We may love our pets to no end, but most of us agree that the hair and dander they leave behind have no place in the home. Unfortunately, it rarely goes away without a fight. Pet hair can fill a room fast, especially during the seasonal shedding period, requiring an equally efficient vacuum to refresh the space. If your machine is ready for an upgrade to manage the mess, check out these reviews of the seven best vacuum cleaners to restore the look and smell of your home with minimal effort.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall |
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Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum |
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Best Value |
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Bissell CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum |
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Premium Choice |
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Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Kenmore Lightweight Bagged Canister Vacuum |
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Hoover WindTunnel 3 High-Performance Pet Upright Vacuum |
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The 7 Best Vacuums for Dog Hair
1. Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum – Best Overall
Vacuum Style: | Upright bagless |
Capacity: | 9 qt. |
Weight: | 15 lbs. |
Attachments: | Crevice tool, pet multi-tool |
- Durable design
- Self-cleaning brush roll
- Large dust cup capacity
- Swivel steering
- HEPA filter
- Odor neutralizer built-in
- 5-year warranty
- No self-propulsion
- No lift-away feature
2. Bissell CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum– Best Value
Vacuum Style: | Upright bagless |
Capacity: | 9 qt. |
Weight: | 5 lbs. |
Attachments: | Crevice tool, Pet TurboEraser |
- Low price point
- Swivel steering
- Lightweight
- No HEPA filter
- Brush can’t switch off
3. Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum – Premium Choice
Vacuum Style: | Upright bagless |
Capacity: | 5 qt. |
Weight: | 7 lbs. |
Attachments: | Crevice tool, upholstery tool, HairPro self-cleaning pet power brush |
- Self-cleaning brush roller
- Lift-away canister
- HEPA filter
- Generous dust cup capacity
- 30-foot cord length
- Odor-neutralizing technology
- 5-year warranty
- Short hose length
- Power cord damages easily
4. Kenmore Lightweight Bagged Canister Vacuum
Vacuum Style: | Bagged canister |
Capacity: | 2 qt. |
Weight: | 5 lbs. |
Attachments: | Crevice tool, dusting brush, bare floor tool |
- Retractable cord
- HEPA filter
- Large bag capacity
- Quiet operation
- Versatile attachments
- Relatively heavy
- Bags need replacing+
5. Hoover WindTunnel 3 High-Performance Pet Upright Vacuum
Vacuum Style: | Upright bagless |
Capacity: | 3 qt. |
Weight: | 18 lbs. |
Attachments: | Pivoting dusting tool, pet turbo tool, crevice tool |
- Long power cord
- HEPA filter with activated charcoal
- Extendable wand
- 5-year motor warranty
- Heavy to push and carry
- Not as durable as other pet vacuums
6. BLACK+DECKER AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Vacuum
Vacuum Style: | Cordless hand vacuum |
Capacity: | 7 qt. |
Weight: | 6 lbs. |
Attachments: | Crevice tool, upholstery tool, motorized brush tool |
- Powerboost button for tough messes
- Anti-tangle motorized pet brush
- One-touch, easy-empty dustbin
- Extra-long crevice tool
- No upholstery attachment
- Filters can be challenging to clean
7. Dyson V15
Vacuum Style: | Cordless stick vacuum |
Capacity: | 8 qt. |
Weight: | 8 lbs. |
Attachments: | Crevice tool, hair screw tool, combo tool |
- Intelligent suction adaptation
- Laser reveals hidden dust
- 60-minute run time
- Anti-tangle brushes
- HEPA filter
- Includes two cleaner heads
- Includes docking station
- Relatively expensive
- Only has a 2-year warranty
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Vacuum for Dog Hair
There’s no universal “best vacuum cleaner,” as we all have different home layouts, dogs with different hair types, and different places to clean up after our pets. While the product might vary, the criteria for choosing the best option don’t change much. The following are some of the essential aspects to consider when looking for a dog hair-friendly vacuum cleaner:
Capacity
Pet hair can fill up a dustbin quickly and often slow performance as it does so. Look for vacuums that give you more capacity to reduce the amount of emptying needed as you clean the house.
Attachments
Many pet hair vacuum cleaners include a pet multi-tool and crevice tool, and some have additional upholstery or hardwood tools. Consider the surfaces that see the most hair and which attachments will work best on them.
Head Width
Vacuum cleaner heads vary in width from one model to the next. Depending on your vacuuming needs, a smaller or wider head may be more practical. Wider heads cut a larger swath with each pass, often shortening the time it takes to vacuum an area. On the other hand, narrower heads are more maneuverable, especially through tight gaps around furniture.
Filters
HEPA filters are ideal if you have pets. Capturing over 99% of particles down to 0.3 microns, they effectively remove microbes, dander, and dust pets shed throughout the day, keeping the air cleaner and better smelling.
Roller Brushes
A quality roller brush is crucial for getting dug-in dirt and dog hair out of carpeting. Look at your flooring surfaces, and choose a vacuum with hard flooring options if you have wood in your home, as the bristled beater bar can damage it over time. Some brands, such as Shark, also integrate anti-tangle technology into their rollers, maintaining performance as you vacuum and preventing undue wear. Anti-tangle brushes have varying degrees of dependability, so check reviews if you find one advertising the feature to gauge the user experience.
Run Time
For cordless and handheld vacuums, a longer battery life is always a plus. While you check out each product’s expected running time, research how long it takes to charge. Since many hand vacuums have built-in batteries, you can’t keep a charged backup on hand to quickly swap out, so a shorter charge time is often ideal if you get lots of use from your hand vac on cleaning days.
What Kind of Vacuum Should I Get?
Canister vacuums and uprights are the primary vacuum choices for most homeowners, particularly those with pets. While hand vacs are a convenient backup for minor cleanups on furniture or in the car, they’ll never provide the full-house cleaning power of a canister or upright model. So, which one is the better choice? It depends on your situation, but the following are the essential advantages of each that are worth considering.
Canister Vacuums
- Lower noise level
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Retractable cords
- Higher suction power
- Easier to vacuum under low-lying furniture
- More efficient for upholstery, stairs, and whole-home cleaning
Upright Vacuums
- More convenient to store and can stand upright
- Easy to move between rooms
- Cleaning head is usually wider
- Receptacles empty easily
- Better for large, carpeted rooms
- Typically cheaper
Conclusion
There’s no denying Shark’s enduring performance or Bissell’s pet-friendliness, which explains why these two are the top brands for anyone managing a house full of dog hair. The Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum wins in price, performance, and features. It’s a high-value model that dependably sucks up and locks in pet hair, dirt, and dander for a comprehensively clean home. If you want to give your home the next-level refresh you and your family deserve, you’ll have no issue finding a vacuum for dog hair to fit your needs in these reviews of the top models.
Featured Image Credit: Den Rozhnovsky, Shutterstock
Contents
- A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
- The 7 Best Vacuums for Dog Hair
- 1. Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum – Best Overall
- 2. Bissell CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum– Best Value
- 3. Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum – Premium Choice
- 4. Kenmore Lightweight Bagged Canister Vacuum
- 5. Hoover WindTunnel 3 High-Performance Pet Upright Vacuum
- 6. BLACK+DECKER AdvancedClean+ Cordless Pet Vacuum
- 7. Dyson V15
- Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Vacuum for Dog Hair
- What Kind of Vacuum Should I Get?
- Conclusion