We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test. Finding a quality vacuum is important enough without a furry friend living in your home.
Weighing under three pounds, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ Cordless Handheld Vacuum provided 25 minutes of powerful cordless suction during our testing trial. We also found that the ZU62 had plenty of suction power and we like that there is a suction collar on the handle which allows you to bleed off suction should you need to. The suction collar is a helpful feature if you are vacuuming delicate items like drapery or a lamp shade, etc. LED Headlights – The Stratos has a row of LED headlights along the front of the cleaner head.
Eco is quieter, but several passes were often needed to clear the surface of pet hair. For use on a staircase, this vacuum might be too wide to rest on a step, but the cord along with the length of the wand and the hose should be sufficient for the height in the majority of homes. With an internal HEPA filter and an internal self-cleaning system, the vacuum helps to reduce the amount of dust in a home and is easy to maintain. Our overall favorite is the Dyson V10 Cyclone Animal, which is easy to lift and steer and has a canister that pops open with the touch of a button so you don’t have to get your hands dirty. It’s incredibly low maintenance and features an anti-tangle screw attachment that prevents pet hair from getting stuck internally.
The swivel head makes it easy to maneuver under lower pieces of furniture and it’s lightweight enough to easily transcend a flight of steps. Because of the small dust bin size, we think this vacuum is more suited for apartments or townhomes, but it could also serve as a quick mess-cleaning tool in busy households. The Shark ZU503AMZ is a force to be reckoned shark pet hair vacuum with and deserves the top spot on our round-up of the best Shark vacuums. The swivel steering ensures that this vacuum will snake effortlessly around tight spots and under sofas or chairs. It performed equally well on hardwood and carpet — our team liked that the buttons for switching between the two were conveniently located on the handle.
During our lab tests, we were impressed with this Tineco cordless vacuum’s ability to pick up every piece of kibble and strand of pet hair. It maneuvered around the obstacles and transferred between shark pet hair vacuum carpet and hard floors with ease. There’s also a mechanism that lets you clean the filter without touching all the fur, and most of it fell out on its own; we only had to pull some of it out.
The circular vacuum glides around a space heading to its plugged-in companion docking station to self-empty all the pet hair and debris it scooped up while it recharges for the next programmable mission you send it on. For temporary obstacles, the robotic cleaner can be deployed for a touch-up run once the objects have been cleared. The power cord extends 26 feet and self-retracts back into the vacuum with the push of a button. With four suction levels to choose from and a brush roller, this vacuum is effective across a variety of flooring types. After several months in a home with beige carpeting and a black dog that sheds a lot, this vacuum continues to deliver results but often requires the highest, loudest setting for a thorough cleaning.