Best Vacuums For Pet Hair 2024

Table Of Content

• A pretty smart robot vacuum
• Why Trust The Spruce Pets
• Best canister vacuum for pet hair: Kenmore 600 Series Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Vacuum
• Black+Decker 20V Max Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum HHVK515JP07
• Best overall handheld vacuum for pet hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum

The laser-powered illumination on the Dyson V15 Detect is paired with a unique roller brush, the fluffy cleaner head, to shine a spotlight on the irritants in your path. This combination of light along with the nylon and anti-static fiber filaments of the roller brush productively lifts dust and hair from surfaces, including the gaps between hardwood panels where irritants get stuck. This powerfully targeted cleaning of pet hair, microscopic dust, and dander can help to relieve respiratory ailments. “This is the absolute, number one workhorse of my apartment,” says Nikki Brown, NBC Select SEO editor, who has two cats. The vacuum helps her clean up hair and litter, and it has a similar design to the Dyson Outsize Plus with its anti-tangle brush head, LCD screen and 60-minute run time. You can also convert this appliance into a handheld vacuum, plus use the many attachments for specific jobs.

A pretty smart robot vacuum

However, what you gain in consistent power you lose in portability with a corded vacuum, says Neumann. When you see a vacuum’s brush head described as being “anti-tangle,” it usually means it has built-in features that help prevent hair from getting stuck around the roller, which can create knots. These features include angled bristles or brush heads that automatically clean themselves while you’re vacuuming.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets

The 6 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair in 2024, Tested and Reviewed - Business Insider

The 6 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair in 2024, Tested and Reviewed.

Posted: Fri, 01 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

While the impact was hard enough to dislodge the dust cup, nothing on the vacuum was damaged. The iRobot has smart-mapping technology that allows it to memorize your space and seamlessly navigate from room to room. You’ll be able to schedule recurring cleaning tasks, assign your vacuum to clean specific rooms, and even block off areas where you don’t want the vacuum to go (such as staircases or messy rooms). We also liked the laser feature, which illuminates the floor directly in front of your vacuum so you can clearly see any dust or debris in its path. The pricey Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Vacuum picked up messes better than any other vac in our tests, and the disposable vacuum bag keeps you out of contact with the debris. For up to six months with regular monthly check-ins, each tester was required to document and capture the performance of the vacuum in their home.

Best canister vacuum for pet hair: Kenmore 600 Series Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Vacuum

Plenty of vacuums are great at picking up pet hair, plenty of vacuums are great at filtration, and plenty of vacuums are great at both things. If your pets are shedding as if planning to join a nudist colony, and you’re too tired to drag out the ol’ plug-in vac, a robot vacuum is a great sidekick for midweek cleanups. The Roborock Q5 and Roborock Q5+ (the Q5 with a self-emptying dock) ranked among the most thorough and quietest cleaners we tested, and they have useful smart features and mapping technology to boot. With its motorized brush and extendable crevice tool, this handheld vac cleans up pet fur in a snap, especially on upholstery.

Shark ZU62 Navigator Zero-M Pet Pro Upright Vacuum

To keep your pet’s shedding from impacting the air, floors and cushions of your home, we found the vacuums best suited to tackle this particular problem, whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit or other furry friend. The weight of the vacuum is vital in considering portability, but the machine’s cord is by far the most important convenience factor. If a vacuum was corded, I considered how long the cord was and how easily it recoiled so that it could be put away for storage. If a vacuum was cordless, I considered how long it took to charge and how many minutes of run time were possible between each charge. In addition to comfort and portability, I also considered how easy the machine was to use, how easy the bin or bag was to empty and how loud each machine was while running. Here are the best vacuums for pet hair, according to my rigorous testing process.

We wished there was a way to empty the device without removing the filter, since this allows some of the particles it captured to escape back into the air. Keep this in mind, especially if you want a vacuum cleaner that seals debris off once captured. We also loved its dustbin, which has a one-push lever tool that will sweep debris straight into the garbage. This helps to avoid clogging inside the bin, so you won’t ever have to come in contact with the dirt from your floors. The vacuum is very easy to push around even on high-pile carpet, though it was less comfortable to operate than a full-size vacuum on the floor since you have to bend over to use it.

For carpets and upholstery, she recommends a rotating brush head to "brush out woven in hairs." We especially loved the pet hair screw tool, a conical brush attachment that effortlessly whisked pet hair from the couch cushions during testing. On carpets and hard floors alike, the Dyson V15 picked up all of the pet hair in just one pass, and it seamlessly transitioned between floor types without the need to change settings. It’s designed to powerfully remove fur, dirt, crumbs, and dander from a variety of surfaces including carpet and upholstery, making it very versatile to use.

The bin holding all the dirt and pet hair pick up is slightly larger (0.7 liters) than other robotic vacuums but does require manual emptying. When the Neato D8 is running low on battery, it will guide itself to the docking station, which has a six-foot power cord. What differentiates pet hair vacuums from other vacuums is their focus on picking up different types of debris and the technology they employ to do it. When testing to make sure vacuums can accommodate homes with pet hair, we make sure that brush rolls and attachments can handle long hair without inconveniences like tangling. Pet hair vacuums offer larger bins so that they don't fill up quickly when filled with lots of fur and often come with extra attachments for removing pet hair from furniture.

To test maneuverability, we also ran the vacuums through a makeshift obstacle course to see how easy they were to move around furniture and into tight corners. We also liked the Shark Navigator's extendable hose for added flexibility as you clean. According to the manufacturer, the hose extends up to 12 feet, so you’ll be able to clean staircases, overhead shelves, and more with ease. We wholeheartedly stand by our recommendation after using the iRobot at home for several months. In fact, we actually want to buy a second one to use on the upper floor of the house. This vacuum was a little louder than other models we tested, clocking in at 81 decibels on its lowest setting.

While many of the vacuums I tested come with a high price tag, the Shark NV352 Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum is surprisingly affordable. This is a corded upright vacuum that comes equipped with two attachments, and it’s specifically designed to vacuum pet hair from carpet, wood floors and furniture. Throughout my testing it proved to be efficient, functional and strong, which makes it an incredible value for the price.

For more buying recommendations, look at our list of the best robot vacuums for pet hair, the best handheld vacuums for pet hair, the best apartment vacuums, and the best vacuums for high-pile carpet. No matter what style of vacuum you choose, consider what types of attachments are included in your purchase. Some vacuums come with a furniture attachment with long bristles meant for getting hair out of upholstery. Others come with a narrow crevice tool that can get dog hair out of cracks in molding or out from underneath furniture. “There are several different coat types among dog breeds,” said Gail Miller Bisher, Director of Communications at the Westminster Kennel Club. “There are dog breeds with double-coated fur, a soft undercoat close to the skin, and a coarse outer coat.

For a particularly efficient and streamlined vacuum, look to the Kenmore Pet Friendly Pop-N-Go Bagged Canister Vacuum. Though this is a corded model, all of the attachments can be stored within the body of the vacuum and the cord easily retracts for simple storage. It has a special mode and designated attachment that helps keep wood floors clean and shiny. This vacuum has wide, sturdy wheels that make it easy to tote around, and the extendable arm means you can reach under furniture and deep into corners without hunching over. In fact, the vacuum itself has four height options for a more comfortable experience. In our tests, the RoboVac 11S Max cleaned about as well as the much pricier Roborock Q5.

With a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a washable filter, this small but mighty vacuum from Shark will help you clean up after your pet in a variety of spaces, including the inside of a car. Pet hair takes up more space than dirt and dust so a vacuum designed to combat pet hair typically has a larger bin along with rubber fins or spiraled bristles on the roller brush to prevent tangling. Loss of suction power typically means that a vacuum's airflow is blocked, according to Toogood. "It is crucial for a vacuum cleaner to have one strong, powerful airflow running continuously through the machine," says Toogood. We ran each vacuum on carpet, hard floor, and upholstery (if applicable), tried out all of its advertised settings, and observed how well it picked up common debris like pet hair, kibble, dirt, and more. It’s also equipped with a self-cleaning brush roll, which is designed to suck up pet and human hair without anything getting tangled or clogged.

While Roborock’s obstacle-detection system is far from perfect, the Q5 avoided hurdles more effectively than most other robot vacuums we tested. It’s also one of the quietest robots we’ve tried, which skittish pets will appreciate. Many vacuums for pet hair (especially those that can convert to a handheld model) come with extra attachments that are designed to remove fur from specific areas. "The best attachments for pet hair provide a bit of agitation on the surface you're cleaning," Toogood says. We found that the iRobot Roomba J7+ was the most effective robot vacuum against pet hair because of its rubber brush roll and strong suction. These elements allow the vacuum to suck up heavy particles like kibble, pet litter, and dense fur without anything getting tangled in the brush roll or being pushed across the floor.