Pets are considered to be one of the best companions to have by our side. Taking care of our beloved pet, either a dog or a cat is a responsibility. However, caring for a pet also comes with some work. Specifically, if you own a pet dog or cat. Shedding is a common and natural occurrence in animals with fur. If your pet is of the ‘furry’ variety then you have most likely contended with pet hair around the house.
Fortunately, cleaning pet hair has become considerably easier thanks to vacuum cleaners. The thing you need to remember though is that a standard vacuum cleaner may not deliver the results you want. The bad news is that standard vacuum cleaners are not designed for use with pet hair. The good news here is that there are specific vacuum cleaners designed for this task. Let me help you find the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair.
To help you find the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair I have compiled a list of the highest rated products available online today. Check out the detailed list below.
Different Vacuums for Pet Hair Types
In order to figure out what the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair is, we must first answer a couple of question. When it comes to cleaning up your pet’s hair, you have a couple of options to choose from. Like standard vacuum cleaners, pet hair vacuums can in a variety of types and sizes.
The upright pet hair vacuum cleaner looks like the standard vacuum cleaner and is a good choice for cleaning carpets and floors but not so much if you want to directly vacuum your pet. Canister vacuums offer more maneuverability and can be used directly on your pet. Of course, you need to help your pet get used to the sound of the vacuum first.
Some of the important factors you need to consider before purchasing a vacuum cleaner for pet hair are:
- It’s suction power.
- Vacuum cleaner features.
- The convenience of use.
- The overall weight of the vacuum cleaner.
- House space.
- Floor type.
Obviously, if you decide on a lightweight vacuum you can’t expect it to deliver the power of heavier ones. It can counter this with its ease of use, however. If you have carpets installed in your home then a more powerful vacuum cleaner is recommended. If your home has several furniture’s, appliances, and corners then a vacuum cleaner that is lighter and offers great maneuverability is the best choice.
Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair Buying Guide
You have to understand that choosing a vacuum cleaner for everyday uses and choosing one that is designed for cleaning pet hair and is pet-friendly will have some differences. To help you along the way I’ve compiled a few tips when it comes to choosing the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair.
1.How much are you willing to spend?
Keep in mind that vacuum cleaners designed for pet use are usually more expensive than standard vacuum cleaners. This is because they utilize a more powerful motor and a higher quality brush to help clean pet hair from both the floor and furniture in your home. Of course, you can still find some budget-friendly ones. Check the list of recommended vacuum cleaner for pet hair above for an idea of the price range.
2. What type do you prefer?
Vacuum cleaners come in different types. You can choose between the upright, cylinder, and handheld variations each with their own strengths and weaknesses. You can also add the relatively new ‘robot’ vacuum in the list as some models are powerful enough to collect pet hair. Choosing the right model will be based on a couple of factors. The house size, how big is your pet, how much fur does it shed, and how powerful the vacuum motor is.
3. What is the breed of your pet?
Know how much shedding your pet cat or dog does. Some breeds shed significantly more than others. For example, Labradors and Siberian Huskies (to name a few) are known to be excessive shedders. If you’re the breed of your pet is known to be a heavy shedder then a vacuum with a powerful suction and larger dust container is a must.
4. Check the filter type.
The filter type is the most essential part of a pet vacuum cleaner. In this aspect, it is quite easy to choose as you should always opt for HEPA filters. Filters will help reduce the spread of allergens in your home during vacuuming. There are also filters that have odor eliminating capabilities which you should definitely look into.
5.What capacity size should you get?
How much can the vacuum dust container collect before it needs to be emptied? This one is connected to the pet breed as heavy shedders can quickly fill up a small capacity vacuum. If you have a heavy shredder then go for vacuums with larger capacities. It will make things more convenient in the long run.
6. Should I go for bagged or bag-less vacuum cleaners?
This one is more of a personal preference actually. Basically, I would suggest bagged vacuum cleaner models for people with allergens as it has impeccable sealing capability. Bagless offer great suction power but there is a risk of allergens escaping whenever you empty your vacuum.
7.Do I need the extra accessories?
Tools can be helpful depending on the places you will be using the vacuum cleaner in. For example, the miniature turbo tool is essential for collecting pet hair. See the areas in your homes that tend to be the most difficult to clean. Chances are there is a specific vacuum cleaner accessory designed for that.
The Best Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair
1.Dyson DC39 Animal Canister Vacuum Cleaner – Best Canister Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair
Review
The Dyson DC39 is my personal choice as the best canister vacuum cleaner for pet hair. Dyson is a pretty well-known manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and the DC39 is a specially designed vacuum for pets while still maintaining all the bells and whistles you expect from a Dyson brand.
The DC39 comes with Dyson’s patented Ball technology which optimizes maneuverability and is perfect for effectively cleaning tight corners. It also comes with the Dyson Radial Root suction technology which allows it to capture even microscopic dust when compared to other vacuum cleaners.
One of the biggest selling points of the Dyson DC39 is that it earns the distinction of being the only canister vacuum cleaner that features a central steering mechanism. It also features a trigger head on the handles that make it easier to switch between carpet and hardwood surfaces.
As this is a pet vacuum cleaner, the machine is fairly quiet in comparison to other vacuum cleaners. It has a non-removable HEPA filter and is a great choice for cleaning up fur left by your pet dog or cat.
Pros:
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Designed perfectly for cleaning up after your pet.
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Powerful suction means you capture more dirt and hair.
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Maneuverable and a good choice for households with a lot of furniture and tight corners.
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Easy to use.
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Relatively quiet.
Cons:
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Quite expensive.
2. Hoover REACT Professional Pet Plus – Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair
Review
This is definitely the most technologically advanced entries in this list, the Hoover REACT comes with a slew of nifty features to help cleaning pet hair from your home a breeze. This upright pet vacuum cleaner is great for use in larger homes and is incredibly powerful.
One of the advanced features this machine has is the auto floor detect technology. The vacuum automatically adjusts to whatever floor you are cleaning on from carpet to hardwood. Talk about pushing convenience to a higher level.
The vacuum is also powerful enough to capture allergens which is great news for people who are allergic to pet hair. The Hoover REACT is decently priced and is definitely among the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair in the market at the moment.
Pros:
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Powerful enough to capture allergens.
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Auto-detect floor feature.
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It can connect to your smartphone for added customization of features.
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Uses swivel head technology to make getting into tighter spaces easier.
Cons:
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The vacuum is relatively powerful and might damage fragile furniture if used improperly.
3. Miele C3 Cat and Dog Powerline Vacuum
Review
The Miele C3 Cat and Dog Powerline Vacuum is one of the more popular products in this list in terms of vacuum cleaners for pet hair. The machine is a 900W vacuum cleaner bagged model and is powerful enough to collect pet fur and significantly reduce or even eliminate odors. It also features their patented TurboTeg floorhead which allows it to fully optimize its suction power.
The Miele C3 model, as stated earlier, uses a powerful 900W motor which is powerful enough to pull out pet hair that managed to get stuck on your carpet and upholstery. It is also strong enough to collect any tiny debris and dust.
All Miele cylinder type vacuums are bagged models and the C3 didn’t break this tradition which is a huge plus. Bagged models are usually a tad more expensive due to the extra accessory (the bag) but this also allows you to easily clean the vacuum cleaner by simply emptying the bag.
The Miele C3 also comes with a convenient mini turbo tool which makes cleaning corners and awkward angles a little easier. One major advantage this vacuum cleaner has as a pet vacuum is with its surprisingly quite motor. Also, while it is not technically considered a lightweight model, it still managed to be quite easy to move around the house.
As for the extra features offered by the Miele C3, it comes with an adjustable power setting, a 10-meter operating radius, and is an excellent choice for use on both carpet and hardwood floors. The C3 Cat and Dog model also utilizes the Miele’s AirClean filter technology which helps eliminate odors.
Pros:
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AirClean filter helps to eliminate odors.
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Powerful suction capability.
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Bagged model for easier removal of accumulated dust.
Cons:
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The 10-meter cord is a bit limiting for larger houses.
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Bag replacement indicator is not always reliable.
4. Shark Rocket True Pet HV390UKT
Review
The Shark Rocket True Pet is a corded stick vacuum cleaner is a pet hair vacuum cleaner that collects cat and dog hair on both hardwood and carpeted floors. The Shark Rocket True Pet vacuum has a unique feature that helps separate from the group, and it’s a simple tweak as well. Most vacuum brush bar will only incorporate a single brush but the True Pet utilizes two. A simple change but it considerably improves the cleaning ability of the vacuum.
It also comes with its own mini turbo tool designed for vacuuming awkward spaces and is a great way to completely collect those pet fur that managed to get stuck in the corners. The Shark Rocket also has an easy to maneuver design which makes it easy to clean under furniture.
However, the Shark Rocket does fall short in regards to certain aspects. For example, the removal of dust in the container must be done carefully and outside. It was almost impossible to empty the dust container without having some of the dust escape.
This is a significantly lightweight vacuum cleaner for pet hair. That lightweight feature means certain parts will need to take a hit, in this case, it is the dust container. Of course, a lighter vacuum cleaner means more maneuverability and a quieter motor which records in at a noise output of 80dB to 88dB.
The double brush bars are the Shark True Pet Vacuum biggest selling point. It manages to improve cleaning and dust collecting capacity on both hardwood and carpets as well as upholstered furniture. It is a little rough around the edges but still manages to do what needs to be done.
Pros:
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Lightweight and relatively quiet.
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Mini turbo tool for collecting pet hair on furniture.
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The dual brush makes cleaning the carpet quicker and easier.
Cons:
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1-liter size dust container means you will need to empty it regularly. Emptying is also a bit messy so do it outside.
5. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro
Review
If you are looking for something budget friendly then the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro might be the one you are looking for. It is a vacuum cleaner designed for most floor types and comes with several features to help you clean up various types of surfaces as well.
While not as powerful in terms of its suction ability, it is still a solid vacuum cleaner for cleaning messes as well as pet hair. Versatility is the name of the game with the Lift-Away Pro and while it may not have the most advanced technology, it does come with a variety of accessories to help fill in the void.
While I did notice the Navigator have some difficulty cleaning hardwood floors as it tends to scatter dust and debris a little. It can still leave your hardwood floor spick and span but it might take a few extra minutes to do so.
What I like about the Navigator, besides its price, is the fact that it is quite lightweight even with all the extra accessories. It weighs in at around 14 lbs. and the variety of extra tools it has easily blown other lightweight vacuum cleaners away. Some of the tools that come with the Navigator includes an extra flexible hose, crevice tool, and a dusting brush.
The Shark Navigator is also quite flexible in that you have complete freedom to configure the machine to suit your needs. You can use it in its default upright form or you can disassemble it if you want it to be more compact with its canister form. The hose can also be detached close to the base or with a tube for reaching hard to reach areas.
In terms of maneuverability, the Shark Navigator does offer the same level as the others on this list. The swivel heads can help clean around corners but the vacuum cleaner is far too bulky to fit underneath furniture. You will need to go about this the old-fashioned way and lift the sofa and beds to properly clean the area.
I would also like to point out how relatively quiet the Shark Navigator is compared to your standard vacuum cleaner. I used this around my pet dog and he didn’t seem to mind as long as it is not directly beside him.
Pros:
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Above average cleaning capability.
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Affordable.
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Comes with a variety of helpful accessories.
Cons:
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Has trouble properly collecting dust and debris on hardwood flooring.
Conclusion
The Dyson DC39 Animal Canister Vacuum Cleaner takes the proverbial cake in this match. While expensive, it manages to incorporate some impressive technologically advanced features as well as an impeccable design. It offers powerful suction for gathering hair, dust, and debris. It also offers great maneuverability to reach awkward corners and hard to reach areas. It is also relatively quiet and will not startle your pets after you done home dog grooming.
Pet owners should definitely think about getting vacuum cleaners designed for combating pet hair. It will make the task of cleaning up that pesky hair a breeze and give you more time to play with your furry companion. This list is compiled by comparing the important aspects of vacuum cleaners for pets. There are other choices out there you can check out but the 3 included are considered to be the best in their category.