What's the Best Vacuum For Picking Up Pet Hair?

March 16, 2009

There's nothing friendly about pet hair around the house. It tickles your throat, it coats your floors and furniture and, well, it's just gross. Unfortunately, any animal lover will tell you it's an unavoidable part of pet parenthood. I have had great luck keeping my place squeaky clean with the Dyson DC16 Animal, but there are tons of other great options out there.

Last year PetSugar readers shared their favorite vacuums for sucking up animal hair, but after a look at the models on the market (see below) it appears there are a bunch of newcomers on the scene. What do you think is the best vacuum for picking up pet hair?

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Dyson

Dyson Animal The Ball DC25 Upright Vacuum

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Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum

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Bissell

Bissell® Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum

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Miele

Miele Dog & Cat Canister Vacuum

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Rug Doctor® Mighty Pro Carpet Machine and Cleaning Products

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jcpenney

NEW! Raycop Anti-bacterial Hand Vacuum

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iROBOT

iRobot® Scooba Floor Washing Robot

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Bissell

Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo Sweeper

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Williams-Sonoma

Rotho Twin Wet & Dry Vacuum

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Hoover

Hoover® TurboPower EmPower 4600 Bagless Upright and Filters

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Hoover

Hoover® WindTunnel Bagless Upright Vacuum Anniversary Edition

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Dyson

Dyson Animal The Ball DC25 Upright Vacuum

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Bed Bath & Beyond

Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum

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Bissell

Bissell® Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum

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Buy Now at Williams-Sonoma

Miele

Miele Dog & Cat Canister Vacuum

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Buy Now at Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond

Rug Doctor® Mighty Pro Carpet Machine and Cleaning Products

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at jcpenney

jcpenney

NEW! Raycop Anti-bacterial Hand Vacuum

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Bed Bath & Beyond

iROBOT

iRobot® Scooba Floor Washing Robot

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Macy's

Bissell

Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo Sweeper

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0 0 0

Buy Now at Williams-Sonoma

Williams-Sonoma

Rotho Twin Wet & Dry Vacuum

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0 0 0

Buy Now at Bed Bath & Beyond

Hoover

Hoover® TurboPower EmPower 4600 Bagless Upright and Filters

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Bed Bath & Beyond

Hoover

Hoover® WindTunnel Bagless Upright Vacuum Anniversary Edition

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0 0 0

Shopping Do Tell Vacuums

10 Comments

2 years 32 weeks

er... sorry for the mistake in my last post... The Dyson I have is the "Dyson DC25 Animal Ball Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Owners" according to Target. Again... would not recommend it for any hard-type floor.

2 years 32 weeks

I have found the Dyson D16 Animal to be a little frustrating. It's fantastic on the carpet... however, on the hardwood floors the exhaust in the rolling ball blows the dog fur everywhere! Since the exhaust is in the ball and rolls as you push the vacuum its pretty random where the fur will end up... I have found myself chasing tufts of fur around the room! The detachable wand is also frustrating because you have to unravel the entire length of the power cord to detach it and fight with the ridiculously springy hose to be able to get at a good angle to suck up cobwebs or fur off of chairs. Currently I'm using a Swiffer Vac on the Hardwood and the Dyson on the carpet and furniture. The Swiffer does a so so job and will sometimes leave fur caught in the hardwood or around chair or table legs. It's not the perfect solution... I'm going to try out the Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo next.

4 years 8 weeks

For the hard to reach areas, I use a Fur-Zoff. Takes pet hair right off fabrics. $10 at http://www.furzoff.net - I definitely recommend one for dog/cat owners!

JeanninePC99 4 years 9 weeks

I have the newest Dyson Animal Ball (can't remember the model number, but it's the purple one pictures above). It's a very good vac, but I haven't found it amazingly superior to other vacs that I had. Maybe all the hype had me expecting some sort of supreme vacuuming experience. It's a fine vac. But, I'm fairly certain there are equally good vacs that cost much less. Also, if you have oriental or area rugs, you don't want a Dyson. No matter what setting your use (brushes on or off), pushing it over a rug that isn't stapled to the floor is very, very hard.

Ellenora 4 years 9 weeks

We use a Dyson. Zena rolls on the floor a lot so there's always a TON of dog hair. Bissel, Hoover AND Dirt Devil all clogged up in less than two vacuumings! The Kirby gave up after 16 years of use. Dyson is seriously the best vacuum that has come into our lives, even if ours isn't the Animal one. It's a $300 vacuum and works great!

t and co 4 years 9 weeks

I did a lot of research before buying my last vacuum, and should have paid attention to what I'd read...I bought the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser (despite all the reviews I'd read elsewhere saying not to), and it worked great...The first time. The second time, not so much. It kept clogging and losing suction. I returned it and splurged on the Dyson D25 Animal Ball...It is truly AMAZING. I have to empty the canister at least three times while vacuuming. Some would say that's a pain, but it's a BREEZE and it lets me know it's doing it's job. :)

mudnessa 4 years 9 weeks

I use a Sweepa, one of those rubber brooms, to pull up my long long hair and it pics up cat hair pretty well too, then I use whatever vacuum I happen to have, I have always had hand me downs and my latest one just broke so I am thinking of getting a little stick vac since the rubber broom works so well.