It’s no secret that most pet owners struggle to keep their carpet free of pet hair. Even the most well-behaved pets inevitably leave a trail of uninvited hairs in their wake, so keeping your carpet clean can be a constant battle. The best vacuum for pet hair is equipped to tackle different types of messes and flooring, so it’s important to find the best vacuum for pet hair for your home.
Luckily, the variety of vacuum cleaners on the market is almost as vast as the number of different pets out there!
Read on to learn what you should look for when shopping for a vacuum for pet hair and other helpful information about choosing the best vacuum for your home and needs.
Why is Pet Hair Such a Big Deal?
Cleaning up pet hair is one thing; but the problem is that pet hair can cause a lot more than just a minor inconvenience to your cleaning routine.
One of the biggest issues that pet hair can cause is allergies. Pet dander can cause allergy symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, runny noses, and itchy or scratchy throats or scalps — especially for people with pet allergies who are particularly sensitive to pet dander. Since pet hair is the main culprit behind pet dander, it makes sense that vacuuming regularly is a good strategy for keeping allergies at bay.
But pet hair also poses another major problem: it can cause significant clogging and wear-and-tear on your vacuum’s motor.
The Problem with Pet Hair
Pet hair is notoriously difficult to clean up. It’s coarser than the average human hair, which means that it tends to stick to carpets and upholstery more stubbornly than other types of shed hairs. It can also get tangled up in the bristles of your vacuum cleaner, which can cause major problems for your vacuum’s motor.
The biggest issue caused by pet hair is probably how hard it is to get rid of. It’s notoriously difficult to vacuum up, and it can get caught up in the bristles of your vacuum cleaner and cause some serious clogging issues.
The Best Vacuum for Pet Hair Considerations
Carpet type
If you have shaggy rugs or particularly thick carpets, then you’ll want to look for a vacuum with lots of suction power to combat the extra resistance that thick carpeting poses to your vacuum cleaner.
Bagged or bagless
Bagged vacuums are better suited to people who don’t want to deal with the hassle of frequent bag changes, but bagless vacuums are generally a bit more powerful.
Cleaning path
The wider the cleaning path of your vacuum, the more area it will be able to cover in a single pass. This can significantly reduce the time and effort required to clean your home.
Dust capacity
The bigger the dust capacity of your vacuum, the fewer times you’ll have to empty it while you’re cleaning. This can save you a lot of time and effort!
Suction strength
The best vacuum for pet hair will be able to suck up even the most stubborn pet hair from your carpets and upholstery.
Wheels
The type of wheels your vacuum has can affect its maneuverability and ease of use. Swivel wheels can be particularly helpful.
Wattage
The wattage of your vacuum cleaner can affect its cleaning power. The higher the wattage, the more powerful the vacuum will be.
Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair
If you have a particularly stubborn pet hair problem, then a cordless vacuum may be worth looking into. Cordless vacuums are particularly good at picking up pet hair thanks to their powerful suction and lack of a loose cord that can easily become tangled with pet hair or other types of messes.
That said, cordless vacuums do have their disadvantages. They don’t have as much cleaning power as corded vacuums, and the batteries can run out at the most inopportune times. If you have a large home with lots of floor space to clean, you’ll probably want to go with a corded vacuum.
Bagless Vacuums for Pet Hair
Bagged vacuums are better suited to people who don’t want to deal with the hassle of frequent bag changes, but bagless vacuums are generally a bit more powerful. It’s important to note that not all bagless vacuums are created equal, however.
Some bagless vacuums have major issues with clogging and require frequent unclogging sessions to keep them running smoothly. If you go with a bagless vacuum, be sure to choose a model that has a self-cleaning filter to help prevent clogs!
Robotic Vacuums for Pet Hair
If you want a vacuum that does all the work for you, then you might want to consider going with a robotic vacuum. Robotic vacuums can be an excellent option for people who have particularly high-maintenance carpets or lots of pet hair to clean up since they don’t require you to do any of the manual cleaning yourself.
However, they can be an expensive investment, and they aren’t quite as thorough as manually cleaning your carpets and upholstery yourself (they leave the edges of the rooms and corners, for instance, un-vacuumed). Make sure to keep these things in mind when choosing a vacuum for your home!
General Cleaning Tips
Now that you understand why pet hair can be such a pain and what to look for in a vacuum, it’s time to put that knowledge to use!
While the right vacuum can make a huge difference in terms of how much cleaning you have to do, there are a few general cleaning tips that can help you keep your home nice and tidy no matter what type of vacuum you have.
First, make sure to clean your carpets as regularly as possible. Regular carpet cleaning can help you catch and remove dirt and debris before it has a chance to sink in and become harder to clean up. You can also use a carpet cleaning machine periodically to help keep your carpets looking their best.
Next, try to keep your pets’ hair off the furniture whenever possible. Pet hair can be particularly difficult to remove from fabrics like upholstery and couches, so try to keep your pets off the furniture as often as you can.
Finally, don’t forget to clean your filters regularly to prevent clogs! Filters can get clogged up with pet hair, dirt, and debris relatively quickly, so be sure to clean them whenever you notice them getting dirty.
Conclusion
Cleaning up pet hair is one thing, but the problem is that pet hair can cause a lot more than just a minor inconvenience to your cleaning routine.
One of the biggest issues that pet hair can cause is allergies. Pet dander can cause allergy symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, runny noses, and itchy or scratchy throats or scalps — especially for people with pet allergies who are particularly sensitive to pet dander.
Since pet hair is the main culprit behind pet dander, it makes sense that vacuuming regularly is a good strategy for keeping allergies at bay. But pet hair also poses another major problem: it can cause significant clogging and wear-and-tear on your vacuum’s motor.
Luckily, there are a number of different vacuum cleaners on the market that are well-suited to tackling pet hair and other tricky cleaning jobs.
If you’re looking for a vacuum that can pick up pet hair easily and effectively, then one of the options in this article may be the best vacuum for you!