The 6 Best Canister Vacuums for Pet Hair (in 2020) Comparisons and Reviews

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Are you looking for the best canister vacuum to help you in your mission to get rid of that persistent pet hair?

You're in the right place!

We've spent hours on research, read hundreds of user reviews and interviewed pet owners to find the best canister vacuums for pet hair right now. Let's dive right in!

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    Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Kenmore 81614 Ovente Bagless Cyclonic Miele Compact C1 Suction Bissell Zing Rewind Eureka Mighty Mite
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    The top 6 Canister vacuums for pet hair removal

    Matt Clayton, founder of Pet Hair Patrol (aka a guy whose opinion you def want)
    - Cosmopolitan / The 7 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair, According to Experts

    Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Canister

    The Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner is absolutely the top choice for a canister vacuum for pet hair. It has every feature you could wish for to help you keep your pet home clean, and it has actually been named the best product of the year by Reviewed.com. Read user reviews on Amazon.

    The Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog is one of the most advanced canister vacuums designed for homes with pets. It is a compact yet powerful vacuum with excellent filtration and fantastic attachments. It’s Miele quality all the way.

    Some people are not familiar with the Miele brand, but the company is known for high-quality appliances that are built to last. Their products are all about highly useful features, high-quality material and attention to detail in the design.

    If you’re looking for a top-notch canister vacuum to help you get rid of all that pet hair, then keep on reading. This is everything you need to know about this product:

    Performance and ease of use

    Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog has been designed specifically for pet owners, and that is why it does an excellent job at dealing with those pet-related messes.

    The vacuum has a powerful 1.200W motor to provide strong suction and a 6-stage rotary selector for finding the perfect suction strength for each surface type...

    To make handling this vacuum easy, Miele has included an 18-foot power cord and a 7-foot crush proof hose with a swivel handle. The design enables you to reach even the most hard-to-reach corners of your home like under your bed and in the corners of the ceiling. The operating radius is actually just under 30 feet.

    This vacuum uses an AirClean 3D Efficiency filter bag which will keep all that dust and hair inside the vacuum while clean air is blown out. The size of the dust bag is 4.5 liters which is more than enough for any household – even if you have several pets that shed heaps of hair. Also, the dust bag is designed so that even a full bag will not block the air flow and reduce suction. That means you will always have full power at your use.

    To make sure the exhaust air is as clean as possible, Miele has added an Active AirClean filter that not only removes the 99,9% of lung damaging particles before the air is blown out, but it also neutralizes nasty odors. This carbon filter is highly beneficial for pet owners, as pet hair tends to have that recognizable smell you wouldn’t want to be spread back into your indoor air.

    As Miele is always about those little useful details that make an appliance stand out from the rest, there are, of course, some small but highly useful features in this vacuum as well. The ergonomic handle is designed to offer you a more comfortable cleaning experience, and there is even a small metal strip integrated into the handle to prevent static discharge between the vacuum and the user.

    The vacuum also has protection against overheating should the air flow get blocked and it even has a system that easily allows you to take a break from the vacuuming. If you want to pause, you just hook the floorhead into the rear of the vacuum, and you don’t have to crouch down to place the wand on the floor. It’s those small additions that make vacuuming easier for you and add up to the perfect canister vacuum for homes with pets.

    Attachments

    Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum is equipped with amazing attachments that help you keep every surface of your home clean and free of pet hair. These attachments are high-quality tools with excellent design.

    Firstly, you get three basic tools: upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, and dusting brush. The upholstery nozzle is excellent for more delicate fabrics that need pet hair removal while the dusting brush allows you to easily remove dust, hair, and dander from all other above-floor surfaces. The crevice tool, on the other hand, keeps those tight hard-to-reach areas and baseboards dust-free.

    To make sure these tools are always at hand, Miele has added a VarioClip system. With this handy little feature, you will have each tool at hand, and they won’t get lost while you move from one room to another.

    But that’s not all. This is where we get to the stuff that pet owners really love about this vacuum – and for a very good reason.

    The C1 vacuum comes with the Electro Plus floorhead with 5-level height adjustment. It is a high-power brush roll tool designed to give those thick medium to high-pile carpets a thorough cleanup. This tool will quickly pull up any pet hair, dust or dirt embedded into your carpets and area rugs. It is the ultimate tool for removing pet hair.

    Although pet owners will love the powerful Electro Plus floorhead, the C1 has another tool for more delicate floors. The Parquet Twister with 180° rotation is meant for more agile cleaning of hard and delicate floor surfaces like parquet or hardwood. This tool is lightweight and easy to steer for when you just need to do some quick upkeep cleaning instead of a more thorough cleanup.

    But this is where we get to the best part. For the benefit of pet owners, Miele has equipped this vacuum with a Handheld Mini Turbo Brush that will easily remove pet hair from furnishings, upholstery and carpeted stairs. It is a highly efficient motorized brush roll tool that gets excellent ratings from pet owners specifically. This attachment will work miracles and effortlessly remove even the most stubborn pet hair.

    Pros

    + Powerful suction with the 1,200W motor
    + Compact, lightweight and easily maneuvered
    + Large 4.5-liter AirClean 3D Efficiency filter bag
    + Filtration removes 99.9% of lung-damaging particles
    + Active AirClean filter neutralizes pet odors
    + Upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, and dusting brush included
    + Ergonomic Comfort handle for more comfortable steering
    + Electro Plus floorhead for high-pile carpets
    + The Parquet Twister for delicate floor materials
    + Handheld Mini Turbo Brush for efficient pet hair removal
    + 18-foot power cord and a 7-foot crush proof hose
    + Handle prevents static discharge
    + Protection from overheating

    Cons

    - No foot pedals

    Bottom Line

    The Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum is the perfect choice for homes with pets. It is powerful yet compact and easy to use.

    The attachments do a fantastic job at removing hair, and they enable you to use the powerful suction on all surfaces from floor to ceiling. With careful attention to detail in design and many useful features, this is your best choice for a canister vacuum for pet hair.

    It may not be one of the most affordable vacuums on the market, but with high-quality materials and a durable build, this product will last for years. Miele vacuum cleaners are always reliable, and they get excellent ratings from users. And with this product specially designed for pet owners, it really does have all the features you need to win the battle against pet hair.

    Our rating

    As seen on:

    Kenmore 81614 Bagged Canister Vacuum with Pet PowerMate

    A popular canister vacuum with strong suction, excellent performance on all floor materials and a motorized pet hair tool to tackle your pet hair problem. This is an easily maneuvered and versatile canister vacuum you can use all around your home. See the latest price here.

    This Kenmore Pop-n-Go bagged canister vacuum is one of the most popular canister vacuums on the market. It is not a high-end product, but it has all the right features to make it an adaptable and high-performing vacuum for homes with shedding pets.

    Reviewed.com reviewed this vacuum saying ”There is no better vacuum for the money.” PetHairPatrol is also choosing this vacuum as one of the best canister vacuums for pet hair, and this is why:

    Performance and ease of use

    This Kenmore canister vacuum has a dual-motor system which creates a strong suction that can pick up stubborn dirt like pet hair and soil embedded into carpets. The main vacuum head has a sturdy brush roll which can dig into carpets to lift up all that dust and dirt some vacuums struggle in pulling in...

    Because of the efficient brush roll, this vacuum performs well on even high-pile carpets that can provide a real challenge – especially if you have furry pets and you need to remove all that pet hair from your carpets and rugs.

    The telescopic wand offers you that extended reach you need for cleaning all areas of your home. With the wand and tools, you are able to take care of all above-floor areas that need dusting or vacuuming. It even has suction control on the handle to let you adjust the suction for vacuuming drapes and other more delicate items.

    The fingertip controls are easy to use, as is the onboard storage that keeps all the tools at your reach while you move around your home. The vacuum also has a lengthy 28-foot cord with an automatic retraction system that makes it easy to pack up once you’re done.

    When it comes to filtration, pet owners will be happy to know that the Kenmore 81614 vacuum has a HEPA filter that captures 99.97% particles as small as 0.3 microns. This means the exhaust air is cleaner and allergens such as pet dander and pollen are filtered out. The vacuum bags are also HEPA-certified and emptying the vacuum is dust-free.

    Attachments

    The vacuum comes with two floor nozzles – the main one you can use for both hard floors and carpets, but you also get bare floor brush for delicate floor materials. The Pop-n-Go Bare Floor Brush is always ready in the front storage case so that you can change attachments easily on the go without even bending down. Just open up the lid and pop the tool on.

    You also get two basic attachments: a crevice tool and a dusting brush. Combined with the telescopic extension wand these tools allow you to reach and clean all above-floor areas like corners of the ceiling, fans, vents, baseboards, and blinds.

    There is a fourth tool included, and pet owners will love it. It is the Pet PowerMate motorized brush roll tool which will wipe out all that pet hair covering your couch and other upholstered pieces of furniture. You can use this powerful brush roll tool on carpeted stairs, car seats and other surfaces that tend to collect persistent pet hair.

    Pros

    + Powerful motor and strong suction
    + Lightweight and easily maneuvered
    + Two floor nozzles for optimal clean on all surfaces
    + Pop-n-Go bare floor brush makes it easy to change attachments
    + Pet PowerMate motorized pet hair tool
    + Extension wand offers you more reach
    + Onboard storage for convenience
    + Easy-to-use fingertip controls on the handle
    + 28-foot cord with automatic rewind
    + Wide 14-inch cleaning path
    + HEPA filtration and HEPA-certified vacuum bags
    + Dust-free emptying

    Cons

    - Some users would like to see better-quality materials
    - May flip onto its side if tucked on

    Bottom Line

    This Kenmore bagged canister vacuum is an excellent choice for pet homes because it has powerful suction, motorized brush roll tools for pet hair and an effective HEPA filter. It is lightweight and easy to use, and the excellent attachments allow you to clean not only floors but above-floor areas as well.

    This vacuum is compact but powerful, and it can help you keep your home pet hair-free. It is a reasonably priced, and with all the right features pet owners will find useful.

    Our rating

    Ovente Bagless Cyclonic Canister Vacuum

    An excellent budget option with powerful suction, a HEPA filter, motorized pet brush, and a hygienic easy-to-empty bin. Small and compact yet powerful. Check the latest price here.

    The Ovente Cyclonic vacuum is the best canister vacuum for pet hair in the lower price range. It is not a highly advanced product, but it does have all the features you need to wipe out the pet hair invading your home. It is durable and reliable, and many satisfied users compliment how efficient it is.

    Is this affordable canister vacuum the right choice for you? Continue reading, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know before deciding.

    Performance and ease of use

    The Ovente Bagless Cyclonic Canister Vacuum comes with a small but powerful 1200-watt motor to provide you the strong suction you need for removing pet hair. This vacuum may be compact in size, but it does hold the power that is required for excellent cleaning results...

    The main cleaning head has a floor brush that is controlled with a foot pedal. With this pedal, it is easy to switch settings when moving from one surface to another. We would like to see a brush roll tool for those extra plush carpets, but at this price, it is only a small shortcoming.

    This vacuum is very lightweight at only 12 pounds, which makes it effortless to maneuver and to pick up if needed. Although it is compact in size and lightweight, it is made of durable, heavy-duty plastic to ensure it lasts in daily use. Also, the wand is made of sturdy stainless steel instead of plastic that might break easily. Although this vacuum has a low price point, Ovente has not skimped in materials.

    The telescopic wand allows you to clean all those areas that can be hard to reach, and the step button for turning the vacuum on and off means you don’t even have to bend down. And when you’re done the automatic rewind takes care of packing up.

    This Ovente vacuum uses cyclonic technology to separate dirt and dust from the air before it is guided through the filter. This feature will ensure that all the pet hair and dirt stays in the dirt container not clogging the filter and giving it a longer life.

    The vacuum also has a HEPA filter which will filter out 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 micrometers. The filter is washable to minimize your maintenance costs, and since it is a HEPA filter, it will make sure none of those allergens like dander and pollen are blown back into the air you breathe.

    The full bin indicator light lets you know when it’s time to empty the bin. To do this, you simply detach the container and pop open the bottom letting the dirt fall into a trashcan.

    Attachments

    The Ovente Bagless Cyclonic Canister Vacuum does come with a Combination Bristle Brush/Crevice Nozzle tool that will help you dust baseboards and other above-floor areas.

    But what we are delighted to see is a motorized Sofa/Pet Brush. Vacuums in this price range rarely include a motorized pet hair attachment, but Ovente has kindly added this powerful tool that pet owners will find highly useful.

    This motorized brush roll tool is incredibly efficient at removing all the persistent pet hair that clings onto upholstered surfaces. With this attachment, you can quickly get rid of pet hair collecting on your furniture, car seats and carpeted stairs.

    Pros

    + Lightweight
    + Easy to maneuver
    + Durable materials
    + Motorized brush roll tool for pet hair
    + Washable HEPA filter for cleaner exhaust air
    + Easy-to-empty bin
    + A cord that retracts automatically
    + Foot pedal
    + Moderate pricing

    Cons

    - No onboard storage
    - The wand could be a bit longer
    - Design of the handle is not ideal

    Bottom Line

    If you’re looking for a moderately priced vacuum that can handle pet hair, then look no further. This Ovente vacuum has all those essential features you need for wiping out pet hair, but it comes at an affordable price.

    Powerful suction and a motorized pet hair brush tool will help you deal with shedding, and a HEPA filter ensures that allergens like pet dander are carefully filtered from the exhaust air before it exits the vacuum.

    This vacuum is easy to use, and it has many useful details like an automatic cord rewind system, bagless design and a telescopic wand that offers you more reach. Add durable materials, and you have yourself a reliable little helper for keeping your home clean and free of pet hair.

    Our rating

    Miele Compact C1 Suction Canister Vacuum

    Including its telescopic, stainless steel design and powerful suction control, the Miele Compact C1 Suction Canister Vacuum especially targets hard floors with its Hardwood Floor Hero feature—making it a perfect choice if you're living on wooden flooring in your home with your three dogs. Click here to see the latest prices of Miele Compact C1.

    Not only does this canister vacuum pick up the extra pet hair lying around, but it also uses its filter system—the AirClean Filter, to protect the air in your home from allergens and all other dust and debris escaping from the vacuum with the exhaust air.

    Performance and ease of use

    From low-pile carpeting to bare floors, the 1200W motor of this Miele canister comes with all the necessary power to oust pet hair and dandruff forever—or at least until they shed again...

    The vacuum comes with six different settings, allowing it to be compatible, no matter what you're cleaning, and extremely maneuverable because of its lightweight 4.8-pound design, no matter where you're cleaning.

    It also is relatively easy to use, with a cleaning radius of almost up to 30 feet because of its long electrical cord.

    Attachments

    Miele C1 comes with a variety of different attachments to help ease the cleaning process. Three that stand out the most are the dusting brush, the upholstery tool, and the crevice nozzle—all of which can easily attach to the vacuum by something called the VarioClip.

    Using the extendable wand with these attachments you can get to all the nooks and crevices you need to. The crevice nozzle easily picks up cat litter or food pellets, cleans baseboards and helps you reach tight spaces. To remove pet hair from the upholstered furniture, you can use the upholstery tool with a pet hair attracting felt liner. Finally, to finish of your clean-up, you can dust delicate surfaces, curtains, shelves, and vents with the dusting brush.

    Pros

    +  A multi-layer filtration system. This feature is especially important if you or your family members have allergies, as it filters out 99.99 percent of all particles in the air.
    + The dust bag. The bag comes with 9-ply construction, which makes it seemingly un-tearable
    + The powerful 1200W Vortex Motor is extremely efficient, despite its lightweight size
    + Relatively quiet—which is definitely a bonus in homes with pets
    + It can work effectively no matter what surface you're on. It has six different motor speed settings which you can easily adjust depending the surface.
    + AllTeQ Combination Floorhead is ideal for all hard floor and low-pile carpets
    + The attachments give you the ease and opportunity to get the full job done, with minimal effort.
    + This vacuum is high-quality, reliable and durable with a fantastic warranty

    Cons

    - On some more challenging surfaces, the brush head attachment may be ineffective
    - Because of its lightweight design, it’s much less sturdy than more expensive models.

    Bottom Line

    The Miele Compact Canister Vacuum is ideal for your hardwood floor or tiled home. It is the vacuum to go to if you're seeking to oust pet hair from hard floors in your home and you're looking for a dependable mid-range option in the canister vacuums category.

    Our rating

    BISSELL Zing Rewind Bagless Canister Vacuum

    For a tight budget, limited space and an unlimited number of pets in your home, the Bissell Zing Rewind Vacuum is a low-budget choice that offers not only a powerful clean but can be stored and stowed away—even the cord is wound up at the touch of a button—quickly and quietly. Click here to see the prices.

    The Bissell Zing is packed with power with its 9-amp motor and cyclonic technology, and it sucks the pet hair up into a bagless container in no time at all. It has a dual-switch mode, and it is able to cover the terrain of hard floors or lift up the embedded pet hair from your carpets.

    Performance and ease of use

    This canister vacuum is bagless, and it has a sizeable 2-liter dustbin, which makes it extremely convenient and easy to use, moving from room to room without the need to empty the container, which can simplify the task of cleaning up after your pet...

    It also maneuvers effortlessly between furniture —especially large and heavy ones that are too bothersome to move.

    This Bissell has an integrated carrying handle so you can simply pick it up (it’s extremely lightweight at 9.1 lbs) and move in and out of the house. It covers enough ground to make a difference with one push. With a cleaning path of 10.1 inches, it can clean a broader space, letting you get away with less work. 

    Attachments

    Not only is Bissell Zing compatible with multiple surfaces, which makes it extremely useful in a multi-floor home, it can also reach those hard-to-reach surfaces which makes cleaning so much more convenient and effortless on your part. It also has a multi-surface floor tool, a dusting brush, a crevice tool, an air flow regulator, and a cord rewind.

    Pros

    + Has an extremely powerful suction despite its lightweight look and feel
    + Best for those on a budget
    + Weighs just 9.1 lbs., which makes maneuvering and carrying through the house less work for you
    + Works with a cyclonic cleaning system to give you the best clean
    + Attached with an automatic cord rewind system
    + Has multi-stage filtration to clean the exhaust air

    Cons

    - The power cord is pretty short at 15 feet
    - Not very efficient with heavy-set, thick carpet

    Bottom Line

    The Bissell Zing Rewind Canister is a perfect option for anybody with a smaller home and a low-budget.

    Even though it has an incredibly lightweight design, it still delivers powerful suction and good quality clean. The highly portable model stores easily with its cord-rewind feature, which lets you off the hook when it comes to cleaning up after you clean up. It is a perfect fit for someone living in close quarters with their furry friends.

    Our rating

    Eureka Mighty Mite Canister Vacuum (3670G)

    Lightweight and compact, the Eureka Mighty Mite weighs less than 9 pounds but has the power packed to take on removing dirt and debris from outdoors and indoors. Click here to see the latest prices.

    Focusing and performing best on a bare floor, you can get the cleanup you want by removing pet hair not only from your floors but to get to those hard-to-reach areas like above the curtains or in the corners of your room with the Mighty Mite Vacuum’s maneuverability.

    Performance and ease of use

    With its fingertip controls, the Mighty Mite model is perfect for cleaning tight spaces and effective no matter what type of bare floor you have—tile, wood; you name it.This vacuum boasts a very lightweight design, allowing you to carry it from room to room without breaking a sweat...

    The cleaning path of the vacuum is almost a foot wide, which means you don't have to go back and forth several times to cover enough ground to make a difference, cutting the work for you. 

    Attachments

    The Mighty Mite comes with a crevice tool, a combo brush, extension wand, and an upholstery tool. These attachments allow you to reach up high into corners and crevices in the ceiling or get down low onto baseboards without having to bend down.

    Pros

    + Runs on a powerful 12 amp suction motor, which means a lot of power.
    + You can easily dispose of dust bags when you need to change, which doesn't happen all too often, anyway.
    + The included attachments are perfect for hard-to-reach areas like ceilings, corners, and underneath furniture. You can also bring this canister vacuum outside with you and work on outdoor projects.
    + It has a lightweight and portable frame, making it very easy to carry throughout the house (or outside).
    + The power cord is 20 feet long, which means you don't have to worry about finding a new outlet everywhere you go.
    + Although it specializes in hard floors, you can adjust the settings for both bare floors and carpets alike
    + The model covers a wide area on the ground with a 10-inch cleaning path.
    + There is a manual cord storage area for you to stow the vacuum easily away.

    Cons

    - Focuses on work on hard floors so doesn't work very well with thick, deep-set carpet
    - The filtration system that is included with the product is not HEPA rated. You can always add one in if that’s important to you.
    - You have to manually wind up the cord.

    Bottom Line

    If you have hardwood or bare floors and are on the search for a functional yet cheap vacuum that can get the job done not only in minimum time but is all capable of working on other jobs you may have, like in your garage or in your car, the Mighty Mite vacuum can be an excellent choice for you.

    Our rating

    Buying Guide - How to Choose Canister Vacuum for Pet Hair?

    Choosing the proper vacuum while not going overboard and paying for a pricey appliance with all these extra features you'll never use and not going too low and ending up with a poor-quality household appliance, is a difficult decision. To help you out, we've listed 7 key elements you should keep your eye on:

    This will change depending on what type of flooring you have in your house. For example, if you have heavy, deep-set carpets, then you'll need a high-quality suction power to get deep down into the trenches of your rug or carpet. If you have only bare floor in your home, you won’t have to worry too much about suction power and you can often bypass or settle with a vacuum with not the most powerful suction.

    If you have a lot of high-pile carpeting around your house or many thick rugs, we would suggest an upright vacuum to give you a better cleaning result. You can find the top choices for upright pet hair vacuums here.

    Suction power also depends on the pets you have. If you have a short-haired chihuahua, you might not have to worry all that much about having the most powerful suction, but if you have a long-haired golden retriever, that might be the first thing you need to worry about.

    You don't need to opt for the vacuum with the most gizmos attached to it, you just need to make sure what the appliance has will help. The attachments, however, can help you when trying to get into those hard-to-reach areas or sucking up every last bit of pet hair or dandruff.

    For a per owner, the upholstery tool is something you probably need, and it should be designed to collect pet hair. The crevice tool is used to wedge the cleaning vacuum into tight and seemingly impossible spots, and also to clean baseboards. Also, you probably want a dusting tool to finish of your cleanup by dusting, for example, delicate items, shelves, and vents.

    If you want the most out of your vacuum, opt for getting some of these attachments as features, and you'll get your home as clean as possible.

    Just because a vacuum is cheap doesn't mean it’s going to be the best option out there for you. You should realize that price will probably be parallel with performance. Although there are highly capable vacuums with more than affordable prices, it could be wise to possibly raise your budget a little higher to invest in a high-quality, long-lasting vacuum with better features and more attachments.

    No matter what your price is, there’s a product to match it. Even though it might not be the best vacuum out there, it should get the job done—which is the critical feature here.

    Factoring in the size of the vacuum is also extremely important before you make the purchase. In this case, we aren't strictly talking about how big is it in terms of how much room it takes; it’s also important that you factor in how much it weighs.

    The last thing you want to be doing, especially after pushing the vacuum to and from in one room, is lugging it down the hall to the next room. Try and pick out a vacuum with an adequate size for storage and for carrying convenience. We know that choosing a vacuum is like picking your poison—so try and make it as least painful as possible.

    The bagged vacuums are much quicker and easier to maintain—when it fills up all you have to do is simply toss it out and replace it. Usually, these bags run cheap, but you do have some cases with some vacuums where they don’t. They are rather expensive and a hassle to find.

    The bagless vacuums usually have something called a “dirt cup” where all the dirt, hair and debris are collected, and all you have to do is empty it out and wash it—then return back into the vacuum. Even though the initial investment in a bagless vacuum is a bit steeper, it will pay off in the long run—particularly if your furry roommate is especially hairy.

    The type of filter you get can play a role in your vacuum cleaning purchase. Especially if you are, or a family member or someone who lives with you is allergic or sensitive to pet dander or dust, investing in a vacuum cleaner with a high-quality filter is essential.

    If you are going to go ahead and make that investment, you want to be sure you have the highest quality filter, which is assuring that the vacuum comes with one that is HEPA-standardized. HEPA, the high-efficiency particulate absorber filter, removes 99.99 percent of dust and dandruff particles in the air and around your home. It will clean the room around you and keep the air around you clean so you can rest assured that you're doing your best to fight those allergies so you and your pets can live harmoniously together.

    Depending on the types of flooring you have in your house, you might have to choose a particular vacuum to match. Although most vacuums tend to adhere to most flooring, especially with those that can switch up modes from one floor to another, you should always aim for those particular vacuums that specialize in your type of floor—especially if you have deep-set carpet.

    The bare floors like tile, hardwood, and linoleum are relatively easy to clean with a vacuum but can also be cleaned better with specific adjustments or hard-floor attachments. Same goes for the carpet.

    Vacuums designed specifically for hard floors might prove a bit of a challenge to get deep into the carpet, leaving bits of pet dander and hair still lodged into the flooring. As canister vacuums are mainly designed to clean hard floors, we suggest you look into upright vacuums is you have high-pile carpeting or many thick rugs.

    Why choose a canister vacuum for pet hair?

    Are you looking for a canister vacuum for pet hair, but you're not sure whether this is the right design for your needs? Canister vacuums are highly popular in Europe, especially Scandinavia, and there is a good reason for that: the design is convenient and easy to use.

    If you have a pet or two that shed, you know that you need a good vacuum cleaner to get rid of that pet hair. And not only do you need a vacuum that can deal with that persistent pet hair, but you also need something that can be used on all surfaces and even under the furniture.

    See, if the vacuum is not easy to use and capable of removing pet hair, you will have wasted your money. A pet hair vacuum needs to perform well, and it needs to do an excellent job on floors, carpets, and above-floor areas. But that's not all, it needs to be something you can easily use and a product that makes your life easier. Otherwise, you'll just skip vacuuming, and all that dust, dirt and pet hair will accumulate.

    A canister vacuum is an excellent choice for those who need a powerful vacuum but can't or don't want to push around a bulky upright vacuum. A canister vacuum has the same strong suction and excellent performance as an upright vacuum, but it's easier to maneuver.

    Because a canister vacuum has the motor on wheels, you don't have to push it while you're cleaning. The hose and wand are all you need to hold while pulling the motor and dirt container behind you. You can easily use the lightweight wand for above floor cleaning, and the attached cleaning head is effortlessly steered on all surfaces.

    A canister vacuum has the ideal design for anyone with back pains or other conditions that would prevent you from using a heavy upright vacuum. Actually, it's the right choice anyone who feel that pushing and pulling an upright vacuum is too burdensome.

    Also, having the body of the vacuum separate from the wand and hose is actually a pretty handy design. You can easily reach up high without the vacuum tipping over (like some uprights do) and also you can clean under furniture without the bulky body getting in the way. It's very convenient for getting to those furballs under the bed!

    A canister vacuum allows you to get to that pet hair hiding under your furniture while still offering a powerful suction. If you have carpets or thick area rugs that tend to collect pet hair, then you should opt of one of these machines.

    The cleaning head combined with the suction will pick up and pull in all that pet hair giving your carpets a thorough cleanup. And when you want to clean above-floor areas, you can just pop on a dusting brush or crevice tool to get every last hair sucked right in.

    The design makes canister vacuums very versatile and adaptable – and that is why they make it easy for you to keep your home clean and free of pet hair.

    Read more: 11 Mistakes People Make When Vacuuming A Pet Home

    FAQ

    We know that making the choice of a specific vacuum for you, your pets, and your home can be overwhelming. First of all, you have to decide where to start—what are the most important features to you and how to check that off your list.

    To help you out, here are our most frequently asked questions:

    There are a few instances where a canister vacuum is a perfect choice for you. Whether you already have a full, traditional-style vacuum and are just looking for one that can easily be whipped out for a quick, convenient clean or you live in a smaller-sized home that just needs a powerful vacuum to fit its size, you can definitely find a canister vacuum to fit your needs.

    The type of floor you have might also affect the effectiveness of a canister vacuum in your home. If you have deep-set, thick carpeting all over your house, it might not be your best investment. Try and aim for the canister vacuum if you have a home full of bare floors or low-set carpet. Otherwise, have a look at upright vacuums which tend to do a deeper clean on thick high-pile carpets.

    Not sure if the canister is the ideal type of vacuum for you? You can find our listing of all the best pet hair vacuums here.

    Don’t let the small size and the lightweight nature of a canister vacuum fool you. If you make the investment in a high-quality canister vacuum, you can definitely get the job done. The ball, however, is in your court to do your research beforehand and make sure you're getting a vacuum that can foot the bill—no matter how expensive it is.

    For example, if you have four afghan hounds, you might reconsider on a canister vacuum. But, for pugs and short-haired chihuahuas, these canister vacuums will definitely put you in a clean home once again. (Not limited to those breeds, however). As we mentioned before, have a look at our reviews to help you decide.

    There’s a process to the budget. One of the most important features to consider here is the price. You can pick out the best vacuum in the world but if it doesn't meet your budget—forget about it.

    After narrowing down the vacuums to your budget range, you can then choose the features most important to you, your lifestyle, your home, and your pet(s). You can also make the decision solely on personal preferences, so don’t ignore those either, when in doubt—go with your gut feeling!

    When comparing one canister vacuum to other ones on the market, make sure to consider extra, additional features and attachments, the type of flooring you have, the allergies the residents in your home might have, the type of hair or quantity of hair that your pet has, and how often you will plan to vacuum. These questions are great to put under consideration when comparing one canister vacuum to another.

    We hope that this guide along with our top three products have helped you narrow down your search on finding the perfect canister vacuum for you, your pet, and your household.

    If you think some other type of vacuum than canister could be a better fit for your needs, you can click here to see all the best pet hair vacuum cleaners, including the best handhelds, uprights, robots and sticks on the market right now.

    *Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. That means we receive a small commission from Amazon if you should decide to purchase a product through our link - but don’t worry, you won’t be charged extra for it.

    We only recommend products we believe are of value to you, and we believe in ourselves. Our goal is to make this site a truly valuable resource for all pet owners.

    Matt Clayton

    Chief Editor & Founder of PetHairPatrol

    Matt is the founder of PetHairPatrol.com and has years of experience helping pet owners keep their homes clean. He's been featured in publications like Reader's Digest, Money, and BestLifeOnline. This neat freak is constantly searching for better ways to get rid of pet hair, dander, and other messes pets leave behind. He lives in New York with his two (hairy) Goldens: Ben and Jerry. Read more.

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