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Do you need a better way to tame those tumbleweeds of pet hair rolling around your home? Is your current vacuum not cutting it? The best vacuum for pet hair will eliminate that pesky flyaway fur. Our best vacuum for dog hair review looks at the best vacuums by type, the benefits of getting a gadget specifically for pet hair, vacuum alternatives, and other ways to contain that mane.
Pet Vacuums vs Regular Vacuums
Why is a pet vacuum better than a regular vacuum? Pet hair vacuums boast enhanced features that make them more capable of handling a higher volume of hair and dander.
Best Vacuums For Dog Hair
There are different sizes, styles, and performing powers for pet hair picker-uppers like regular vacuums. The style you choose will depend on the size of your living space, how much hair and dander you’re dealing with (and where), and what you’re willing and able to pay.
We’ve broken down our best pet vacuums by type to help you narrow down your choices.
Best Canister Vacuum: Eureka 3670M Mighty Mite Canister Cleaner Review
The Eureka 3670M Mighty Mite canister cleaner vacuum has a powerful brush roll to help deep clean your carpets and get every strand of pet hair.
It also includes a set of tools for places like stairs and upholstery. This reasonably priced vacuum can effectively clean your home and provide a deep car clean as well.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great for homes and cars | Not cordless, so this may be a hassle for regular car cleaning |
| Lightweight | |
| HEPA filter captures nearly 100% of dust and pet dander | |
| Arm & Hammer dust bag eliminates pet odors | |
| Special pet hair attachment | |
| 1-year warranty |
Price & Specs
- $82.99
- Weight: 11.6 lbs
- Cord length: 20 ft
- Size: 9″ x 17.5″ x 116.3″
Best Stick Vacuum: Bissell ICONPet Edge Review
Bissell is one of the best when it comes to cleaning. Their ICONPEet Edge vacuum sucks up dirt on the floor that you usually can only get with a broom and dustpan. And, like other stick vacs, this little guy is a grab-and-go convenient picker-upper.
The cordless vacuum includes attachments and even separates into a hand-vac option. The structure bends in the middle to make it easy to vacuum in between tables and chairs. It also has a two-way folding handle for compact storage.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sucks up debris in tight spaces and along edges well | Opening the cup requires more work than the press of a button |
| Easily cleans around furniture legs and area rugs | |
| Swivel head and folds | |
| 2-in-one stick and hand vac | |
| Cordless | |
| Dirt cup is easy to empty | |
| Battery operated | |
| Made for all floor types | |
| 2-year warranty |
Price & Specs
- $159.64
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Size: 6″ x 10″ x 44″
Best Upright Vacuum: Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal 2
This powerful Dyson vacuum not only helps with pet hair but is also great for those of you with allergies with a whole-machine HEPA filtration system. It has strong suction, and there is no filter to wash or replace.
It has many adjustments to get pet hair out of corners and other difficult spots, and you can empty the bin with the push of a button. The downside? The price is pretty hefty.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Turns on a dime to access hard-to-reach areas | Heavy |
| Tangle-free Turbine tool ensures that hair won’t tangle around a brush bar | Expensive compared to similar models |
| Push-button to release dirt | |
| 5-year parts and labor warranty |
Price & Specs
- Check Amazon for availability
- Weight: 19.2 lbs
- Cord length: 35 ft
- Size: 42.1″ x 13.4″ x 15.3″
Upright Honorable Mention: Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 Review
For a vacuum that delivers on both price and performance, you can’t go wrong with the Shark Navigator Lift-Away. This upright is not designed as a pet-specific vacuum, yet its features put it right up there with some of the best for the hairiest jobs as well as the “normal” messes.
Portable, lightweight, and affordable, this vac is a serious contender for your pet-cleaning needs. The biggest complaints with this machine are mainly construction-based; however, the results are unquestionable when it comes to the Shark Rotator’s performance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent suction | Small reservoir fills quickly and requires you to empty often |
| Detachable canister for convenience | Top-heavy design can make the machine unbalanced when using attachments |
| Anti-allergen complete seal technology locks in 99.9% of contaminants inside vacuum | Detachable functions are a bit awkward to use |
| HEPA (or high-efficiency particulate air) filter traps dust particles that most vacuums would re-circulate back into the household | |
| 3-year warranty |
Price & Specs
- $178.01
- Weight: 12.5 lbs
- Cord length: 25 ft
- Size: 15″ x 11.4″ x 45.5″
Best Robotic Vacuum: bObsweep PetHair Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop Review
Are you looking for a robotic way to clean up unwanted pet hair? The bObsweep PetHair Robotic Vacuum is a sweeper and mop in one. In addition to sucking up debris and hair, it will also wipe paw prints and slobber from the floor.
It works on all floor types and comes with a 1-liter dustbin (which is relatively small compared to traditional vacuums but significant for a robotic cleaner). You can even set it on a schedule to auto clean while you’re away — a bonus if your dog barks or plays with it. Read our reviews on this and other robot vacuums that work well for pet hair.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| UV sterilizing and air purifying in addition to vacuuming and sweeping | Expensive compared to most traditional vacuums |
| Self-adjusts to floor type | Since it’s robotic, it can have technical issues |
| It can run for over one hour on a single charge | |
| Large dustbin with filtration system | |
| Remote control to adjust speed and functions | |
| Can get in hard to reach places like under the bed | |
| 2-year warranty |
Price & Specs
- Check Amazon for availability
- Weight: 7.7 lbs
- Size: 13.8″ x 13.8″ x 3.9″
Best Handheld: Black+Decker Lithium Pet Hand Vacuum Review
Need a quick and easy way to vacuum all the hair off your furniture or your car seats? The Black+Decker HLVA325JP07 Lithium Pet Hand Vac is a fantastic solution. Unlike other hand vacs, this model packs a surprisingly strong suction.
It comes with a pull-out crevice tool for difficult areas and a push-in brush for dusting and cleaning upholstery. It also includes a wall mount charger for space-saving storage.
First-Hand Experience
I’ve used the Black + Decker Pet Hand Vacuum for years, and it’s super powerful to suck up hair off places you can’t use with the vacuum like the sofa and the car. It’s extremely loud for being powerless, has a long battery life, and is very powerful. The debris is easy to empty, and the main suction brush pops off so you can use the nozzle to get into hard to reach places. I noticed it stopped working as well over time, but I ordered new filters, and it was working like new again.
– Sadie C, Canine Journal
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong suction for a cordless hand vac | Some users say it doesn’t hold a charge after a year or so |
| Great for limited storage space | |
| Motorized pet head with rubber tines helps to power through pet hair | |
| Long battery life | |
| The dustbin is easy to empty | |
| 2-year limited warranty |
Price & Specs
- $56.99
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Size: 15.88″ x 5.75″ x 7.5″
Vacuum Alternative: ChomChom Roller
Vacuums are a powerful tool for sucking up fur from the floor. However, you may want a more gentle yet effective tool when it comes to your clothing, upholstery, and other hard-to-clean spots.
Unlike traditional lint rollers that use wasteful, refillable sticky pads, the ChomChom Roller picks up pesky hairs with static electricity. It is similar to a lint roller brush in that you roll it over the surface. It traps fur in a reservoir that you empty once it’s full. Roll the ChomChom over the surface in a back and forth motion to clean. Then push the lever in the middle to open the chamber and remove the hair and other debris.
First-Hand Experience
“I received a free ChomChom to test in exchange for an honest review. After trying other pet brush alternatives and lint rollers, we were a bit skeptical. But this product exceeded our expectations. We tested it on several fur-covered surfaces, including a sofa, footstool, and bedding. Every time it removed the pet hair extremely well. It was also easy to use and clean. The ChomChom Roller is a must-have for pet owners who live with animals who shed a lot.”
– Sadie C, Canine Journal
Price
Other Ways To Clean Pet Hair From Shedding: FurZapper
The FurZapper is a silicone disc that you put in your washer and dryer to help extract hair from clothing and other textiles where pet hair accumulates. It helps loosen up hair fibers and wash them into your cleaning water or lint trap, but nothing actually sticks to the disc. The tacky surface is powerful and durable so that it can withstand multiple uses. The FurZapper can be a huge help around the home, removing unwanted hair from machine-washable sheets, sofa covers, clothing, and rugs.
Price
- $14.89 ($7.44 / Count) for 2-pack
First-Hand Experience
“I have a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who sheds badly. I put three of Georgie’s blankets and my jacket, all covered in fur, into the washer and dryer as instructed. They recommend one per pet but I included both discs in both machines. It really “zapped” off the fur. There was tons of pet hair stuck to the washer and dryer doors and in the lint trap. Typically after washing Georgie’s blankets, I notice they are clean but still have pesty hair stuck to them. This was not the case after the FurZapper. They were clean and fur-free.”
– Sadie C., Canine Journal
Bag vs Bagless Vacs
No matter which vacuum you go with, you will consider whether you want a vacuum that requires a bag or one that is bagless. While bag vacs contain dirt, hair, and dander more efficiently, they also add an increased expense and aggravation to the cleaning process. A few pros of most bagless vacuums include:
- Saving money: With bagless options, there are no bags to buy.
- Eco-friendly: Bagless vacs are easier on the environment as they don’t put another unnecessary bag in the landfill.
- Easy to empty: Today’s canisters are so easy to empty that you won’t even miss the bag.
- Transparency: You’ll know when your vacuum isn’t doing its job because you can see what it’s picking up (or not capturing at all).
3 Reasons To Get A Pet Vacuum
Three things that make them more suited for handling your household are:
- Enhanced suction.
- Tailored tools and accessories.
- High-performing filtration systems.
Enhance Your Air Quality Beyond The Vacuum
Vacuums are an effective way to eliminate hair and dander from existing furniture and rugs. But what about all the dirt and allergens that you can’t see floating around? An air purifier can capture all those particles, promoting a clean, healthy environment for better sleep and overall health.
The Conway HEPA Air Purifier has a four-stage filtration system that reduces up to 99.97% of microns. It has a colored sensor that lets you know the air status, and you can optimize the settings via a timer to save energy. An air purifier is a small but mighty addition to your home and an investment that can improve home life with your pets.
Need Some Vacuuming Tips? (Video)
Did you know there’s a proper way to vacuum? Watch this video to learn how to get your floors even cleaner, especially if you pair these tips with a pet hair cleaning machine like those we recommend above.
Need A Good Grooming Brush?
Regular grooming is another fantastic way to control pet hair around your house. Read our review about the Best Dog Shedding Brushes that can help you keep those troublesome tumbleweeds at bay.
Tagged With: Comparison, Shedding
