When you share your home with furry friends, pet hair on floors and furniture is inevitable. Quickly removing all that shed fur and dander takes a vacuum for pets engineered to handle the challenge. This guide reviews the top features to look for and compares the highest-rated options to target pet messes.
Challenges of Pet Hair for Standard Vacuums
The light, fine hair of dogs and cats poses issues for many standard vacuums:
- Pet fur and dander easily clogs hoses, motors, and brush rolls
- The statically-charged strands resist collection and stick to surfaces
- Hair wraps around brushes instead of getting suctioned up
- Lint filters fast become coated and blocked
- Pet odor permeates the machine and emissions
To effectively remove pet hair and debris, specialized design considerations are a must.
What to Look for in a Vacuum for Pets
Seeking the best results? Look for these pet-friendly vacuum features:
Strong Suction
Powerful airflow ensures no fur or dander evades the vacuum’s pull. Seek models with suction ratings of 10+ air watts for deep cleaning.
Anti-Tangle Brush Roll
Rotating brushes with guards or unique designs prevent strands of hair from wrapping around. Tangle-free operation allows brushes to spin and attract hair.
Specialized Pet Tools
Handheld motorized brushes, upholstery tools, and extensions help remove embedded fur from furniture, stairs, drapes, and tight spots.
Advanced Filtration System
A multi-layer filter traps dander, allergens, and fine particles so they don’t recirculate into the air. Look for HEPA or other high-performance filtration.
Bagless Canister Design
Transparent dirt bins allow you to monitor when to empty without fussing with bags. Just detach and dump out the accumulated hair.
For homes with heavy shedding, these features make pet hair removal much easier.
Top-Rated Vacuums for Pet Hair Removal
Based on power, specialized tools, and superior hair-fighting performance, here are the best vacuums for taming pet messes:
Dyson Ball Animal Upright Vacuum
- Self-adjusting cleaner head seals in suction across all floors
- Tangle-free turbine brush tool with counter-rotating heads
- Whole-machine HEPA filtration
- Hygienic bin emptying mechanism
- Up to 60 minute fade-free suction
Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
- DuoClean technology with double brush rolls for deep carpet cleaning
- Powered lift-away mode detaches canister for portable cleaning
- HEPA filtration captures dander and allergens
- Engineered specifically for homes with pets
- Affordable price under $200
Bissell Cleanview Swivel Pet Upright Vacuum
- Swivel steering easily maneuvers around furniture
- Edge-to-edge suction reaches walls and baseboards
- Specialized pet tools like upholstery nozzle and extension wand
- Hair spool removes strands wrapped around the brush roll
- Large-capacity dirt tank
Eureka Mighty Mite Canister Vacuum
- Compact canister ideal for hard floors, area rugs, and bare floors
- Power-touch handle for convenient fingertip controls
- Auto-off feature helps prevent overheating
- Includes brush roll for carpets plus bare floor nozzle
- Extremely lightweight at only 8 pounds
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
- Cordless convenience for quick clean-ups
- Rubber nozzle attracts and removes pet hair
- Multi-layer filtration with Febreeze odor eliminator
- Two specialized nozzles for upholstery and tight spaces
- Bagless, transparent dirt bin
Tips for Using Your Vacuum on Pet Hair
Once you’ve selected the right vacuum for your pet’s shedding habits, use these tips to maximize its hair-busting capabilities:
- Vacuum twice weekly to stay ahead of heavy fur shedding periods
- Adjust height to lowest setting and slow your pace for maximum pickup on carpets
- Use the hose and attachments to remove hair from curtains, furniture, car seats, etc.
- Empty the vacuum dirt bin before it becomes overpacked and blocks suction
- Frequently cut hair off the brush rolls and unclog pathway obstructions
- Replace filters at least every 3 months to maintain airflow
- Use proper storage techniques like cord wraps to prevent pet damage
With the right weekly vacuuming approach, you can manage the mess and enjoy a fur-free home environment.
Investing in a pet-tailored vacuum pays back tenfold in reduced cleanup time and peace of mind knowing your floors and furnishings stay free of lingering fur, dander, and allergens. Say goodbye to messy hairy havoc and create a cleaner space you and your pets can breathe easy in.