can end up saving you a lot of time. In this article, we have compiled the best handheld vacuums for pet hair to suit a variety of budgets. Taking models from both well-known brands such as Dyson, Shark, and Hoover, as well as some lesser-known ones, we hope we can help you find the best handheld vacuum for your needs. We also have another article that compares the best vacuums for pet hair, including stick and other types of vacuums.
Contents
Dyson V7 Trigger Handheld
It would be very unlikely to have a vacuum buyers guide that did not feature a Dyson somewhere. Well, in this case, it turns out that the Dyson V7 Trigger is one of the best handheld vacuums for cleaning pet hair. This 20-volt vacuum is a powerhouse of a device and leads this category when it comes to suction power. Just like the regular V7, the Trigger version contains the V7 Digital Motor that can spin up to 110,000 times in a minute. The 30-minute battery life is impressive too and it should be noted that it can take three and a half hours to charge in total. A dustbin of 0.68 litres is decent for the V7 considering that it is a handheld vacuum. There are three accessories that come with the V7 to enhance its cleaning in different scenarios. The Mini Motorized Tool is designed for removing pet hair from surfaces. The Combination Tool is for more gentle dusting whilst the Crevice Tool can reach more awkward to reach corners.
Shark Wandvac
The Shark Wandvac is an equivalent product to the Dyson V7 in its own range. This compact and ultra-lightweight vacuum comes cheap for the performance it provides. It isn’t the most powerful at 10.8 volts, although it is a good all-rounded option thanks to the price and highly maneuverable build. Whilst the battery life isn’t fully disclosed, it seems to be reported to last around 10 minutes and take two and a half hours to fully charge. The Wandvac comes with two cleaning tools, the Duster Crevice and Multi-Surface Pet Tool. This Pet Tool is designed to be able to pull up pet hair from harder to clean surfaces such as carpets and upholstery. Sharks Wandvac handheld is a practical device too, with One-TOuch Debris Emptying technology that empties bin instantly and a charging dock that the vacuum just slides into. Check out our comparison article on Dyson and Shark vacuums
Black & Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ (20V)
The Black & Decker Dustbuster Advanced Clean+ is one of the more powerful handheld vacuums with 20 volts. This model is actually also available in 12 and 16 volts versions, but if we want to consider the best handheld vacuums for pet hair we should take the best model. Another solid feature of the Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ is the battery life which can last for up to 25 minutes on the higher power mode called Powerboost. The Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ is designed to clean pet hair as one of its main purposes. The Motorized pet brush with Anti-tangle rubber bristols that is on the head of the vacuum can pull hairs from carpets and rugs. There is also a 0.75 litres dust bin on the AdvancedClean+ which does make it one of the highest capacity models. This model is certainly relatively premium with specs that match the likes of the V7 Trigger.
Hoover ONEPWR Cordless
Hoover is one of the oldest and best-known manufacturers of vacuums. Their ONEPWR hand vacuum is part of a cordless range which has every type of vacuum model in it, from stick to upright. This model is ultra-lightweight, just weighing 2.5 lbs. This 20-volt version delivers powerful suctions that lasts up to 14 minutes and takes three and a half hours to charge. Whilst this isn’t a very long battery life, some uses take the initiative to buy a second lithium ion battery charged so they can easily swap it in and carry on cleaning when the main battery drys up. Although it doesn’t have a specific head for cleaning pet hair, it is one of those high performance and highly reliable vacuums that can be trusted in most situations.
Shark Rocket Corded Hand Vac
Weighing at less than 4 lbs in total, the Shark Rocket Ultra Light is a super lightweight option with maximal maneuverability. Being a little smaller it sacrifices some power for this compact build. That said, the vacuum has a high success rate on cleaning pet hair thanks to the True Pet Motorized Brush. It should be noted that unlike many of the other models in this comparison article, the Shark Rocket is corded and therefore not wireless. This may be a significant consideration for users who want to use the device in their car. The cord is 15 foot so it may not be possible for some users to actually reach their car from a power socket. As well as the Pet Brush there is a Crevice Tool, dusting brush and extended-reach stretch hose.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser (14.4V)
As the name immediately suggests, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser was designed for pet parents. At 14.4 volts it is moderately powerful and when combined with the Motorized brush, your pet hair problems will be sorted quickly. Although it isn’t the most powerful option here, the Pet Hair Erasers power reflects its price appropriately. On a good day the Pet Hair Eraser will last between 15 to 20 minutes. Battery life only really matters for making sure that the user can clean everything they need to in one go. In general, the amount of time the Pet Hair Eraser lasts should be more than enough for most instances if you keep on top of your cleaning. There are two tools, the Crevice Tool and Upholstery Tool which follow the roles that they do on other models too.
Bissell Bolt Hand Vac+Fur-Get-it-Brush
Another option from Bissell that is designed specifically for cleaning pet hair is the Bold Hand Vac+Fur-Get-It-Brush; what a name! This vacuum is a little more advanced than the Pet Hair Eraser with extra motor power and battery life. At 18 volts you can expect more oomph and more success on carpets and rugs. Considering this power and the 18 volts, this handheld vacuum is more in line with the V7 Trigger and AdvancedClean+. It does share the bin size as the Pet Hair Eraser, which is a standard 0.6 litres. A specially designed Pet Hair Nozzle Tool assists collection on both hard surfaces but especially soft surfaces too. As with most models we discuss, there is Crevice Tool for reaching the more confined areas.
Related article: Canister vacuums for cleaning pet hair
Dirt Devil Scorpion
The Dirt Devil Scorpion is another highly portable handheld option that weighs just around 3 lbs. It is actually quite a similar handheld option as the Shark Rocket Corded, except it is much cheaper. Just like the Shark Rocket it is corded and limited to a 16 foot cord, which isn’t exactly a problem but isn’t as free to move as a wireless handheld vacuum. On the flipside, you don’t have to worry about the battery life running out. The dustbin is comparatively small to many of the other vacuums at just 0.45 litres, but this is the price you pay for such a compact device. This model doesn’t have any specific technologies or cleaning heads geared towards cleaning pet hair which reflects the price. It doesn’t mean that it isn’t capable of cleaning pet hair in many situations though.
Dirt Devil Flipout Cordless 20V
At the top end of the Dirt Devil range is the Flipout Cordless, which comes as either an 8 volt, 16 volt or 20 volt version. As we are looking at the best handheld vacuums for pet hair we will consider the 20 volt version. The power of 20 volts with a dustbin capacity of 1.5 litres makes this one of the top-spec options in this comparison article. It is also cordless unlike the budget option of the Dirt Devil range. Although it has impressive stats, it seems that many users find this model a little inconsistent. So if you were looking for a powerful handheld vacuum you are probably better off going with a Dyson V7 Trigger or another similar model. However, the Dirt Devil Flipout is quite a bit cheaper.
APOSEN Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
The APOSEN handheld vacuum cleaner isn’t the highest spec model in our comparison article, but it is very well priced. It has been tried and tested for many pet-related scenarios such as pet hair, cat litter and spilled liquids. The battery lasts for around 20 minutes and takes four and a half hours to fully charge. There are three attachments included; the Crevice nozzle, rubber nozzle for liquids and the brush nozzle specifically for pet hair. At 14.8 volts it’s reasonably powerful but certainly won’t match the likes of the Dyson V7 Trigger. For a mid-range vacuum, this is one of the best purchases on this list considering the price.
Final Word
This article provides a compiled list of the best handheld vacuums available. If we had to choose one it would be the Dyson V7 Trigger. Dyson delivers consistent high performance across all of their products and the V7 Trigger is no exception. The downside is that the reputation of the name does increase the price of the model. That is why we have put in some budget options for those who are hoping to spend as little as possible. The Black & Decker Dustbuster has to be the second choice as it is almost as good as the V7 Trigger.
Also check out: Best cordless vacuum for hard floors
