Best Vacuum for Pet Hair: Top 10 Choices
Some people say that, without a pet, a home is just a house – and with good reason. Whether it’s a perky pup, a cute kitty, or even a raving rabbit or hairy hamster, pets are an added bonus, with their random, peculiar and adorable behavior. But, as any pet owner will tell you, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows; pets do have their downsides too. Apart from the obvious ones like the cost of feeding them, any medical or vet bills, or getting dirt in and around the house, by far the most common complaint is their hair.
Depending on the breed, age, or even the season, pets have the ability to leave huge trails of hair around your house, and it can be enough to drive some people mad. And without the right equipment, removing pet hair from any type of flooring – hardwood, vinyl, carpet, or anything else – can be a chore, to say the least. But it’s not only flooring – rugs, pillows, cushions, blankets, but these can also all get coated in the stuff. But there is a solution – some manufacturers have introduced technology specifically designed to solve this problem, and we’re seriously impressed by the results.
Also check out: Best vacuum for hardwood flooring
Contents
- Best Vacuum for Pet Hair in 2020
- Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
- bObsweep PetHair Plus Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop
- Dyson Ball Animal 2
- Shark Pet-Perfect II Cordless Bagless Hand Vacuum
- BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum
- Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Vacuum
- EUREKA Mighty Mite Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner
- MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum
- BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Flex Handheld Vacuum with Pet Hair Brush
- Shark Rotator Professional Upright Corded Bagless Vacuum
- Final Word
- Buyers Guide: Vacuums for pet hair
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair in 2020
So, having considered everything mentioned so far, and having looked into the types, features, and accessories available in the vacuum cleaner market, here are our top picks for the best vacuum for pet hair in 2020.
Related: Best iRobot Roomba models for pet hair
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is a handed vacuum cleaner that’s been specifically designed for cleaning up pet hair. Despite its portable, handheld nature, this vacuum isn’t actually cordless, and utilizes 4 amps of mains power, no doubt in order to provide more suction power than its competitors. The design itself features a high-quality filtration system, coupled with cyclonic technology, ensuring it provides sufficient cleaning power, as well as a large dirt cup to store all dirt whilst cleaning. Despite it being corded, it’s still very handy, and its 16-foot-long cord provides ample space to move and reach, whilst the 5lbs weight ensures that it won’t be too cumbersome. The rubber nozzle has been shaped to help pull dirt from tricky surfaces, and with a 12-month warranty as standard, it’s a competent and reliable product. For more similar options, read our article on the best handheld vacuum for pet hair.
Pros
- Reliable products
- Designed specifically for pet hairs
- Lightweight
Cons
- Dirt cup isn’t very big
bObsweep PetHair Plus Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop
The bObsweep PetHair Plus Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop is an automated, robotic cleaner designed specifically for pet hair. With its own ‘artificial intelligence’ it’s able to clean your home unsupervised, whilst you relax. It doesn’t just give any surface the general ‘once over’, but its integrated technology allows it to sweep, mop, vacuum, and filtrate all in one! Despite its compact size, it packs a decent punch in the suction department and is low enough to even nip under furniture for a more thorough result. The included dustbin has a decent capacity, and with its cleaning schedule, it can even start itself, so you can program it when it arrives, and leave it to do its own thing. And when it comes to obstacles, the bObsweep can detect these to avoid a collision, and is able to work around them and carry on. For those wanting a completely hassle-free cleaning experience, this product is an ideal pick.
Pros
- Completely self-cleaning
- Great suction for its size
- Can fit around and under furniture
Cons
- Doesn’t work well when in low battery
Dyson Ball Animal 2
The Dyson Upright Vacuum Cleaner Ball Animal 2 is second-to-none when it comes to pure power, offering the strongest suction ability out there. Dyson has certainly solidified a name for themselves in the vacuum cleaning market for both quality and reliability, and this model is much the same. The auto-adjusting head changes depending on the cleaning surface, to provide an excellent result. The HEPA filtration system ensures your entire home – as well as your floor – are clean of microbes and dust. For those hard to reach places, the maneuverable hose helps you navigate tricks edges and corners, and the other accessories help you tangle hairs, gaps, and stairs. In comparison to other upright vacuums, this one is fairly lightweight, making lugging it around much less of a hassle. And with a huge dirt bin, you can clean the whole house three times over before even having to empty it. Whether you’re cleaning pet hairs, or anything else, this product won’t disappoint.
Pros
- Incredible suction power
- Suitable for any surface
- Eliminates allergens and microbes
Cons
- Not as light as some models
Also Read: Comparison of Dyson and Shark Vacuum Cleaners
Shark Pet-Perfect II Cordless Bagless Hand Vacuum
The Shark Pet-Perfect II Cordless Bagless Hand Vacuum packs a surprising punch despite its small size. Running on 18 volts of power, it provides excellent suction power, allowing it to give a great overall clean. Weighing less than 4.5 pounds, carrying this around is a breeze rather than a chore. It has a few accessories as standard, including a dusting brush, a crevice tool, and a motorized brush, that can be mixed and matched to further help it pick up pet hairs from carpets, upholstery and even clothing. The filter included is reusable, reducing its cost long-term – simply pop it in the wash, and its fine to use again and again. For those looking for something small, light and nimble, this is a fantastic choice. For pet hairs, or anything else too.
Pros
- Light and nimble
- Excellent suction for its size
- Various included accessories
Cons
- Filter can degrade over time
BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum
The BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum is one of the most recent releases from the manufacturer. With its triple-action brush, it’s able to suck up pet hair from a variety of different flooring and materials. Swivel steering makes navigating around furniture, and other objects, that much easier. It has an incredibly long cord at 27-feet, and with an 8-foot-long hose as well, you’re able to get every corner of the house, even if you’re limited with power outlets. And the ‘edge to edge’ feature means that those usually-awkward edges and sides don’t get missed. This vacuum also comes with a reusable filter, producing less waste for the environment, and as an added bonus, for every one sold, BISSELL donate $10 to their own pet foundation, so you know you’ll be supporting a good cause.
Pros
- Extra-long cord
- Edge to edge cleaning feature
- $10 donation per product sold
Cons
- Is quite heavy for the type of vacuum
Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Vacuum
The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Vacuum is a small, light, handheld model. Weighing at just 4 pounds, it’s easy to pick up and move around. Having said this, it, unfortunately, isn’t battery-powered, but with a 15-foot-long cord, you still have excellent freedom of movement. It has exceptionally strong suction power, making it suitable for various carpets, fabrics, and upholstery, as well as hard flooring. It has a motorized brush to maximize cleaning when it comes to. The filter included is reusable, reducing its cost long-term – simply pop it in the wash, and its fine to use again and again. For those looking for something small, light and nimble, this is a fantastic choice. For pet hairs, or anything else too.
Pros
- Light and nimble
- Excellent suction for its size
- Various included accessories
Cons
- Filter can degrade over time
EUREKA Mighty Mite Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner
The EUREKA Mighty Mite Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner has been specifically designed with pet hair in mind. The integrated technology has been formulated for targeting pet hair and fur, in order to leave your home, and all its furnishings and accessories, clean and clear. It uses a HEPA filtration system which helps it clean, not only your floor and furniture but also the air in your home, of dust and other hazardous microbes. It has an extra-long cord at 20-foot long, meaning you can move in between rooms with ease, without always having to find another power outlet. And the extendable crevice tool allows you to reach even the farthest corners of your home – and with it weighing under 9 pounds, it’s fairly lightweight for a canister vacuum. It’s worth noting that this vacuum is bagged, meaning that new bags will need to be purchased over time. Having said that, this helps capture dirt and store it in a safe environment, whilst also absorbing bad odors. If you are set on canister vacuums, take a read of our best canister vacuum for pet hair on article where we look at a few different options.
Pros
- Designed specifically for pet hairs
- Extra-long 20-foot cord
- Lightweight for its kind
Cons
- New bags will need to be purchased over time
MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum
The MOOSOO Cordless Vacuum is a stick vacuum that’s been mostly praised for its excellent battery life and power. Not only does it run for up to 45 minutes on a single charge, but it also has excellent suction power, making use of its 120-watts, making it strong enough to suck up even the most stubborn pet hairs from deep within thick carpets. This excellent power is partly thanks to its cyclone rotating technology, and couples with the HEPA filtration system, it cleans both the floor and the air around it at the same time, leaving any room in your home clean, clear and fresh. It can reach full charge in just 5 hours, and the cordless design makes it much more convenient, as you have total freedom of movement. With adjustable power modes, you can choose to have a long, steady battery life, or a shorter, more powerful one, depending on the cleaning you’re doing. It weighs a measly 3.3lbs, making it ultra-lightweight, especially for its size, and comes as standard with a handful of accessories to help you along the way. We have more cordless vacuums overviewed in our best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors article.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Excellent suction
- Up to 45 minutes of battery life
Cons
- Takes 5 hours to fully charge
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Flex Handheld Vacuum with Pet Hair Brush
The BLACK AND DECKER 20V MAX Flex Handheld Vacuum with Pet Hair Brush is the ideal choice for those that want to get straight into their cleaning without any hassle beforehand. It has excellent suction power, and the ‘fade-free’ battery has designed specifically for long-lasting use. It can run for up to 4 hours (yes, 4 hours!) on a single charge, giving you time to clean, not just the pet hairs around your home, but anything else as well. It has a reusable filter, costing you less money and hassle in the long term, and the dust bin is easy and straightforward to empty. It utilizes a unique three-stage filtration system, which resists dust and dirt from getting out once cleaned up, and as it weighs just under 3lbs, it’s another incredibly lightweight product, that’s no hassle at all the move around. With some added accessories as standard, overall this is an excellent package that’s great for the job.
Pros
- Super lightweight design
- Incredible battery life
- Can be moved around with ease
Cons
- Takes a while to charge
Shark Rotator Professional Upright Corded Bagless Vacuum
The Shark Rotator Professional Upright Corded Bagless Vacuum is able to lift away stubborn dirt, dust, hair or anything else. It utilizes swivel steering technology, making it easier to navigate through tight gaps, and around furniture. It has a very large bin, able to collect and store loads of dirt and debris, meaning that you can clean the house a few times over before it needs emptying. The HEPA filtration system included in this design works excellently to clear the air of microbes, dust, dirt, and allergens. It has a 25-foot-long cord, meaning you can navigate in and out of rooms without needing to find a new power outlet, and the built-in LED lights help you clean up in tight spaces with limited light. It weighs just under 16 pounds, meaning that it’s not exactly lightweight, but isn’t too heavy either. Overall, a great choice for home cleaning, and an excellent choice for pet hairs in particular. If you are interested in this model have a read of our Shark vs Dyson article.
Pros
- Excellent overall design
- Extra-long 25-foot cord
- Built-in LED lights for added visibility
Cons
- Weights quite a bit
Final Word
So those are our top 10 picks for the best vacuum for pet hairs. As you can see, between these designs alone there’s a lot of variation, with some being handheld, some being a stick, some being canister, some upright, and one even being an automated, robotic cleaner. Although all of these are great choices for clearing your home of pet hair and freshening up your living space, in our eyes, there’s one product that stands out from the rest. Our top pick is the Bissell Pet Hair Erased Handheld Vacuum, as it’s lightweight, reliable and has excellent suction power for its size. If you are looking for some cheaper options check out our article on budget vacuums.
Buyers Guide: Vacuums for pet hair
Any pet owner will know that pet hair isn’t like any other kind of hair or dirt – as if possessed by some cosmic power, it sticks to anything with super-strength, making it a hassle to get off. So, when it comes to pet hair vacuums, in particular, their suction has to be next level. And with the range of surfaces and fabrics pet hair gets on, they also need to be equipped with all the necessary accessories to deal with this. Not only is pet hair hard to get off in the first place, but even when sucked up by your vacuum, it’s long enough it can still get tangled up inside, leading to further issues. So, when designing the ideal product for pet hair, manufacturers had to bear all of these issues in mind. By integrating high suction power, anti-tangling technology, and designs that are lightweight and compact enough to carry around the home, some companies have managed to create the perfect solution.
Types of Vacuum Cleaners
As well as vacuums for pet hair, there’s a range of other vacuum cleaners on the market, so understanding each one will help you decide which is most suited to you and your needs. So, before we delve into the best vacuum for pet hair, we’ll gloss over some other vacuum designs too.
Upright
This is the most common kind of vacuum cleaner, providing excellent suction power, longevity, and consistency. They usually come with a mid-range price tag and offer excellent cleaning power for your buck. Due to their fairly heavyweight, as well as being restricted to mains power, these aren’t great for hoovering upstairs or maneuvering around tight spaces, so they are most suited for wide-open spaces. The added suction power also works excellently at cleaning carpets, dragging up the dirt from deep down, for a clear, fresh finish. Despite them being cumbersome at times, these do work excellently for pet hair, as their suction is strong enough to clean them up.
Canister
Much like upright vacuums, canister vacuums are another popular type of vacuum cleaner, very commonly used for domestic usage. These are also fair heavyweight and mains powered, and this extra power provides them with excellent suction power as well. As well as carpets, these are ideal for cleaning hard flooring, and even upholstery, such as curtains, rugs, throws/blankets, cushions, and sofa. Because canister vacuums have maneuverable hoses – unlike upright vacuums with their fixed-head – they offer slightly more maneuverability, making them better suited for stairs, tight corners, or going underneath furniture, but still aren’t great for lugging up or downstairs.
Stick
Stick vacuums are less common than upright or canister vacuums but have increased in popularity over the last few years due to their versatility and ease of use. Stick vacuums are, smaller and lighter than upright or canister vacuums, and are battery-powered too. They’re much more portable, meaning that they’re much less hassle to carry around the home, and much easier to store away after use. Having said this, as they’re battery-powered, they tend not to have the suction power of canister or upright vacuums, meaning that they can occasionally struggle in certain areas. Because of this, stick vacuums are best suited to smaller or tighter living spaces, where canister or upright vacuums struggle to get around.
Here are some comparisons of the best stick vacuums:
Handheld
Handheld vacuum cleaners are exactly what the name suggests – vacuums that you can hold in one hand. They’re tiny in size and battery-powered, making them excellent for getting into small spaces, or on top or below furniture. They’re also ideal for cleaning in cars or motorhomes, and storing them away is a breeze. The main downside is that, due to their tiny size, they have particularly weak suction power in comparison to the other kinds of vacuums mentioned, and as such are not a very suitable choice for daily cleaning, or cleaning carpets or upholstery.
Robotic
Robotic vacuums are the perfect choice for those who genuinely hate vacuum cleaning as, as the name suggests, they do the cleaning for you! Once activated, these machines navigate your living space, sucking up dirt, dust and debris along the way, before returning to their pod to charge. They often come with various settings and modes – such as ‘single room’ mode, or ‘fast’ mode – allowing you to somewhat customize the level of cleaning you’re after. The only downside is that, depending on what they encounter whilst cleaning, they may get stuck and need some kind of intervention to get going again – basically, they’re not 100% reliable all the time. They have moderate suction power, which definitely doesn’t match traditional vacuums, but the fact that they do all the work outweighs this.
Things to Look for When Shopping for the Best Vacuum for Pet Hair
With the number of different vacuum cleaners out there – both in terms of their design, as well as their individual features and specifics – it’s clear that, even if you know what kind is best suited for you, settling on the right one for you isn’t an easy task. There are a few more things to bear in mind before finally deciding on one in particular:
Power
A common misconception by those who are considering purchasing a vacuum cleaner is to think that all vacuum cleaners have sufficient suction power, or at least for their intended or marketed purpose, but this is not the case. Some vacuum cleaners are strong enough to clean even the thickest of carpets, whereas some are only suitable for cleaning up light bits of dust or dirt from hard surfaces – and knowing which is crucial. The only issue is that, unless you’re giving it a thorough test through many different living environments, measuring this is quite a challenge.
A vacuum cleaner’s power (such as its amperage or wattage) can be good indicators of this, but this isn’t a surefire way of knowing how well it will perform in practice. The only proper way to know a vacuum cleaner’s true power is to measure one of – or sometimes both of – two measurements: the AW (air watts), or the CFM (cubic feet per minute). The AW measures how much of a vacuum’s power is dedicated to its suction, whereas the CFM measures how much air it sucks in a given time. When considering both of these measurements, the higher the number, the better; a high AW means strong suction, and a high CFM means fast suction.
But again, when comparing different styles of vacuum cleaner, these measurements aren’t completely accurate, as depending on the size of the vacuum, length of the suction tube or pipe, and other features, it may be better or worse suited than another.
HEPA Air Quality
The HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) feature is another feature of vacuum cleaners that are often overlooked or ignored by potential customers. These filters allow certain particles to be sucked out of your living environment, in order to leave, not only your home’s floor but also your home’s air cleaner. Some vacuums have disposable HEPA filters, some have washable, re-usable ones, and some have lifetime ones that never need to be replaced or cleaned.
Bag or Bagless
Years ago, nearly all household vacuum cleaners – like upright and canister vacuums – had disposable bags inside them. These bags would collect up all the dirt and dust, and after they were full, would need to be disposed of by the user. Although this originally seemed like a good idea, despite technology advancing past this design, it was continued by many companies as a marketing ploy, as, despite ‘bagged’ vacuums coming with a low price tag, customers would have to continue to purchase manufacturer-specific bags, meaning that they would spend more in the long run.
Bagless vacuums came later, as a solution to this, as it meant that customers no longer had to install, dispose of, or buy more bags. They work in an identical wag to bagged vacuum cleaners, apart from the fact that, rather than the dirt being collected in disposable bags, it’s collected in a container that’s removed, emptied, and then reinstalled into the vacuum cleaner. This is a much more efficient and environmentally-friendly style of product, and despite ‘bagless’ vacuum cleaners usually coming with a slightly higher price tag, they end up cheaper in the long run as customers don’t have to keep purchasing new bags.
Areas That You Will Vacuum
Knowing what exactly you’re going to be cleaning up isn’t all – it’s an equally good idea to know where you plan on cleaning it from. When it comes to pet hair in particular, cleaning this up from a hard, flat surface – such as a vinyl or tiles floor – is much easier, and requires much less suction power, than cleaning this from a thick, deep carpet.
So depending on the flooring in your home, you may need to prioritize suction power over convenience, or even the opposite. It’s also a good idea to know how large the area that regularly needs cleaning is. Vacuuming the corner of a room is much easier than vacuuming the entire downstairs, so how widely spread your pet’s hair is will also likely have an effect on the vacuum you go with.
When considering this, if you’re unsure, it’s best to go for something that’s a bit too powerful, over something that might not be powerful enough; it’s much better to have a great vacuum that’s a bit of a hassle to use, rather than a convenient model that simply can’t do the job.
Vacuum for Pet Hair Accessories
When it comes to targeting pet hair in particular, some companies have taken it upon themselves to provide a range of accessories that make dealing with this that much easier. Depending on your personal preference or requirements, it may be worth considering one or two of these:
Telescoping Extension Wand
Extensions wands allow you to access those difficult spots that you can’t normally reach by hands – such as on top of or underneath furniture, or down tight gaps.
Turbo Eraser
Turbo erases provide added suction power in order to better target those particularly challenging areas where pet hair is stuck deep within fabrics or carpets.
Disinfection Tool
Disinfection tools do exactly this, disinfecting areas in order to remove hazardous bacteria and unfavorable smells from your home.
Lighted Crevice Tool
Light crevice tools help illuminate darker areas – such as behind or down the side of furniture – to make spotting and cleaning these areas easier.
Grooming Kits or Tools
Grooming kits let you target the source of the problem, by allowing you to suck loose hair from your pet’s body, rather than wait for it to fall off in the first place.
