Life

6 Genius Vacuums Every Pet Owner Should Have

We only recommend products we love and that we think you will, too. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team.

by Lisa Fogarty
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
French bulldog puppy and vacuum cleaner
Shutterstock

Having a pet is one of the most worthwhile, valuable experiences, but let's be honest: Pets aren't the best when it comes to cleaning up after themselves. That's why it's a good idea to snag one of the best vacuums for pet hair if you want to enjoy spending time with your kitty or pup without constantly dealing with hair clinging to your clothing and furniture.

Just as there are hundreds of vacuums on the market that boast different features and are offered at wildly different prices, some come with specific tools that are designed to address stubborn pet hair embedded deep within carpets, underneath appliances, or on stairs. They should ideally do a bang-up job at capturing allergens, and some even release deodorizing agents that make your home smell fresh and clean.

You can choose from options like upright bagless vacuums that have special attachments designed for pet hair, handheld cordless vacuums that make cleaning stairs and corners a breeze, and even self-charging robotic vacuums that do all of the work for you, so that you can take a load off and relax.

These six vacuums, below, will make living with your best furry friend a whole lot easier.

1

The Best Vacuum For Pet Hair, All Things Considered

If you’re on looking for a versatile upright vacuum that won’t break the bank, look no further than the Eureka PowerSpeed. The bagless vacuum includes a pet turbo tool to suction up fur, as well as a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery attachment, which mean you can easily tackle all kinds of tasks. The vacuum itself has five adjustable height levels, so you can use it on both hard surfaces and carpets, and the bagless design and washable filters make this a low-maintenance option.

According to a reviewer: “This vacuum picked up more dirt, pet hair, and dust than I even realized my carpet contained. I have a pomeranian (long hair!) who sheds a lot, and other vacuums I've tried haven't been successful in getting all the pet hair out of the carpet. This worked better than I expected. Definitely recommend for pet owners.”

2

The Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum

If you have a pet who doesn't follow rules or stay within the bounds of vacuum cords, you need this pet hair cordless hand vacuum, which can be used anywhere in your home. It even has a crevice tool that lets you reach in and get hair out of corners and other sneaky areas. The upholstery tool is perfect for couches and chairs, as it attracts hair by using a felt piece that works like a magnet. When you're ready to dump out all of that pet hair, simply empty the dirt bin in seconds and move on.

According to a reviewer: “I live in an apt and don't really need a huge vacuum so this worked great for me. Picks up cat hair in the rug, carpet, and cat trees so well!!”

3

The Best Budget-Friendly Handheld Vacuum

Live in a two or three-story home where your pet roams up and down stairs all day long? Then this handheld pet vacuum is about to become your favorite cleaning tool. It features a specialized rubber nozzle that can pull up hair from stairs and upholstery. And if the cord is turning you off, don't worry — its 16-foot power cord is long enough to allow you freedom of movement when cleaning.

Purchase this cleaner if your main concern is digging out stubborn, embedded hair from small carpeted surfaces and couches — but don't expect it to take you a long way if you're trying to clean hardwood or tile floors.

According to a reviewer: “This vacuum is perfect for cleaning our stairs. We have a black border collie who constantly sheds and it’s so much easier to use a handheld vacuum on the stairs rather than dragging our giant vacuum up there. This one works great!”

4

The Best Convertible Vacuum

If you can choose between an upright vacuum or a handheld option, the Shark Rotator vacuums combines the ease of both, making it the most versatile pick on the list. In its traditional upright position, the vacuum offers fantastic power and advanced swivel steering, so you can quickly clean floors. The lift-away pod means you can turn this into a portable vacuum to clean stairs, furniture, and more. It comes with upholstery, stair, and crevice tools that are great at suctioning up pet hair, and the HEPA-sealed design locks in allergens, so they can’t escape the vacuum. Another cool feature of this bagless option? The head of the vacuum has an LED light, so you can be sure you won’t miss any spots.

According to a reviewer: “I have two long hair cats. I only thought Dyson for pets was doing its job. My brother told me how great this was for pet hair. [...] Needless to say, it's the vacuum I use now exclusively. With push buttons to release the wand and handle for use; I can easily clean the furniture, dust boards, and even the ceiling corners. Best purchase I've made from Amazon.”

5

The Best Luxury Upright Vacuum

The worst thing about vacuuming up pet hair isn't the cleaning itself — it's dealing with all of that hair that gets tangled up inside of brush rolls. Oftentimes, you have to take a scissor to it and, boy, is that a nasty job. This upright vacuum may cost you a bit more, but it was made especially for pet owners. Its features include a tangle-free brush roll and a cyclonic pet hair spooling system that lets you empty the dust cup without actually having to touch anything. Plus, it’s tricked out with a crevice tool with an LED light, a two-in-one pet brush, and a turbo pet hair eraser — and they all store directly on the vacuum for ease of access. To top it all off, it’s bagless, and the allergen-sealed design means even those with dust or dander allergies can vacuum comfortably.

According to a reviewer: “I have 3 dogs and my battle with hair is never ending. My old sweeper did a decent job, but removing tangled hair from the brush was nasty and time consuming. This vacuum has solved that problem. The brush not only collects hair like a magnet, it also doesn't get tangled. It seems like wizardry but my days of pulling tangled dog hair out of the brush is over. If you have indoor pets this sweeper is a must.”

6

The Best Robot Vacuum

You’re probably familiar with the Roomba, and if you’re wondering whether or not it’s effective as a vacuum cleaner for pet hair, the short answer is: yes. The two roller brushes and auto-adjust head suck up fur, dust, and dirt from both hard surfaces and carpet, and the edge-sweeping brush targets floorspace next to the wall. It’s Alexa-compatible, so you can utilize voice commands, and you can also use the app to schedule it to clean at certain times of the day. This little genius machine has built-in sensors that keep it from falling off ledges, as well as “Dirt Detect” technology that recognizes concentrated areas of debris and provides more cleaning power. Of course, when it comes to pet hair, the major drawback with this option is that you can’t use it on furniture, so it’s best if you’re just looking to keep your floors fur-free.

According to a reviewer: “I love my Roomba! I mostly bought for my pet hair! It does an amazing job!!! Highly recommended for family’s with pet fur everywhere!”

This article was originally published on