Husky owner's Top 6 Vacuums for Pet Hair

While cuddling with a dog or cat is wonderful, do you ever feel as like you're drowning in pet hair? I make no judgments - I completely understand. I share my home with a German shepherd and a husky, so you can imagine the amount of pet hair that flies around. Having a powerful vacuum cleaner, a lint roller, and a de-shedding equipment on hand is critical for controlling the seemingly continuous shedding.

You may believe that any vacuum cleaner will do an adequate job of sucking up pet hair, but you would be incorrect. The best vacuums for pet hair are specifically intended to loosen and remove hair from floors and furniture, owing to their non-tangling brushes that reduce hair accumulation. Additionally, they provide a number of handy attachments that assist keep pet hair to a minimum in areas where your pets congregate.

Consider the Following:

If you've begun the process of shopping for a vacuum, you're probably overwhelmed by the variety of options available. Here are some critical aspects to consider before making a purchase.

Comparing bagged vs. bagless

Bagged vacuum cleaners are known to be more hygienic than bagless vacuum cleaners. Additionally, they are a better solution for allergy patients, as the bags prevent dust and allergens from re-entering the air.

If you have a long-haired pet, one with a double coat, or one that sheds heavily, a bagless vacuum is definitely preferable. This model has a bin that you can empty – you'll save money by not having to purchase replacement bags on a regular basis.

Set of Attachments

While crevice tools are essential for cleaning between the cushions of your furniture and other difficult-to-reach locations, the finest vacuums for pet hair contain a mini-motorized brush roll. This attachment is meant to agitate upholstery, beds, and stairs, removing pet hair and grime effectively. Additionally, it will be useful for cleaning your car.

Lifespan of the Battery

You may still be relying on a corded vacuum cleaner to remove pet hair from your carpets, rugs, and furniture. The ease of cordless models outweighs the short run time. Additionally, you won't have to wrap any extremely lengthy, tangle-prone cords when you're finished cleaning.

The majority of cordless versions recharge in less than an hour. I recommend selecting a model with a minimum run time of 15 minutes. The majority of stick vacuums have a run time of between 30 and 60 minutes, although smaller handheld vacuums may have a shorter run time – especially when used on their highest suction setting.

Dimensions, mass, and kind

For the majority of pet owners, I recommend stick vacuums due to their unmatched versatility. They essentially function as a portable vacuum cleaner and can be used to clean individual pieces of furniture or floors (both hard floors and carpet). Canister vacuums are a better choice if you have dense carpeting and want to clean stairs, upholstery, and under furniture on a regular basis. While upright cleaners are also effective at cleaning carpets, they are less effective at cleaning stairs or furniture unless equipped with a hose attachment.

Additionally, you can compare and learn more about the many types of vacuum cleaners in Best Products' comprehensive guide to the best vacuum cleaners.

For five years, I've been researching vacuums for pet hair and have tested over two dozen various models to determine the best of the best for any price. I'm convinced that the vacuums listed below offer high suction, superior filtration, and handy accessories for sucking up pet hair from your home. 

1. Vertex (IZ462H) Cordless Stick Vacuum for Pet Hair

If you have a pet that never stops shedding, or if you simply require a vacuum powerful enough to pick up kitty litter or stray chow, this is the vacuum to get. I tested the Shark Vertex in a home with three corgis and a German shepherd and was blown away by how efficiently the brushes on this vacuum avoided tangling.

The Shark has two brushes, whereas the bulk of other pet hair vacuums only have one. The soft front roller polishes hard surfaces and collects large particles, while the conventional secondary roller utilizes rubber fins to dig deep into carpet strands and collect any material in its path.

It also had little difficulty sucking up long human hair, and it had a sealed filtration system that keeps dust and allergens out. I acquired a 35-minute runtime with the Shark on its low power option during my tests.

Additionally, I enjoyed the Vertex's innovative MultiFLEX feature, which enables the vacuum to stand on its own and bend its wand for cleaning beneath furniture. In general, it's a terrific stick vacuum with enough of suction for pet owners.

Buy: Vertex (IZ462H) Cordless Stick Vacuum for Pet Hair

2. Vertex (AZ2002) DuoClean PowerFin Upright Vacuum for Pets

Although the Shark Vertex DuoClean is more expensive than the best-selling Shark Navigator upright vacuum, it is well worth the extra money if you have pets.

I discovered that the Vertex's brushes were extremely resistant to hair knots throughout my testing. Additionally, it is a beast when it comes to scooping up heavy debris (like cereal or crumbs). Other vacuum cleaners, like a snowplow, tend to push heavier particles, but not the Vertex. The Vertex effectively takes up anything in its path, in part due to its strong suction and dual-spinning brushes.

Due to the large, foot-long cleaning head of this pet hair vacuum, you can cover more ground and complete cleaning faster. Throughout my time with the vacuum, it had no difficulty vacuuming up finer particles such as salt or coffee grounds on hard floors. It also performs admirably on carpets, owing to its dual rotating brushes.

The vacuum's fingertip controls provide easy switching between hard floor, carpet, and rug modes. Additionally, I loved that the canister of the vacuum can be lifted to clean beneath furniture or used as a handheld vacuum.

The Vertex has a motorized brush (ideal for removing pet hair from couches), two dusting brushes, and two crevice tools. Additionally, it is covered by Shark's renowned 5-year warranty.

Buy: Vertex (AZ2002) DuoClean PowerFin Upright Vacuum for Pets

3. Classic C1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum for Pets

If you're willing to invest in a high-quality pet hair vacuum, try this Miele canister vacuum. When it comes to suctioning dust, pet dander, and debris from thick carpets, most other vacuum cleaners struggle, but the Miele attracts everything like a magnet.

Erica Murphy, our senior director of search engine optimization and commerce, owns an Miele canister vacuum that is comparable to the new C1 model. She lauded the device's superior filtration and powerful yet quiet motor. "I use it on a variety of different floor surfaces and it works flawlessly on each," Murphy explained. "The chord is the ideal length to cover the majority of my apartment, and it comes equipped with every attachment imaginable."

The Miele employs an AirClean Filtration System in conjunction with self-sealing dust bags to prevent dust from escaping back into the air – making it an excellent choice for anyone who suffer from allergies or asthma. Most significantly, it cleans exceptionally well thanks to its six suction speeds.

Buy: Classic C1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum for Pets

4. Roomba i3 EVO Robot Vacuum

This iRobot midrange robot cleaner is a fantastic pet hair vacuum that features dual rubber brush rollers - a feature that is exclusive to iRobot vacuums. The brushes are effective in preventing hair tangles and at removing dirt and debris that have become trapped deep within your carpets.

I was able to run the i3 EVO for around an hour and a half before it required charging. The vacuum has a big 400-milliliter dust bin, and when the battery runs out, it returns to its base, recharges, and resumes cleaning precisely where it left off.

If you have the extra money, I recommend the i3 EVO+, which contains iRobot's "Clean Base," an accessory that allows the vacuum to automatically empty the contents of its dustbin into an enclosed bag that will last for two months.

It's also worth noting that iRobot has subsequently released the Roomba J7+, which offers enhanced navigation performance, expanded software features, and improved obstacle avoidance.
The Roomba i3 EVO is a more economical option that nonetheless delivers outstanding cleaning performance, a convenient remote control software, and an impressive battery life.

Buy: Roomba i3 EVO Robot Vacuum

5. Furbuster Handheld Vacuum for Pets

If your fur babies snuggle with you and your loved ones on the couch and you are seeking for a means to clean up all the fur they leave behind, I can't recommend investing in a handheld vacuum more. After testing a half-dozen of them, I think the Furbuster from BLACK+DECKER is the best handheld vacuum for pet hair.

Technically, a few vacuums like the Dyson Humdinger (~$300) and the eufy HomeVac H30 (~$180) exceeded the Furbuster in power and duration, but the Furbuster is substantially cheaper and still delivers amazing cleaning capabilities. It has decent battery life, too. I was able to clean a couch, three armchairs, and my kitchen countertops with some juice to spare!

Given the Furbuster's spinning brush roll, it's the ideal vacuum for pet owners wishing to suck up hair from upholstery. I appreciated that the vacuum has low- and high-speed settings. It also is fitted with a nozzle that extends an additional 7.5 inches – excellent for cleaning those hard-to-reach locations like behind the fridge.

Buy: Furbuster Handheld Vacuum for Pets

6. ONEPWR HEPA+ Cordless Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Pets

The Hoover ONEPWR is an oddity. While the majority of battery-powered vacuums are stick-style, the Hoover is more akin to a typical upright cleaner. Additionally, it is one of the few cordless cleaners available that use vacuum bags.

What I appreciate about the Hoover is that it delivers the same amount of power as more costly vacuums like the Dyson V15 and Dyson Outsize, but at a fraction of the price. This strength, combined with the quality wood brush roller, is what makes it such an exceptional carpet cleaner. I was astonished to see that its brush roller was not as prone to knots as the brush rollers on the majority of upright vacuum cleaners. I was especially amazed with how well it removed dust and tiny particles from carpets and rugs.

If you have hard floors, have no fear – a button for toggling between carpet and hard floors is located at the top of the handle. Not only did the Hoover successfully remove those pet-hair tumbleweeds from my hard flooring, but I also have to commend Hoover on the vacuum's filtration ability.

The vacuum cleaner features a five-layer HEPA filter that traps over 99.9 percent of dust and allergens. Because the vacuum utilizes suction bags, you won't have to worry about clouds of dust causing you to cough and sneeze after cleaning.

Concerning the ONEPWR's few shortcomings, I found it challenging to use for cleaning my staircases due to its weight of ten pounds and lack of a hose or other supplied accessories. Although the vacuum does not have the versatility of a stick vacuum, it is remarkably easy and comfortable to operate, has outstanding filtration, and cleans carpets better than average.   

Buy: ONEPWR HEPA+ Cordless Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Pets

Additional Vacuums for Pet Hair That We Tested

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser: The Pet Hair Eraser's battery life was remarkable at 17 minutes, but it did not remove pet hair from furniture as successfully as comparable portable vacuums.
Its accompanying attachments were ineffective, and the vacuum's paper filter was difficult to replace.

Shark NV352 Navigator: The Shark Navigator cleaned carpet and hard floors effectively and excelled in collecting trash, although its brush roll was more prone to tangles.

iRobot Roomba S9+: The iRobot Roomba S9+ is a pricey vacuum cleaner that regularly gets stuck. You're better off conserving money and choosing for another self-emptying vacuum cleaner like the Roborock S7+ or iRobot Roomba J7+.

Last, I had high hopes for the Dreametech T30 to be a powerful competitor to Dyson's stick vacuums, but Dreametech's latest cleaner had frequent clogs, was difficult to maneuver on rugs, and lacked the claimed battery life.