The best vacuum for pet hair is probably not the same one that you are using for your everyday cleaning. While all vacuum cleaners work in the same basic fashion (removing dirt through suction), the best vacuum for pet hair will also have some type of “brushing” or “beating” action.
Pet hair has a way of becoming interwoven with the fabric of carpets and furniture. Your vacuum must be able to drag or beat your pet’s hair out of the fabric so the suction part can do it’s job. While most floor vacuums have this feature, they are a bit bulky to use on furniture, and the “hand vacuum hose” included with most floor models don’t provide any brushing functions. They are normally not considered among the best vacuums for pet hair.
Hand vacuums are designed for use on furniture and those hard-to-reach places that floor vacuums can’t reach. Again, though, most have no beater action and do a poor job of removing pet hair.
Our search for the best vacuum for pet hair has led us to poll a lot of pet owners. Of course, we’ve gotten a lot of different opinions, but a little extra research has shortened our list to two vacuums. Both are designed to be “full service” appliances, as they are floor model vacuums, but they also have hand held attachments that feature the beating action we need to remove pet hair.
Our #1 Choice for the Best Vacuum for Pet Hair…
Bissell 3920 Pet Hair Eraser Dual-Cyclonic Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Although the final choice was a bit hard to make, the Bissell won out on two points:
- Price. At less than $150.00, the dollar value of the Bissell 3920 is unsurpassed.
- Ease of Use. We found that, at least at our house, the Bissell “Pet TurboBrush” was a bit easier to use than the one on the Dyson (see below).
Of course, the Bissell is an excellent all-around vacuum. It’s bagless, and sports a powerful 12 amp motor. It’s 2-stage cyclonic action provides unsurpassed suction for removing dirt and pet hair. It has a full slate of onboard tools, including the amazing TurboBrush for pet hair. This terrific tool combines a rotating brush with special rubber fingers that work to attract and pick up pet hair.
The Bissell 3920 features a hepa filter system that is superior in pollen and alergin removal. It also has a “clean filter” alert, and just makes being the best vacuum for pet hair removal look easy.
Dyson DC15 Animal Cyclone Upright Vacuum Cleaner
The Dyson came in a very close second. At over $400.00, it’s a bit pricy, but the best quality always is.
The main reason we didn’t pick the Dyson as the best vacuum for pet hair is the plain fact that, to us, the Bissell seemed to do a better job on furniture. Your experience may be different, but for our (less) money, the Bissell is the way to go.
