We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Cleaning Vacuums The Best Pet Hair Vacuums We’ve Ever Tested If you’re a pet owner, these are the best vacuums to give your home a good deep clean. By Stacey Nguyen Stacey Nguyen Stacey Nguyen is a content writer and copywriter who has been working in digital media and marketing since 2014. You can find her lifestyle and commerce writing on sites such as POPSUGAR, The Spruce, Byrdie, InStyle, and more. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 03, 2024 Fact checked by Emily Estep Fact checked by Emily Estep Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics that range from film and beauty to science and the automobile industry. Her plant biology degree has a focus on sustainable agriculture, and she’s an expert on growing your own food, environmental sciences, and all topics relating to houseplants. Our Fact-Checking Process In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Our Testing Process How to Shop More to Consider FAQs Take Our Word for It What Is Real Simple Selects? Photo: Real Simple / Dera Burreson When you’re the owner of a furry pet, investing in a powerful pet hair vacuum is a must. With pet fur, common issues include fuzz accumulating in those pesky hidden corners, dander lingering on surfaces, and hair getting stuck in your vacuum’s brush roll. As such, it’s essential to choose a vacuum that’s optimized for cleaning up these kinds of messes. When shopping for a pet hair vacuum, you’ll especially want to consider specs such as attachments, filters, and suction power. To help you choose the best vacuum for pet hair, we tested over a dozen models, assessing them on factors such as noise level, maneuverability, portability, effectiveness, and ease of cleanup. We also consulted Diana Ciechorska, the general manager of Park Slope Cleaning, for her expertise in choosing and maintaining a pet vacuum cleaner. Our Top Picks Best Canister: Kenmore Pet Friendly Pop-N-Go Canister Vacuum at Wayfair $260 Jump to Review Best Budget: Kenmore Compact Bagless Canister Vacuum at Amazon $120 Jump to Review Best Splurge: SALE Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum at Amazon $950 $795 Jump to Review Best for Hard Floors: Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum at Amazon $230 Jump to Review Best Upright: Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra at Amazon $485 Jump to Review Best Self-Emptying: SALE Shark Wandvac Self-Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum at Amazon $330 $200 Jump to Review Best Robot: Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum at Amazon $1,199 Jump to Review Best Attachment: Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly Canister Vacuum at Amazon $400 Jump to Review Best Handheld: Black+Decker Dustbuster Furbuster Handheld Vacuum at Amazon $100 Jump to Review Best for Carpet: Kenmore Floor Care Elite Upright Vacuum at Amazon $300 Jump to Review Best Canister Kenmore Pet Friendly Pop-N-Go Canister Vacuum PHOTO: Target $260 at Wayfair $329 at Target $324 at Walmart What Stands Out The attachments are neatly stowed into the vacuum’s body to save you space and give you easy access to useful cleaning tools. What Could Be Improved The vacuum requires a higher suction for hard flooring. The Pop-N-Go Bagged Canister Vacuum comes with helpful cleaning features and an easy-to-maneuver design for tackling pet fur. To help you squeeze into tight corners and pick up deeply embedded hairs, it includes a bare floor brush, dusting brush, long crevice tool, and motorized pet tool—all conveniently stashed into the vacuum’s body for efficient storage and access. The motorized pet tool especially comes in handy for lifting stubborn hairs from furniture and carpet. During testing, we found the unit to be reasonably lightweight, so it was easy to hold while vacuuming stairs. That said, this canister vacuum was also small enough to leave upright on a stair step or landing. The Pop-N-Go can be used on multiple floor types as well, including carpet, laminate, and hardwood flooring. However, we noticed the vacuum performed best on carpet, where it picked up a good amount of pet hair in one pass, even on low suction. On a hard surface, we needed to use the highest suction available, otherwise the vacuum would just push hair around. On the bright side, the vacuum was still fairly quiet, even when it was on the highest suction level. To keep your air clean, the vacuum uses a completely sealed HEPA filtering system that captures 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. While it’s easy to remove the vacuum bag, you do have to replace it occasionally. Weight: 24 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.55 gallons | Cord Length: 26 feet | Run Time: N/A | Attachments: 4 Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Best Budget Kenmore Compact Bagless Canister Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $120 at Amazon View on Kenmorefloorcare.com Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.8/5 Maneuverability 5/5 Ease of Emptying 4.8/5 Portability 4.8/5 Setup 5/5 What Stands Out It’s a lightweight pick that’s easy to move around thanks to its wheels and low profile. What Could Be Improved It’s hard to remove hair from the brush because you can’t take it out from the vacuum head. While the Kenmore Compact Bagless Canister Vacuum doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, it’s a solid pick if you’re looking for an affordable model that can tackle pet hair. Weighing less than 10 pounds, it’s easy enough to carry around, although you actually don’t even need to carry it because of its wheeled bottom and low profile. The hose swivel also makes it a breeze to maneuver. Plus, the two attachments — the 2-in-1 dusting and crevice tool and bare floor nozzle — help you clean small nooks and crannies. During testing, the canister vacuum picked up most debris in one pass and performed well on both carpet and hard floor surfaces. The crevice tool also came in handy for sucking up smaller pieces of dirt. It was just a tad difficult to take out hair from the brush because you can’t remove the brush from the vacuum head. However, other aspects of maintenance, such as emptying the dustbin, were pretty simple. We greatly appreciated how we didn’t need to buy extra bags, as we only needed to press a button to empty the debris. It was also easy to remove the dustbin and give it a quick rinse when needed. Weight: 9.5 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.6 pounds | Cord Length: 16 feet | Run Time: N/A | Attachments: 2 Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Best Splurge Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $795 at Amazon $950 at Target $950 at Dyson.com Our Ratings Ease of Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 5/5 Maneuverability 5/5 Ease of Emptying 4.8/5 Portability 4.8/5 What Stands Out For a thorough clean, it features superb suction power and a strong filter. What Could Be Improved We noticed some hair tangling in the Fluffy Optic cleaner head after use. The Dyson Gen5detect cordless vacuum is really the crème de la crème of pet hair vacuums, so it’s worth the money if you can afford a splurge. If you’re a cordless vacuum skeptic, you’ll be pleased to know that the battery lasted quite a long time during our test, running for 51 minutes and 28 seconds on low power. Featuring Dyson’s most advanced motor, the vacuum also removed most debris in one swipe, including on grout, hardwood, and carpet flooring. Thanks to the vacuum’s maneuverability, it was easy to pick up debris around tight spots without needing attachments. Still, we appreciated the ones that are especially great for dealing with deeply embedded pet hair, like the Digital Motorbar cleaner head and hair screw tool. However, we did discover some hair tangling in the Fluffy Optic cleaner head attachment, but overall found it simple to empty and clean the unit. This vacuum is really designed to let you know exactly how much you’re cleaning. When you’re vacuuming, the light in the Fluffy Optic cleaner head reveals invisible dust to help you clean thoroughly. The sealed HEPA filtration system is also fairly advanced, capturing 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 microns — the screen even tells you how many particles it collects in real time. Weight: 7.72 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.2 gallon | Cord Length: N/A | Run Time: 51 minutes on low power | Attachments: 5 Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best for Hard Floors Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $230 at Amazon $300 at Wayfair $250 at Target Our Ratings Effectiveness 5/5 Maneuverability 5/5 Ease of Emptying 4.8/5 Portability 4.3/5 Setup 5/5 What Stands Out Even on auto mode, its suction is very powerful and doesn't damage hardwood floors. What to Consider The vacuum head is a square, so it may catch onto furniture legs. For a deep clean without the risk of damaging your hard flooring, the Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum is up to the task. In testing, this vacuum worked well even around the corners of hardwood floors, picking up debris quickly rather than just pushing it around. This vacuum automatically adjusts its suction to give you the just-right amount of power. Auto mode sufficed in most of our tests, as higher settings would actually make it difficult to drag it across high-pile carpeting. For how efficiently it worked, the vacuum was pretty quiet on auto mode, and it didn’t disrupt our conversations. Because the vacuum was highly maneuverable, we were able to tackle most edges and corners without reaching for the attachments, which include a telescopic crevice tool and 2-in-1 dusting brush. The only issue we had with maneuverability was the square vacuum head catching onto furniture legs. While we wish that the head was more tapered, this is a minor complaint, given how easy it was to move the vacuum around on most surfaces. Weight: 7.1 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.16 gallons | Cord Length: N/A | Run Time: 39 minutes on low battery | Attachments: 2 Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Upright Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra PHOTO: Amazon $485 at Amazon $485 at Wayfair $500 at Target Our Ratings Effectiveness 5/5 Maneuverability 4.5/5 Ease of Emptying 4.8/5 Portability 4.5/5 Setup 4/5 What Stands Out It has a powerful cleaner head and comes with detangling removal vanes that clear wrapped hair as you vacuum. What Could Be Improved Its stiff hose system and heavy weight make it a bit tricky to maneuver. Combining excellent suction with anti-tangling features, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra effectively picks up pet hairs with its specialized cleaner head. We were impressed with how thoroughly the vacuum removed debris in just a few passes, especially since it didn’t leave any hair tangling on the roller. This was accomplished via the detangling hair removal vanes that actually clear the wrapped hairs as the vacuum cleans. There are four attachments in total: a tangle-free turbine tool, stair tool, combination tool, and pet grooming tool. You can use that last tool on pets to tackle loose hair — just be mindful of how your pet will react to being groomed with something attached to a noisy vacuum. This unit isn’t extra loud, per se, but it does make the same amount of noise as your typical vacuum cleaner. When it comes to maneuverability, the fact that the vacuum rides on a ball does help you steer it smoothly, but there were some difficulties in this category. We found the instant-release wand and long-reach hose system a bit stiff to handle. Moreover, the vacuum is also heavy (weighing 17 pounds), although that’s par for the course for most upright vacuums. Weight: 17.3 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.45 gallons | Cord Length: 35 feet | Run Time: N/A | Attachments: 4 Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Self-Emptying Shark Wandvac Self-Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $200 at Amazon $330 at Wayfair View on Sharkclean.com Our Ratings Setup 4.9/5 Effectiveness 4.6/5 Maneuverability 5/5 Ease of Emptying 4.7/5 What Stands Out You can easily empty debris out into a HEPA-sealed dustbin base that also charges your vacuum. What Could Be Improved The vacuum is loud, so you may have difficulties hearing conversations with it on. What’s convenient about the Shark Wandvac is that it empties itself as you place it on the included charging base. Down the line, you just have to dump whatever gets collected into the dustbin. If you’re concerned about dust and debris coming out, the base also uses a HEPA-sealed system that keeps irritants from being released into the air that you breathe. Along with a self-emptying charging base, this vacuum comes with a crevice tool and a pet multi-tool to help you clean tight spaces. Great for pet owners, the multi-tool specifically features a stiff bristle brush for tackling stubborn debris and an upholstery tool for removing hair from furniture. Although this vacuum sucked up debris very well during our second test, it had a hard time picking up hair during our first experiment. Additionally, when we put the vacuum to use, we did find it a bit loud. Its noise level is roughly that of a hair dryer, so it can be hard to carry conversations with this unit on. Still, it did perform consistently after our first try, removing all debris in just a few passes. We also liked that the vacuum was easy to maneuver thanks to its slim profile and swivel head. Weight: 13.85 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.03 gallons | Cord Length: N/A | Run Time: 14 minutes | Attachments: 2 Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Robot Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $1,199 at Amazon $1,200 at Target $1,200 at Crate & Barrel What Stands Out It’s very easy to program and offers powerful suction for a thorough clean. What Could Be Improved It doesn’t have object avoidance, so you may need to pick up toys and other small items running it. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum is the perfect marriage between effective cleaning and ease of use. What makes it such an efficient vacuum is its full-size brush bar for covering maximum surface area, and its extending side duct for redirecting suction. For a really deep clean, the wide brush bar actually combines three ways to clean with its soft nylon, stiff bristles, and anti-static carbon fiber filaments. During testing, this vacuum picked up cat hair even in places we thought were already clean, and we found its suction to be quite strong on both vinyl and carpet flooring. To trap pet dander and allergens, it comes with a lifetime HEPA filter that captures particles down to 0.1 microns in size. Even if you’re not particularly tech savvy, setting up this robot cleaner to achieve this level of cleanliness wasn’t hard at all. All you have to do is download Dyson’s designated app and program your cleaning areas to your liking. The vacuum also uses a panoramic 360-degree camera to set up its path, hence the “360” in its name. However, even with this handy camera, the vacuum doesn’t have object avoidance, so it often got stuck on pet toys. For that reason, we appreciated the noise level (although the vacuum was somewhat loud), as it let us know when and where it was operating so that we could troubleshoot as needed. Weight: 9.9 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.15 gallons | Cord Length: N/A | Run Time: 65 minutes | Attachments: N/A Real Simple / Holly Raibikis Real Simple / Holly Raibikis Real Simple / Holly Raibikis Real Simple / Holly Raibikis Real Simple / Holly Raibikis Best Attachment Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly Canister Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $350 at Amazon $400 at Walmart What Stands Out This easy-to-maneuver vacuum comes with a motorized pet tool that is excellent for cleaning couches and stairs. What Could Be Improved The lever to adjust the pile level was difficult to switch. To help you clean tight spots and corners, the Kenmore Elite UltraPlush Bagged Canister Vacuum comes with many convenient attachment features, including horse hair dusting and floor brushes, a crevice tool, and a motorized Pet PowerMate brush — the latter of which is the standout. During testing, this attachment was a game changer for cleaning hair from couches and stairs, and it also prevented clumps from tangling all over the brush. We also loved how simple it was to store the attachments within the vacuum’s body for easy access. And while it isn’t technically listed as an attachment, we appreciated the extendable telescopic wand, which even includes an LED headlight for a crystal-clear view of debris. Moreover, there are also light sensors that let you know when your HEPA bag has reached capacity and needs to be replaced. The vacuum uses a dual-motor system that provides both brush rotation and powerful suction. Although it did an excellent job with cleaning, we would have preferred if the vacuum had automatic pile adjustment, since the lever to switch the pile level was difficult to change. However, this is a small qualm, since the vacuum’s convenient retractable cord made it very easy to maneuver. Weight: 22 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 22 pounds | Cord Length: 26 feet | Run Time: N/A | Attachments: 4 Real Simple / Courtney Thompson Real Simple / Courtney Thompson Real Simple / Courtney Thompson Real Simple / Courtney Thompson Real Simple / Courtney Thompson Best Handheld Black+Decker Dustbuster Furbuster Handheld Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $90 at Amazon $84 at Wayfair View on Blackanddecker.com Our Ratings Effectiveness 4/5 Maneuverability 4/5 Ease of Emptying 4/5 Portability 5/5 Setup 5/5 What Stands Out It’s a lightweight, cordless device that features a motorized pet brush for lifting hairs without tangling. What Could Be Improved The dustbin is a bit small, so you might need to empty it out more often. It’s all in the name — the Black+Decker furbuster is an iteration of the iconic dustbuster that’s specifically built to help pet owners tackle fur in hard-to-reach spaces. Because it’s cordless and lightweight, it’s easy to carry around for cleaning up spaces like your car. Besides its portability, this handheld vacuum is also an effective cleaner, featuring an extendable built-in crevice tool and an anti-tangle motorized pet brush attachment. The latter has rubber bristles that especially help with lifting embedded pet hairs. Since there’s only one snap-on attachment, it was fairly easy to set up during our testing. In terms of effectiveness, it picked up hair on carpet, hardwood, and furniture very quickly. When it comes to cleanup, all it takes is a press of a button to dump the debris out, and you can also remove the pre-filter to wash it. We did find the dustbin to be small, so you may need to empty it out more often if you’re doing a deep clean of your home, or have a heavy shedder. That said, this is a fairly minor concern since the handheld vacuum comes at a very reasonable price. Weight: 4.3 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.18 gallons | Cord Length: N/A | Run Time: 20 minutes | Attachments: 1 Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Best for Carpet Kenmore Floor Care Elite Upright Vacuum PHOTO: Walmart $280 at Amazon $330 at Wayfair $300 at Walmart Our Ratings Effectiveness 5/5 Maneuverability 3.5/5 Ease of Emptying 4.5/5 Portability 4/5 Setup 4/5 What Stands Out It efficiently removes hair and dander from both medium- and high-pile carpeting. What Could Be Improved Hair tangling can be an issue when you use this vacuum on hard flooring. The Kenmore Elite Pet-Friendly Bagged Upright Vacuum is a powerhouse for removing pet hair from carpet. Its motor actually features three motors for extra powerful suction, delivering 20 percent more air power than a conventional vacuum. Even with a strong motor system, it was no louder than a typical vacuum and didn’t create an irritating high-pitched noise. During testing, it worked very efficiently on medium- and high-pile carpeting, picking up all hair in under a minute and leaving behind little hair on the brush roll. We did, however, experience hair wrapping on the brush roll when we used the vacuum on hard surfaces. Despite this minor setback, we still think it’s a great pick if cleaning carpet is your top priority. In terms of attachments, the Pet Handimate is especially helpful for removing pesky pet hair and dander, thanks to an air-driven turbine that rapidly spins the brush roll. For those hard-to-reach spots, you can also take advantage of the combination tool and extension wand. We especially appreciated these attachments, as it saved us the hassle of having to lug around this 26 pound device throughout the space. Weight: 26 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.40 gallons | Cord Length: 35 feet | Run Time: N/A | Attachments: 3 Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Our Testing Process We tested a range of the top-rated pet hair vacuums on the market, evaluating their ability to clean up real pet hair. For each vacuum, we assembled the unit, taking note of how easy it was to set up. To perform tests on effectiveness, we used each vacuum on different floor surfaces to clean pet hair, including hard flooring and carpet. We also vacuumed in areas where pet hair tends to accumulate, such as on furniture and stairsteps. As we vacuumed, we paid special attention to the suction power and how many passes it took to clear debris. We also considered the noise level, noting if the vacuum’s noise was loud enough to disturb a conversation, disrupt a television program, or be heard from another room. To test maneuverability, we analyzed how easy it was to move each vacuum around to clean edges and corners. Along with maneuverability, we evaluated portability, determining how heavy the unit felt, how simple it was to access attachments, and whether or not the cord design hindered the cleaning process. We then gauged how easy it was to empty the dustbin and clean hair from the brush roll. After using each vacuum cleaner, we assessed the model’s value, weighing whether its price reflected its features and effectiveness. Real Simple / Rachel Marek How to Shop for Vacuums for Pet Hair Like a Pro Vacuum Type Pet hair vacuums come in many different forms, so you have a range of options to consider if you want to find the just-right design for your cleaning needs. Here are a few of the most common vacuum styles to keep on your radar when you shop. Upright: When you think of traditional vacuum cleaners, you may likely think of upright vacuums. As their name suggests, they stand upright, and feature a connected handle, dustbin, and power head. They often have powerful suction, and their wide heads cover a greater surface area to help you tackle pet hair effectively. That said, they can be a bit heavy and difficult to maneuver. Despite these potential drawbacks, an upright vacuum, especially one with strong suction power and a HEPA filter, tends to be Ciechorska’s vacuum of choice for cleaning pet hair. “Upright vacuums are generally more powerful and have larger dustbin capacities, which is great for dealing with a lot of pet hair,” she says.Canister: Canister vacuum cleaners typically consist of a main body — or canister — that connects to a power head with a flexible hose. They are generally lightweight and feature wheels for portability, which makes them easy to maneuver on stairs. You do want to pay attention when you use them, since the canister may bump into furniture if you don’t keep it close to you as you vacuum. Handheld: Designed to be lightweight and easy to carry, handheld vacuums are excellent for spot cleaning. However, they have limited dustbin capacity and usually don’t have a full-size brush roll for deep cleaning.Cordless: As their name suggests, cordless vacuums do not come with cords. According to Ciechorska, some of their pros are that they’re portable and convenient for quick cleaning — they can also often double as handheld vacuums. However, they usually have small dustbins, and, of course, require charging. Bagged: In a bagged vacuum cleaner, the unit sucks up dust and debris into a disposable bag. Bags keep dust and pet dander from going back into the air, but you do have to throw them away when they fill up. One of their downsides, Ciechorska notes, is the recurring cost of replacement bags. Robot: After you program them, robot vacuums clean your surfaces using intelligent navigation. You can schedule when they’ll clean and direct them to clean underneath furniture. However, they tend to be pricey, and you’ll likely have to empty them often if you have a heavy shedder. Maneuverability When shopping for a vacuum cleaner as a pet owner, you want a unit that’s easy to steer around, since pet hair and dander accumulate everywhere from open floors to tight corners. To get an idea of how easy a vacuum will be to maneuver, pay attention to its design. “I find that vacuums with swivel steering and a lightweight design are much easier to use,” Ciechorska explains. “You can get into those tricky spots without having to move a lot of furniture around, which is a huge plus.” Attachments While a powerful motor and an effective brush roll are important for cleaning up pet hair, you also want to consider vacuum attachments. With the right attachments, you’ll be able to clean non-floor surfaces more easily. Basic attachments include a crevice tool for reaching into corners, an upholstery tool for vacuuming furniture, and a dust brush for cleaning delicate areas. One attachment that pet owners should look into is a motorized brush tool, which comes with special bristles for picking up hairs. According to Ciechorska, it’s great “for deep cleaning carpets and removing embedded pet hair.” Filter Type Most pet hair vacuums include a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter as part of their filtration system. To prevent irritants from getting released back into the air, HEPA filters capture dust, dander, and other allergens. Some vacuums with HEPA filtration use disposable bags, while others feature filters that you occasionally need to replace. Some models also have pre-filters that you can take out and wash. HEPA filters are ideal for pet hair vacuums because they capture tiny particles like pet dander, which can help reduce allergies. “There are also other good filters out there, like charcoal filters that help with odors,” Ciechorska adds. Whatever filtration system you have, she recommends that you “regularly clean or replace filters to keep your vacuum running efficiently and to maintain good air quality.” More to Consider Dyson Outsize+ Cordless Vacuum: Featuring powerful suction, multiple attachments, and a laser that lets you see debris clearly, this vacuum does its job very effectively and is worth the investment if you’re a pet owner. That said, it is a bit tricky to maneuver because of its heavy head. Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog PowerLin: This heavy-duty vacuum comes with many attachment options and has a high-quality build. However, we found the setup and settings a bit more complicated than necessary. Real Simple / Rachel Marek Questions You Might Ask What is the difference between vacuums for pet hair and regular vacuums? Although many regular vacuums can handle pet hair and dander, pet vacuums are specifically designed and equipped to manage pet hair regularly. “Pet hair vacuums usually come with specialized attachments and stronger suction to deal with hair effectively. Plus, they often have better filtration systems to handle pet dander,” Ciechorska explains. How often should pet owners vacuum? The frequency a pet owner should vacuum can boil down to several factors, including how many pets they have, how much their pets shed, and whether they need to consider other debris like loose kibble and tracked litter. Ciechorska recommends that pet owners vacuum at least twice a week. While you should focus on vacuuming high-traffic zones, she also suggests checking often-missed areas like underneath furniture and around baseboards. How do you prevent pet hair from getting tangled in a vacuum? Doing a little bit of prep work before you use a vacuum cleaner can prevent pet hair from getting tangled in your vacuum. “Use a pet hair remover brush or roller on high-shed areas before vacuuming,” Ciechorska advises. She also recommends regularly checking for hair on your brush roll to keep it from accumulating and creating tangles. Besides routine maintenance, you may want to consider vacuum models that come with special anti-tangle brushes, which remove hairs as you clean. Take Our Word for It This article was written by Stacey Nguyen, a Real Simple contributing writer who has several years of experience writing home and lifestyle content. To find the best pet hair vacuums, we tested over a dozen options, considering factors such as noise level, maneuverability, portability, effectiveness, and ease of cleanup to determine our top picks. For tips on choosing and maintaining pet hair vacuums, Stacey spoke with Diana Ciechorska, the general manager of Park Slope Cleaning. What Is Real Simple Selects? Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn't an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company. Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.