5 Best Vacuums For Pet Owners

5 Best Vacuums for Pet Owners

Have a pet and need a vacuum that can handle the needs of a pet owner?

Pet dander, fur, hair, skin and feathers are a challenge to clean up in our homes. To make a 'clean sweep' of your home, you're going to need some strong suction to remove your pets' shedding.  Here are five of the best vacuum cleaners that, as it happens, specialize in pet hair!

(These pet vacuums are all excellent machines; they have different features that are appealing to different customers.  They are arranged from one to five from most expensive to least expensive to help rank the vacuums on the list.)

Best Vacuum For Pet Owners Number 1:
Miele S7260  Cat & Dog Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The S7260 is smartly styled, with a thin body and an easy swivel sweeper, both essential to getting under furniture. The "SwivelNeck" sweeper glides easily along borders as they curve so you don't miss a spec as your vacuuming.  All of the controls are on the handle so you can switch from carpet to floor smoothly,  An extra-long hose helps your reach as you employ the attachments conveniently stored on the back of the vacuum body - a dusting brush, upholstery tool, and crevice nozzle. 

Miele S7260 Cat & Dog Upright Vacuum Cleaner

My favorite part of this system is that it promises 99.9 percent capture of dirt, dust, and allergens that will not leak back into your house when you change the vacuum bag. Not only is the vacuum's air filter at work, but its dust bag locks instantly as it is removed from the machine.  The Miele S7260 is a high-end vacuum, but its features and its 7 year warranties on the motor and casings.  Learn more details about the Miele S7260 Dog & Cat Upright Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon.com.

Best Vacuum For Pet Owners Number 2:
Dyson DC25 Animal Ball-Technology Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Like the Miele (above), the Dyson DC25 glides easily around corners and in crevices with its 'ball-technology," but the Miele swivel is quite a bit lower, so it gets under cabinet and furniture overhangs more easily. 

This Dyson model is lighter weight than the older models of Dyson, weighing only 16 pounds. It is bagless, like its other models.  Its 'Root Cyclone Technology' spins the air to suck up dust and whirl around inside the plastic bin, so you can see how much pet hair and everything else the Dyson picks up.  I will say it's easier to find an earring in the bin than in a bag.

Dyson DC25 Animal Ball-Technology Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The washable Hepa filter in this vacuum is very convenient and effective - so much so that the vacuum, like other Dyson uprights, is certified 'asthma friendly' by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. It has an extra long extension with a 'beater bar' that can be used to clean upholstery, pet beds, and other items where pet hair collects. Check out the Dyson DC25 Animal Ball-Technology Upright Vacuum Cleaner, available here.

Best Vacuum For Pet Owners Number 3:
Shark Navigator Professional Lift-Away Vacuum Cleaner - Model NV356E

The Shark Lift-Away doesn't have 'Pet' in its name, but pet owners love this vacuum cleaner.  It's a swivel cleaner with a detachable handle, so that one minute you're operating an upright and the next minute a hand vacuum, when greater portability is needed. The Lift-Away lifts every bit of pet hair, dust, and dirt from your carpet and seals it up with its Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology.  It features a tool for dusting bare floors and includes washable microfiber pads for that purpose. It has a stretch hose, crevice tool, and a pet hair power brush.

 Shark Navigator Professional Lift-Away Vacuum Cleaner - Model NV356E

Customers warn that the first time you vacuum with the Shark Pro Lift-Away you will be in shock at the amount of pet hairs, dust, and actual dirt you find in the dust cup.  It will look like you never cleaned your carpets before.  One consistent complaint is that pet hair tends to get caught up in the power brush and it is awkward to remove the hair, but that did not stop Amazon customers from giving the Shark Pro Lift-Away Vacuum Cleaner rave reviews.  Check out the Shark Pro at Amazon.com.

Best Vacuum For Pet Owners Vacuum Number 4: 
Bissell Trilogy Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner 81M91

Here's a vacuum with no only a great capacity for picking up pet hair and other carpet and floor debris, but it spot cleans as you go.  Notice the bottle of OxyPro Carpet Spot & Stain Remover attached to its side for urine and other pet stains. Like the Dyson above, the Bissell uses cyclone technology for suction.  This draws dirt and dust into the bin without clogging up the vacuums filters - although the Bissell filters do need occasional replacement.

Bissell Trilogy Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner 81M91

Customers say the power of the Bissell is about the same as the Dyson, for a few hundred dollars less than the Dyson. But the power cord is shorter, as is the extension wand, and the Bissell is a heavier machine. The Bissell does have 7 height adjustments if you happen to have that many different surfaces on your floors!  Check out the Bissell Trilogy Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner 81M91 here; it has a great pet hair attachment for upholstery too!

Best Vacuum For Pet Owners Number 5:
Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Of course, there's a Hoover among the top five pet vacuums, but this particular Hoover is a sleek, modern Hoover that's light weight (10.5 pounds) and cordless! The Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum operates on an 18 volt lithium ion battery, a feature that has a two-year warranty.  (Don't store the battery in the charger!)  And one of the neatest features of the Linx is that it has a battery power reader so that you know when it's getting low.

 Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Pet owners are so pleased with the Linx. They love the maneuverability (swivel base), the low profile base (making it easy to get under furniture), the brush rollers on the sides of the base, the flip button handle switch from carpet to floor, and mostly, the wind tunnel suction so great for sucking up pet hairs. Oh, did I mention, the Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is also bagless?  Purchase the Linx from Amazon.com.