Any pet owner knows how problematic cleaning can get once shedding season rolls in. If you have an indoor cat or dog, expect to see strands of their hair around the floor and on your furniture. Simply put, you will be cleaning your home a couple of times a day. Of course, as we love our pets that last thing we want is to have to leave them outside during this period. Fortunately, a vacuum cleaner for pet hair is a thing and it can significantly help ease and quicken the cleaning process.
One of the more convenient vacuum cleaner types for this task you should look into is the cordless vacuum cleaner. As it requires no cords to operate, maneuverability is quite high with this type of vacuum cleaner making it easy to clean hard to reach areas in your home.
However, since there are literally hundreds of products out there to choose from it might seem daunting to choose the best possible one. This is where this article comes in, read our list of the top 5 cordless vacuum cleaner for pet hair in the market today as well as learn some pointers on what to look for when buying one.
The upright stick vacuum cleaner is larger but that also means they are more powerful. This type is best suited for use in larger homes with wider floor areas. Powerful models can easily collect dust and pet hair stuck to carpets and hardwood floors. While considerably bulkier than handheld models, most upright vacuum cleaners have several attachments and accessories to help clean tight corners and hard to reach areas.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Cordless Vacuum Cleaners?
Of course, it is best to know early on that while cordless vacuum cleaners can be quite convenient and easy to use it does have its limitations.
Advantages:
- The compact and lightweight design make using and storing the machine when not in use extremely easy.
- Cordless means no need to constantly look for electrical sockets when cleaning around the house.
- The best models in the market are extremely easy to handle and offer reliable suction power.
Disadvantages:
- Cordless vacuum cleaners are not as powerful as corded models.
- Some cordless models are, surprisingly, heavier than certain corded vacuum cleaners due to the rechargeable battery installed inside the machine.
- You always have to make sure the machine is fully charged before every use.
Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair Buying Guide
Now then, to help you further in your quest of looking for the best cordless vacuum cleaner for pet hair I will give a list of factors that you should definitely look into when searching for the best one that will suit your needs. When it comes to choosing corded and cordless vacuum cleaners there are slight differences you need to be aware of which we will discuss down below.
1.Battery Life
This is an important aspect that you should definitely place front and center when looking for a cordless vacuum cleaner. The last thing you need is for the vacuum to die on you midway of cleaning. How long do you think it will take to go through every area of your home?
Standard battery life for cordless vacuum cleaners clock in at around half an hour but there are some that can last longer. The caveat here is that the longer the battery life the heavier the battery will be. If I were you I would opt for ones that allow users to change the battery. This allows you to continue cleaning in the event that the first battery runs out of power.
2. Charge Time
Obviously, you would want a cordless vacuum cleaner that has a relatively long battery life. But you should also consider the time it takes for it to fully charge. Most cordless vacuum cleaners only last an hour so the last thing you want to is to abruptly stop halfway through cleaning and having to wait a couple of hours to start again.
My advice to you is to look for ones that feature Quick Charge technology. An alternative step you can take is to get cordless vacuum cleaners that allow you to change the battery. It’s a little hard to find a cordless vacuum cleaner with a good balance between battery life and charge time so take your time choosing.
3. Docking Station
An integral part of cordless devices, the docking station is basically where you place your vacuum cleaner for storage and charging. It can be installed on your wall or if you prefer just store it inside your storage cabinet.
An important quality you should look for in a docking station is how compact it is. You don’t want anything that juts out awkwardly. Keep things sleek and simple. Make sure the docking station completely secures your vacuum cleaner once attached. You should also look for ones that can be easily attached and removed from the wall.
4. Accessories and Attachments
Look at your home and figure out which areas will prove to be quite problematic to clean properly and go from there. Like modern corded vacuum cleaners, cordless also come with their own accessories and attachments that will help improve its cleaning capabilities. Brush heads and hose extensions can help greatly if you are cleaning hard to reach areas and stairs.
There are also the narrow head attachments that will help you clean crevices of upholstered furniture. Miniature turbo tools are essential for cleaning pet hair so keep that in your must-have list when looking for a cordless vacuum cleaner.
5. Brush Roll with Motor Power
This is another essential feature to consider. Some pet breeds tend to be heavy shedders and there are breeds of dogs that have a considerably rough fur that can completely stick to your carpet. A brush roll will help in this occasion as it will help loosen the fur for the vacuum to collect it.
A motor-powered brush roll is even better as it pretty much does the work for you. No need to repeatedly comb over the carpet, you will probably just need to pass over the once.
6. Filters
This covers both corded and cordless vacuum cleaners for pet hair. Allergens are a common complaint in homes that have pets. Using a vacuum cleaner with a filter is a great way to reduce this problem. Specifically, look for HEPA filters as it can effectively eliminate 99% of allergens in the air.
Filtration systems in vacuum cleaners can also collect pet dander which helps reduce dust mites. You should also look for filtration systems that are sturdy and relatively easy to clean or change.
7. Suction Power
Obviously, you will need a vacuum cleaner with an exceptional suction power to pick up all those pet hairs in your home. However, cordless vacuum cleaners tend to be at a disadvantage in this category as it usually cannot deliver the same level of power when compared to its corded brethren.
With that in mind, always look for cordless vacuum cleaners that have the highest battery voltage as this indicates how powerful its suction capabilities are. The best cordless vacuums will come with at least 20V. That voltage rating guarantees a pretty impressive suction power. Just remember, the higher the battery voltage the stronger the vacuum is.
8. Size and Weight
This is one of the biggest advantages of getting a cordless vacuum cleaner and should be among the aspects you look for. Make sure you can carry and handle the vacuum cleaner without any issues. It is supposed to be lightweight and extremely maneuverable.
The part where you will need to be more detail oriented is with the battery. Longer battery life usually means heavier battery. Find a good balance between weight and battery life. Try it out first at the store and see if it’s easy to carry around.
The Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners for Pet Hair in the Market Today
Now that you have the basics of what a cordless vacuum cleaner is as well as some key pros and cons about this type of vacuum cleaner, let’s now browse through the highest rated products in the market today. This list is compiled based on the overall quality, performance, and customer feedback for each entry.
1.Hoover Linx Cordless Upright Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Review
Let’s now head into the upright stick models, and one of the best around is another entry from Hoover. The Hoover Linx Cordless Upright Stick Vacuum Cleaner is quite possibly the best one in this list if you are okay with using the bulkier upright models.
The good news is that the Linx is considerably more portable than other upright models and can offer considerable overall maneuverability. The Linx can also be adjusted for all types of floors. The powerful vacuum allows you to easily glide through any surface and collect dust, debris, and pet hair in a single pass.
One of the biggest downsides of using cordless vacuum cleaners is how it can drain its battery midway if you ever forgot to charge it beforehand. The Linx fixes this issue by allowing you to interchange the battery with a fully charged one. The catch here is that the product only comes with one rechargeable battery, you will need to spend extra to get the second one from Hoover.
The Hoover Linx also comes with their signature fade free technology and allow you to operate the vacuum at full suction capacity until the battery is completely depleted. It also utilizes Energy Star charging technology for a considerably shorter charge time. As an added and welcome bonus, the Linx also comes with a 2-year warranty.
Pros:
- Powerful suction power.
- Designed for all types of floors and surfaces.
- Interchangeable battery.
- Fast Energy Star charging technology.
Cons:
- It does not come with a second replacement battery which means you need to spend a little extra.
2. Shark Navigator Freestyle Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Review
Shark Navigator Freestyle earns the distinction of being one of the most highly recommended cordless vacuum cleaner for cleaning up after your shedding pet. It features a helpful 2 brush roll attachment that assists in making sure you remove those pesky pet hairs on any type of floor surfaces.
You can also choose between 2 levels of suction power for when you need to go through some delicate furniture at home. The maneuverability of the Navigator Freestyle is even more accentuated thanks to the lightweight and swivel steering design. While upright stick vacuum cleaners are primarily designed for larger homes, the Freestyle is small enough to be used conveniently in smaller homes as well.
One of the most impressive qualities of the Shark Navigator Freestyle is its battery life that can clock in between 4 to 6 hours of use before the need to recharge. Definitely, a personal pick of mine for that aspect alone as my home takes a little bit of time to clean up.
The Navigator Freestyle’s suction is powerful enough that I can recommend it for use on both carpeted and hardwood floors. Emptying the dust container is also easier and less messy thanks to the ‘top and bottom empty’ design.
Pros:
- Self-standing design.
- Swivel steering makes it an exceptionally maneuverable upright vacuum cleaner.
- Replaceable batteries. Short charging time.
Cons:
- Designed to be a floor vacuum cleaner only.
- Quite noisy compared to other pet hair vacuum cleaners.
3. Black+Decker PowerSeries Pro Cordless 2 in 1 Pet Vacuum Cleaner
Review
Black+Decker PowerSeries Pro is a cordless vacuum cleaner that comes in three versions: standard, anti-allergen, and pet. We will be taking a look at the pet model here to find out how it stacks up with the rest of the entries in this list.
What I enjoy about this vacuum cleaner is its detachable canister making it quite a versatile vacuum cleaner. You can use it perfectly on both floor up to the ceiling by simply removing the canister from the stick.
The PowerSeries also comes with its own advanced features such as the built-in canister and built-in Smart Sense technology. The canister both collects and compresses debris inside the container meaning you can clean longer before needing to empty and clean the dust container.
The Smart Sense is another new feature that brand-new vacuum cleaners are starting to employ. Basically, the Smart Sense technology allows the machine to automatically detect what floor type you are using it on and adjust the suction power accordingly.
The PowerSeries Pro also notifies you whenever the battery is close to empty or when the filter needs to be cleaned. As for its physical features, it comes with a rubberized bristle that prevents tangles and is designed to pull out pet hair on carpets. Battery life clocks in at around 1 hour on one full charge.
Pros:
- Utilizes advanced technology.
- Rubber bristles help better remove pet hair that is stuck on the carpet.
- One-hour battery life on a single charge.
Cons:
- Suction power is not that strong.
4.Dyson Cyclone V10 Vacuum Cleaner
Review
The latest offering from Dyson in their Cyclone series, the V10 brings all the cards into the table with a more polished feel. If you are familiar with the Cyclone series then the V10 will immediately feel different as it went through a complete overhaul when it comes to the placements of key sections.
One of the biggest changes in design you will notice is that all accessories can be directly attached to the front facing barrel. This makes swapping attachments seamless and quick. The V10’s digital motor is the manufacturer’s most compact version yet. It also comes with some impressive Smart technology features.
The motor is now able to detect several factors like temperature, air pressure, and even altitude. It automatically adjusts itself to accommodate these variables and deliver the appropriate power for optimum performance. Dyson has even touted that the V10 can actually differentiate the difference of floor and table surfaces.
Another impressive quality of the V10 is its lighter weight (125 grams) without compensating the suction power. We have actually tested this and discovered that it manages to deliver at least 20% more suction power when compared to the V8.
The attachments further enhance the performance of the V10 such as the soft roller cleaner which is great for cleaning up pet kibbles and larger debris on the floor. I must give you a fair warning though as operating the V10 on its maximum setting drains the battery like nothing else. The silver lining here is that the medium power setting is more than enough in most cases. I actually only used the max power setting for short intervals when trying to clean some pesky dirt stuck on the carpet.
Pros:
- Almost flawless design.
- Great selection of attachments.
- Easy to use.
- Powerful suction.
Cons:
- Max power setting drains the battery in 5 – 10 minutes.
5. Philips SpeedPro Max Animal Vacuum Cleaner
Review
The SpeedPro Max from Philips brings a solid battery life that can last up to an hour. Suction power is also not something to balk at as the SpeedPro Max can easily rival some of the most popular and highly regarded products in the cordless vacuum cleaner for pet hair in the market today.
The SpeedPro Max is also surprisingly lightweight which makes it easy to clean hard to reach areas and ceilings. Attachments also make cleaning various surfaces a breeze. It also comes with an easy to install docking station that is pretty unassuming. The docking station is small enough to be installed in closets or your tool cabinet.
I also found the LED lights attached to the vacuum head to be extremely helpful when cleaning under the bed or sofa as you can easily see any left-over dust and debris. The brush roller also has some rubber fins attached to the sides which helps sweep debris and pet hair into the vacuum.
It also has a battery indicator to alert you whenever the SpeedPro Max needs a quick top up. Speaking of ‘quick’, this cordless vacuum cleaner can be fully charged quite quickly. I managed to fully charge mine a little over an hour.
Overall, the Philips SpeedPro Max is a solid cordless vacuum cleaner that you can use to clean up pet hair and your home in general. A great and safe well-rounded choice at an affordable price tag.
Pros:
- Lightweight design.
- Great and well-designed attachments.
- LED lights on the vacuum head for when cleaning underneath sofas and beds.
Cons:
- Emptying the dust container is a bit difficult.
- Cleaning the brush might take a while.
Conclusion
Overall, the Hoover Linx Cordless Upright Stick Vacuum Cleaner takes the crown as the best cordless stick vacuum cleaner for pet hair. It is a well-rounded vacuum cleaner with a powerful suction and a slew of helpful attachments. It also manages to circumvent the battery issue that plagues cordless vacuum cleaners by allowing users to swap batteries easily. Of course, you will need to buy the extra battery from Hoover but it is not that expensive, to begin with so it all shakes out well in the end.
Hopefully, this guide helped you in determining the best cordless vacuum cleaner that will deliver what you need. Pick from the highest and most popular machines in the list above or use our guideline to help you zero in on that specific vacuum cleaner. Remember that cleaning up your shedding pet’s hair needs a special kind of vacuum cleaner and standard models just won’t be enough. Some mobile dog grooming professional use this on their service.