Last Updated on June 6th, 2020
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Are you looking for the perfect upright vacuum that will tackle pet hair and all other pet-related messes? Something powerful and efficient, yet versatile, adaptable and easily maneuvered?
We did some extensive research and reviewed the most popular upright vacuums to find the ones with great performance and best features to benefit pet owners. Out of all our contestants, these are the 6 best upright vacuums for pets.
Top Upright Vacuum Cleaners for Pet Hair Compared
*star rating by PetHairPatrol
Our Picks for Best Upright 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
Shark APEX Upright Vacuum
Most powerful vacuum from Shark with amazingly strong suction, a tangle-free cleaning head, and an advanced filtration system to benefit pet owners with pets that shed — the top dog for picking up pet hair. Check the latest price on Amazon.
The Shark Apex lives up to its name; it really is the top upright vacuum from Shark in terms of performance, power, and features. And not only when compared to Shark vacuums; this vacuum gives all competitors a run for their money with the strong suction and innovative features that benefit pet owners especially.
If you're looking for a high-power upright vacuum that is easy to use and offers excellent cleaning results, then you should definitely consider this one. Not only does it do a wonderful job at keeping all types of surfaces clean from the floor to ceiling, but it also has some unique features that make vacuuming your home a whole lot easier.
Let's find out why we love the Apex and why it keeps getting those high ratings from users.
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Performance and ease of use
First of all, we have to mention the Lift-Away feature, which makes Shark vacuums stand out from many other upright vacuums. The Lift-Away technology allows you to detach the body of the vacuum from the hose, turning the vacuum into a kind of canister vacuum that you can easily carry around.
With the wand and cleaning head separated from the motor and body of the vacuum, you can easily clean areas such as staircases or under furniture. It makes the Apex extremely adaptable compared to other sturdy and heavy-built uprights.
Although the vacuum is not the most lightweight upright vacuum, it's not the heaviest either. And especially in the Lift-Away mode, you will have no trouble carrying it around.
Active Glide technology makes it easy to maneuver, and you will have no difficulty steering the vacuum between furniture and on all types of surfaces. Actually, the vacuum even seems to pull itself forward, which makes using it effortless in the upright configuration. However, when you use the Lift-Away mode, the vacuum may even seem a bit difficult to pull back on the carpet — just a minor shortcoming, but something that should be mentioned.
The DuoClean feature combines the sturdier brush roll with a soft roller in one cleaning head. Because of this innovative design, the vacuum picks up all types of dirt on all kinds of floor surfaces. The performance is fantastic on both floors and carpets, and it basically picks up anything from kibble, sand, and cereal to fine dust and pet hair. This is why the Apex gets excellent ratings in performance: it picks up both bigger debris and finer dust with precision.
The vacuum has three modes: hard floor, low-pile carpet, and thick rugs. On the hard floor mode, the vacuum uses the powerful suction and reduces brush roll speed, but when you turn on one of the carpet modes, the brush rolls speed up to give those excellent results on a more challenging surface as well.
For pet owners, we have some excellent news: this upright vacuum is the top dog when it comes to picking up pet hair. And not only is it able to lift up that persistent needle-like hair that gets stuck on your carpet, but it also has no problem in sucking in long pet hair. The new innovative brush roll technology called Zero M actively removes pet hair that tries to wrap around the brush — no more getting out the scissors to free the brush roll from a wrap of hair. How amazing is that?
The vacuum even has LED lights on the floor nozzle and the handle to enable you to see all the dust and hair that lurks under furniture and appliances or in those dark corners. It's a great feature that adds to the usability of this vacuum.
And that's not all. The wonderful engineers at Shark have even added a noise reduction design, which keeps the running noise down. In pet homes, this can be a huge plus because pets may often get stressed out if appliances make a high-pitch or loud noise.
Attachments
The main cleaning head has the DuoClean design with the double brush roll, making it very effective on both hard floors and carpets. The width of the cleaning path is 11 inches, which allows you to vacuum a wide area with each pass. The cord length is 30 feet, and the length of the hose is 5.5 feet, which gives you that much-needed reach in bigger homes or rooms.
In addition to the DuoClean head, you get three attachments:
- A 12-inch Crevice Tool for cleaning tight spaces
- A two-in-one Pet Multi-Tool with an upholstery tool and a bristle brush combined
- Mini Motorized Pet Brush with a spinning brush roll that is ideal for removing pet hair from surfaces like upholstered furniture, carpeted stairs, and car seats.
If you want to upgrade your toolset, more attachments like the Under Appliance Wand and Anti-Allergen Dust Brush are available as well.
By combining the Lift-Away technology with a flexible hose and some clever attachments, Shark has designed a versatile all-around vacuum that lets you easily clean not only floors and carpets but all the above-floor areas as well. The Apex is a smart choice for any home because of its unique adaptability.
Filtration
The filtration system in the Shark Apex is called the Advanced Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology with HEPA filter. What it means is that the filtration system is completely sealed, and dirty air will not leak from the vacuum before it has been cleaned. For people with allergies (and homes with pets), this is an important feature. Many vacuums have excellent filters, but if the system is not sealed, some of the dust and other small particles leak back into the air and reduce the indoor air quality.
With the sealed system, the air is guaranteed to be filtered before it exits the vacuum. In this case, all the dirt, dust, hair, and other debris is filtered out by foam filters and a washable lifetime HEPA filter.
The filtration system in the Apex is very advanced, and it ensures that the dirt the vacuum picks up actually lands in the dirt bin, making this vacuum an excellent choice if you have allergies, asthma, or you want to take care of your indoor air quality.
The dirt bin holds 1.4 liters of dirt, which is pretty sizeable. Even if you have more than one shedding pet, the container will be able to hold quite a lot of pet hair and other dirt before it needs to be emptied.
Pros
+ Strong suction
+ Amazing cleaning performance Â
+ Duo Clean double head for hard floors and carpets
+ Lift-Away technology
+ Zero M tangle-free brush roll
+ Sealed filtration with a washable lifetime HEPA filter
+ Sizeable dirt cup
+ Mini Motorized Pet Brush for pet hair
+ Crevice Tool and Pet Multi-Tool
Cons
-Â We would like to see a longer hose
- On carpets, the pull can be even too strong
Summed up
The Shark Apex is an amazingly strong upright vacuum that offers superb cleaning performance and picks up anything from kibble and sand to dust and pet hair. It performs well on not only hard floors and all kinds of carpets, but it also does an excellent job on the above-floor areas. It is easy to use with the innovative Lift-Away mode that turns it into a portable canister vacuum, and who wouldn't love a tangle-free brush roll?
It comes with a sealed HEPA filtration system and washable lifetime filters. Also, the dirt cup is big to fit all that pet hair the vacuum pulls up from your carpets with the DuoClean cleaning head that combines two brush rolls for maximum pick-up.
All in all, this vacuum is a powerful and versatile appliance for effortless yet thorough cleaning. Cudos to Shark for designing such a great product!
Our rating
As seen on:
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet (NV752) Upright Vacuum
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet vacuums cleaner has an innovative design combining the power of an upright vacuum and the agility of a canister one. This Lift-Away feature sets it apart from other upright vacuums and makes it incredibly versatile. With excellent filtration, adaptable attachments and many convenient features a pet owner would love to have in a vacuum cleaner; this vacuum was sure to make the top 3 upright vacuums for pet hair. Click here to read user reviews on Amazon.
Performance and ease of use
With its unique Lift-Away design, the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet vacuum is truly an all-around vacuum. In the upright mode, it uses the brush roll head to give all carpets thick and thin a thorough cleanup. In this mode, the machine is quite bulky, but Shark has found an innovative way to turn it into an agile canister vacuum for narrow spaces. You can just pick up the canister and...
use the hose and wand combo to vacuum underneath furniture and in tight spots where you couldn’t fit a full-sized upright vacuum. It even turns into a handheld vacuum to give those stairs a proper cleanup. You can carry the canister with you and attach tools to the hose to clean stairs, vents, curtains and even the car interior.
How great is that?
To make your cleaning job even easier, the Rotator has LED-lights to offer visibility and fingertip controls so you don’t have to keep bending down for adjustments. It even has Dynamic Swivel Steering to help you maneuver the vacuum around furniture.
The filtration has three stages with two washable pre-motor filters made out of foam and felt, and a post-motor HEPA filter. It also comes with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, which combined with the HEPA filter makes sure that only extremely clean air is blown out of the vacuum and all allergens and pollutants are left inside the dirt cup.
And speaking of the dirt cup: it is a bit on the small side when it comes to capacity, but it does have an Easy-to-Empty feature which takes care of dumping the dirt with just a push of the button. No need to pull out wads of pet hair, as the content just falls out into the trash bin when the bottom of the dirt container opens.
Attachments
To get the most out of your upright vacuum, you need to have some excellent attachments. Upright vacuums are great on carpet, but if you want to use them on other surfaces as well, you can add versatility with different tools rather than having to buy another vacuum for above-floor cleaning. The accessories of the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruPet include:
- Hard Floor Hero floor head
- TruePet Mini Motorized Brush
- Pet Multi-Tool
- Duster Crevice Tool
- as well as a canister caddy, and
- accessories bag
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet vacuum has the combined benefits of an upright vacuum and a canister vacuum. In the upright mode the floor head with the brush roll engages carpets for a deeper clean, and in the Lift-Away mode, the vacuum cleaner turns into an agile canister vacuum ready to give a thorough cleanup on hard floor areas.
The Hard Floor Hero floor head is used by attaching it to the hose and wand. It has a sleek design which allows it to be maneuvered under and between low-built furniture, and it is perfect for picking up cat litter and food pellets in your kitchen.
The Duster Crevice Tool, TruePet Mini Motorized Brush, and Pet Multi-Tool are what you need for above-floor cleaning. With these tools, you can tackle surfaces like upholstered furniture, curtains, baseboards, bed and car seats.
The Pet Multi-Tool is very handy with its pet hair attracting lining and brush, but for really tackling that pet hair you should bring out the TruePet Mini Motorized Brush. This tool will lift up even the most persistent pet hair – long or short – and quickly push in in the suction path to be lifted up by the suction. This tool is one of the most advanced motorized tools on the market and something every pet owner would love to have.
Pros
+Â Stylish and sleek design
+Â Lightweight
+Â Powerful 270AW suction
+Â Hard Floor Hero Attachment
+Â Powered Lift-Away system for added versatility
+Â Motorized brush tool for removing stubborn pet hair
+Â Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and HEPA filter to reduce allergens
+Â The bright LED lights on the handle and cleaning head for visibility
+Â Dynamic Swivel Steering for easy maneuvering
+Â Various carpet height settings
Cons
-Â May tip over when the canister is in Lift-Away mode
-Â Although considered lightweight in its category, quite heavy when carried around
Summed up
It may feel like this review is full of praises, which it is. The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet (NV752) is one of the bestselling pet hair vacuums, and that is for a good reason. Its performance is excellent, and so are the many features that make vacuuming quicker and more comfortable for the user.
The price is reasonable, and with this kind of versatility, it’s well worth the investment. It is the most expensive one of our top three, but the features and quality it comes with back up the price tag. If you want the best upright pet hair vacuum on the market, this is the one to choose.
Our rating
Bissell Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Vacuum Cleaner
This new upright vacuum from Bissell is packed with great features. It is designed for homes with pets, and although it has all those critical features that offer excellent performance, the price is still very moderate. Check the latest price here.
The Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet is a new upright model from the well-known Bissell company. All though it has not been on the market for long, it has already gained excellent reviews from satisfied users. It is very easy to use, and it provides pet homes with excellent cleaning results.
But are there any downsides to this vacuum? Keep on reading to find out.
Performance and ease of use
This upright vacuum from Bissell allows you to maximize pet hair removal in a home with furry pets. The Triple Action Brush Roll loosens, lifts and removes pet hair and all embedded dirt. This sturdy brush roll ensures the vacuum will engage the surface with the strength to remove even the most stubborn dirt, and the strong suction pulls in everything from dust to larger debris...
The main cleaning head also has what Bissell calls Scatter-Free Technology and an edge-to-edge cleaning feature. These two details make sure that dirt and debris won’t escape the suction. The scatter-free technology helps pet owners pick up spilled pet food, scattered cat litter, or dirt and sand brought in by your pet.
The edge-to-edge feature, on the other hand, enables you to clean more floor area in one pass to make vacuuming a quick no-sweat job. The width of the cleaning path is 13.5 inches, and with the strong suction and brush roll being distributed evenly across the cleaning path, the vacuum makes sure every inch is thoroughly cleaned.
Another detail that ensures excellent performance is the 5-step height setting on the brush roll. It will help you get the optimal clean by correctly adjusting to the surface.
Although it is not very lightweight, the Bissell Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet is easy to maneuver with the Swivel steering feature. It has a 27-foot power cord so that you can reach every corner of your home, and a cord retractor to make packing up quick and easy.
With this upright vacuum cleaning is fast and effortless. It offers a careful clean on all hard floor surfaces and carpets, but it also enables you to easily clean above-floor areas with the extension hose and tools that come along.
Attachments
No upright is perfect without an extension hose that offers adaptability and enables you to use that strong suction on areas that gather dust and pet hair like your upholstered furniture, carpeted stairs, blinds, etc.
The Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet comes with an 8-foot extension hose that offers that much-needed reach. Also, with this vacuum, you get 4 fantastic tools that provide the versatility you need from an upright vacuum.
First of all, you get two multi-use tools: a combination of a dusting brush and an upholstery tool, and a crevice tool. The first tool does a perfect job at dusting surfaces and delicate objects while the second tool lets you vacuum those tight crevices. And to make sure you can reach everywhere with these tools, you also get an extension wand.
These are the basic tools, but wait – there is more.
Pet owners will be delighted to hear that there are two more tools included which are highly valuable to owners of pets that shed a lot.
The Pet Hair Corner Tool does exactly what it says: it gets every last hair trying to hide in those corners. But what is even better is the Pet Turbo Eraser which is a powerful motorized brush roll tool designed to lift up pet hair from upholstery and other such surfaces. It does a wonderful job at cleaning your carpeted stairs, upholstered furniture, pet bed or car seats. A highly useful tool for any pet owner battling that pet hair.
Filtration
The Bissell Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright uses a Multi-Cyclonic Suction System to prevent pet hair from blocking the suction and Multi-Level Filtration to ensure all those nasty particles stay inside the vacuum and are not blown out.
The 1-liter Easy Empty Dirt Cup is pretty sizeable, but it could be even larger. It is quickly and easily emptied by detaching the container and holding it above the trash can while you press the button that opens the bottom of the cup. Simple and straightforward.
The dirt container and separator are washable, as are the pre-motor filters. The third filter that is positioned after the motor is not washable, but it is a lifetime filter you don’t need to worry about washing or changing it.
The first pre-motor filter is made of foam while the second one is a carbon filter designed to eliminate nasty (pet) odors. You can wash them under warm water and use a mild detergent if needed. Cleaning your filters will ensure they last longer – which of course cuts down the maintenance costs.
Pros
+ With swivel steering, this vacuum is easy to maneuver
+ Triple-Action Brush Roll performs well on all surfaces
+ Scatter-free Technology for vacuuming debris like pet food and cat litter
+ Edge-to-edge cleaning to cover more area with each pass
+ 13.5-inch cleaning path
+ 5 surface height settings for optimal results
+ 27-foot cord and automatic cord retractor
+ Multi-Cyclonic Suction System to prevent pet hair from clogging the vacuum
+ 8-foot extension hose
+ Extension wand and two multi-use tools
+ Pet Hair Corner Tool and Pet Turbo Eraser motorized brush
+ The two pre-motor filters are washable
+ Carbon filter eliminates nasty smells
+ Washable Easy Empty Dirt Cup
Cons
- The 1-liter dirt cup is large but could be even larger
- Does not have HEPA a filter
Summed up
The Bissell Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Vacuum Cleaner is an excellent choice for an affordable upright vacuum for pet hair. It is one of the favorites because it has all those useful and highly valuable features that pet owners love, but no extra high-tech frills which would bring up the cost.
This product is a powerful and highly rated all-around upright vacuum that will make vacuuming less of a chore with its functional design and easy-to-use features. It will definitely help you win the war against pet hair.
Also, pet owners will be happy to know, that the company will donate 10 dollars to Bissell Pet Foundation for each purchase.
Our rating
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser (1650A) Upright Vacuum
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser upright vacuum is the ultimate upright vacuum for pet hair and here’s why: it has been specially designed for removing pet hair and other pet-related messes, and the amazing attention to detail and unique features are why it can efficiently tackle all those cleanups pet owners encounter. Click here to read real user reviews on Amazon.
Powerful suction combined with great attachments is what makes this vacuum such a great purchase. It is not perfect, but it comes pretty close. And the small downsides are made up for with some very useful details and pricing that is precisely where it should be.
Performance and ease of use
This Bissell upright vacuum comes with a 30-foot power cord to give you reach and to bring the strong suction with you everywhere in your home. It is quite heavy at 18 pounds, but...Â
swivel steering makes it easy to maneuver, and the Quick Release Wand with an extension hose allows you to get to those hard-to-reach areas.
The Pet Hair Eraser upright vacuum has a large 1,5-liter washable dirt cup, which saves you the hassle of buying dust bags and allows you to vacuum heaps of pet hair before you have to empty the dirt container. It is perfect for households with many pets or pets that shed a lot because in addition to the large capacity the dirt cup also has a Pet Hair Spooling System to prevent clogging and to guarantee hands-free emptying. No more pulling out yucky pet hair out of the dirt cup with this vacuum!
Unfortunately, the filtration is not HEPA level, but it is efficient and performs well. The vacuum has a SmartSeal Allergen feature which consists of a sealed multi-level filtration system that includes three filters: two pre-motor filters, one mesh and one foam, and one pleated post-motor filter. The pre-motor filters are washable, which saves money in the long run. To add another benefit for pet owners, the post-motor filter has a Febreze Pet Odor Eliminator feature to eliminate those nasty smells pets can bring to your home. Even when vacuuming damp pet hair, the air will come out clean, fresh and smelling nice.
Attachments
The main cleaning head has edge-to-edge suction and a unique tangle-free brush roll to offer impressive cleaning results on all floor surfaces. Four different height settings allow you to adjust the floor head specifically for the type of surface you are cleaning from plush high-pile carpet to hardwood floors. Especially owners of long-haired pets are pleased with the tangle-free brush roll!
The Quick Release Wand disconnects with a push of a button enabling you to quickly attend to all those above-floor areas you come across when vacuuming. Furniture, curtains, stairs, vents… They all get a thorough cleanup with the interchangeable one-click tools specifically designed with pet owners in mind.
To better serve pet owners, Bissell has integrated some ingenious details into the attachments. The crevice tool has LED lights to offer better visibility in those tight spots where pet hair tends to collect, and it even comes with a rubberized head to attract that hair. The 2-in-1 Pet Brush is designed for delicate dusting, and the Pet TurboEraser Tool will take care of tougher spots with its powerful spinning brush roll that works perfectly in picking up persistent pet hair.
Pros
+Â Quick Release Wand offers adaptability
+Â Even more versatility with specially designed attachments
+Â Very efficient with excellent cleaning results
+Â The tangle-free brush roll is a lifesaver with pet hair
+Â Pet Hair Spooling System prevents clogging
+Â SmartSeal Allergen System reduces allergens
+Â Febreze Pet Odor Eliminator filter removes pet odors
+Â Ultra-maneuverable vacuum head
+Â Broad cleaning head with edge-to-edge cleaning
+Â Cleans both carpets as well as hard surfaces and above floor surfaces
+Â Easy to assemble
+Â Impressive 5-year limited warranty
Cons
-Â Like many upright vacuums, it is quite heavy at 18 pounds
-Â No retractable power cord
-Â No HEPA filter
-Â Can lose suction if not properly cleaned and maintained
Summed up
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser upright vacuum has been designed to tackle all those pet-related messes, and that is what makes it a perfect pet hair vacuum. Attention to detail and convenient features are the reason it comes as number one on our list of upright vacuums for pet hair.
At the price point this vacuum is at, you will definitely make a good investment should you decide to buy it. Thousands of pet owners using this vacuum and giving it praising reviews can’t be wrong and when you look at what this product has to offer you know why.
Our rating
HOOVER T-Series WindTunnel Pet Upright Vacuum (UH70210)
This Hoover vacuum is one of the bestselling pet hair vacuums on Amazon, and for a good reason. It is powerful and efficient, and it has many convenient features to help out pet owners. It comes at an affordable price considering all the features, and users praise it for being easy to use and having good suction power. Click here to read real user reviews on Amazon.
Performance and ease of use
The Hoover T-series WindTunnel Pet vacuum has a traditional upright vacuum design with the pretty bulky self-standing construction. Although it is quite large and heavy, it has some nice features that add convenience and ease-of-use.
This vacuum boasts a 5-position carpet height adjustment, which enables you to have perfect cleaning results on all surfaces, and you can turn the brush roll off with a tap on the foot pedal. Because of...
these adjustments, this vacuums has excellent performance on all kinds of carpets as well as hard floors.
The floor head has the WindTunnel design, which means two subsequent suction paths which minimize blowback and make sure that particles are sucked in and not scattered around. This feature is convenient when vacuuming cat litter or food pellets scattered on the floor.
It is bagless with a dirt canister that is easy to empty. Some users have found difficulties with emptying the dust cup, but if you follow the instructions and do it correctly there should be no problem and all the dirt is quickly dumped into the trash.
The vacuum uses a Dual-Cyclonic Air System, which separates larger debris from the finer particles before they reach the filter. By doing this, the system lengthens the lifetime of the filters and prevents them from getting clogged.
The filtration is excellent in this Hoover upright vacuum: the carbon filter absorbs nasty pet smells and the HEPA filter filters out all the allergens before the air is pushed back out. Again some very beneficial features for a pet owner to have in their vacuum cleaner.
The handle is foldable to allow the machine to be stored in a small space, and the 25-foot cord has a rewind function that lets you skip the hassle of coiling the power cord and trying to keep it untangled. It even has headlights to enable you to see all that pet hair and dust that accumulates under the bed and large pieces of furniture.
Attachments
With the Hoover T-series WindTunnel Pet vacuum cleaner, you get a very nice set of attachments which will help you with above-floor cleaning. The vacuum itself is somewhat bulky like most upright vacuums are. The sturdy design offers power and efficiency, but you need convenient and functional attachments to make sure you can reach all the areas of your home that need vacuuming.
To offer that much-needed reach, this Hoover vacuum comes with a 4-foot extension hose and a 12-inch wand. You can attach the flexible crevice tool at the end to make cleaning of the baseboards and vacuuming between cushions comfortable and easy. Some users say the extension hose is short but adequate for most cleaning jobs you find at your average home.
To take care of the pet hair accumulating on your furniture and bedding, you get two amazing attachments: a Pet Upholstery Tool and an Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool. The edge of the upholstery tool has a lining which attracts pet hair, and it can be used on more delicate fabrics like curtains and cushions to remove loose pet hair. For a deeper clean on carpeted stairs and tougher fabrics and to pull out that stubborn embedded pet hair, you can change to the Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool. With its spinning brush roll and stiff bristles, it can dig into carpets pulling out all dirt, hair, dander, and dust.
The attachments ride along with the vacuum, which is convenient as you have them at hand at all times and they don’t go missing. They also have folding handles, which saves storage space. All in all, the attachments of this Hoover upright vacuum are a well-designed, user-friendly and great for pet hair.
Pros
+Â Strong suction to suck up all that pet hair
+Â Odor eliminating carbon filter and HEPA filter
+Â Very efficient with pet hair
+Â Easy to maneuver
+Â Air-powered Pet Hand Tool for furniture
+Â Excellent quality at an affordable price
+Â Ergonomic foot pedal and cord retractor for convenience
+Â A foldable handle allows compact storage
+Â Headlights for better visibility
+Â Quiet but powerful
Cons
-Â Somewhat bulky and heavy build
-Â No dusting brush attachment
Summed up
With this vacuum cleaner, you get good quality and excellent features at a mid-range price. For the price you pay, you get many great features like HEPA filtration, carbon filtration for odors, the cord retractor, and an Air-Powered Pet Hand Tool.
It’s definitely worth the investment if you’re looking for a practical upright vacuum for pet hair with all the needed features at a reasonable investment.
Our rating
Eureka PowerSpeed Lightweight Upright Vacuum Cleaner
The Eureka PowerSpeed upright vacuum is a great budget option with the necessary features every pet owners needs. High performance combined with useful details like a huge dirt cup, motorized brush roll tool for pet hair and other handy tools. Click here to read user reviews and see the latest price on Amazon.
It might not have all the bells and whistles, but this new upright vacuum from Eureka has everything you need for pet hair removal. It is a budget option for pet owners looking for an upright vacuum with a large dirt cup, strong suction and a motorized brush roll tool to effectively remove pet hair.
The Eureka PowerSpeed upright vacuum is a bestselling vacuum that gets excellent reviews from pet owners using it. If you want to know more about this vacuum, then continue reading.
Performance and ease of use
The Eureka PowerSpeed vacuum is extremely lightweight at only 12.3 pounds. You can easily lift it up and carry it around for above-floor cleaning or vacuuming the stairs. Other upright vacuums with similar features and power are significantly heavier, which makes this vacuum an excellent choice for especially those who need a very lightweight vacuum...
The 25-foot cord is fairly long, and the vacuum has an automatic cord retractor which makes it easy to pack it up. With a push of the button, the cord is quickly whipped inside the vacuum minimizing the hassle.
The main cleaning head has a strong suction and powerful brush roll which together will wipe out all kinds of dirt. The brush roll will pull up pet hair from carpets, and it has a 5-step height adjustment feature to get the perfect clean on all types of surfaces. Also, the 12-inch cleaning path ensures you get more floor area vacuumed with each pass.
Other details that make vacuuming a breeze for you are the LED headlights that offer better visibility under furniture and the 10’ extended reach feature with the hose that allows you to get to those hard-to-reach areas like vents, fans, and ceilings.
Some users find the vacuum to be a bit loud and some find it cheap looking. But at this price, you can’t really expect to get a Dyson. What you can expect though, is a well-performing upright vacuum with all the features that you would want to find in a pet hair vacuum.
Attachments
With the Eureka PowerSpeed upright vacuum, you get four tools:
- 7" Crevice Tool
- Dusting Brush
- Upholstery Tool
- a Pet Tool.Â
These tools are precisely what you need to keep your home pet hair-free.
With the crevice tool, you can get to all the pet hair that tends to collect in small crevices and between cushions. You can also use this attachment to vacuum baseboards. The dusting brush, on the other hand, is a great tool for dusting. Traditional dusters can waft dust, dander, and other allergens into the air, but using your vacuum cleaner and a dusting tool will make sure all those nasty particles are sucked into the vacuum and filtered.
The upholstery tool is something you can use to give your furniture a quick cleanup before the guests arrive, but if you really want to give that couch a thorough cleanup, you might want to bring out the Pet Tool. It is a motorized brush roll tool that allows you to carefully clean car seats, upholstered furniture, pet beds, carpeted stairs, and other such areas. The motorized brush roll is especially effective with pet hair and can remove it quickly and easily from all surfaces.
Filtration
Pet owners will also appreciate the huge 2.6-liter dust cup that will be able to take a massive amount of pet hair. It is also a Flip-Bottom Dust Cup making it easy to empty once it gets full. And because the dirt cup is enormous and the vacuum uses cyclonic airflow pet hair won’t block the air flow easily. Just remember that although the container is large, it should be emptied regularly to prevent loss of suction.
The vacuum has a foam filter that can be washed and reused to avoid maintenance costs. We always prefer seeing a HEPA filter in vacuums, but since the price point is low, it’s understandable there isn’t one. For most people, this type of filtration is enough, but if you have allergies, you might want to consider one of the vacuums with a HEPA filter.
Pros
+ 25-foot cord
+ Automatic Cord Rewind
+ 12.6-inch cleaning path
+ 5 height settings for optimal cleaning results
+ Lightweight at only 12.3 pounds
+ 10’ Extended Reach for hard-to-reach places
+ Large washable dirt cup for pet hair
+ Flip Bottom Dirt Cup for easier emptying
+ Washable filter means to maintenance costs
+ 7" Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Upholstery Tool and Motorized Pet Tool
+ Tools can be stored onboard
Cons
- Some users find it cheap looking
- Suction may fade if the filter is not properly cleaned
- Some find the vacuum noisy
Summed up
At this price point, you can’t expect to get everything, but when you compare the price and what you get, it’s totally worth the investment. The Eureka PowerSpeed vacuum is incredibly lightweight, and it provides very good cleaning results on carpets as well as hard floors. With the extension hose, wand and tools this vacuum is an all-around vacuum you can use on all surfaces of your home.
Pet owners will love the large dirt cup and motorized brush roll tool for wiping out pet hair. And you shouldn’t forget about some of the little details like LED lights and Flip-Bottom Dirt Cup that make vacuuming a whole lot easier.
It isn’t a top-notch vacuum, but neither is the price. If you’re looking for the best budget option for wiping out pet hair, then you should choose this product as your upright vacuum. It has all the right features to be a valuable tool in any pet home.
Our rating
Why choose an upright vacuum for pet hair?
Let me guess, you have one or two dogs or cats, and you’re in an ongoing battle to keep pet hair from taking over your home. It’s a daily struggle, and the supply of that pet hair is not running out.
Pet hair is one of the most challenging things to clean up. Especially that short needle-like hair that seems to cling onto everything like there is tomorrow or the long hair that seems impossible to remove.
If you want a powerful vacuum cleaner that will clean both floors and carpets thoroughly, you should find yourself an upright vacuum. These strong and sturdy yet versatile machines are what you need to wipe out pet hair.
But not just any upright vacuum. You need a few special features from what we call an upright pet hair vacuum. The vacuum needs to have powerful suction, a sturdy brush roll, and a large dirt cup to fit all that pet hair. But that’s not all.
As you know, pet hair will find its way everywhere. A brush roll will give those thick carpets a proper cleanup, but you also need to vacuum above-floor areas. As pet hair, dander and dust get wafted up into the air, they are bound to land on your furniture, drapes and other such areas. To get that perfectly clean home, you need your vacuum to adapt to all surfaces.
That’s where versatility and attachments come into play.
With an upright vacuum that has an extension hose and wand, you can direct that powerful suction to all areas of your home. You won’t just be cleaning the floor, area rugs, and carpets, but everything else as well.
The best upright vacuums for pet hair have a motorized brush roll tool that will work miracles on upholstered furniture and carpeted stairs. You can even use your upright vacuum for dusting by popping on the dusting tool. With the best part being that hair and dust are sucked right inside the dirt cup and not wafted back into the air.
An upright vacuum is the best choice if you have carpeting or many thick area rugs that need to be cleaned properly. A powerful motor will offer strong suction and power to that motorized brush roll which can pick all that pet hair right up.
Just make sure you pick up a product that has all those features you need in a pet home and one that is easily maneuvered and handled. After all, you don’t want to waste your money on something that doesn’t make your life easier.
If you’re looking to keep your home free of pet hair, then getting one of these fantastic pet hair vacuums will do the trick. Just get out your upright vacuum and get your home thoroughly cleaned. (This is how you use your upright vacuum to get the most out of it.)
Read more: Common Mistakes People Make When Vacuuming A Pet Home
FAQ
The best upright vacuum for carpet is the Shark APEX DuoClean Zero-M because it has strong suction and an efficient brush roll that lifts up ingrained dirt from even the most challenging carpets. It also comes with other highly useful features like a fully sealed HEPA filtration system and a tangle-free brush roll.
Upright vacuums are at their best on carpets. They may be heavy, but the sturdy design allows them to apply pressure on the carpet for the brush roll to dig deep between fibers. Upright vacuums are usually corded to have the maximum power for deep cleaning in tough areas such as thick carpets. This type of vacuum is the best choice for someone having carpets and big area rugs in their home.
Upright vacuums usually have a switch to change the brush roll setting from carpet to hard floor, or the vacuum does this automatically. With a change of settings, the vacuum performs better on hard floors without scratching the surface or scattering larger debris.
To add versatility, most upright have some kind of system for above-floor cleaning. Because the vacuums itself is too heavy to be lifted, the design includes a hose with a wand or such to offer reach and enable cleaning in all hard-to-reach areas.
The problem with upright vacuums is that it can feel burdensome to get the vacuum out and plug it in for small cleanups.
- If you don’t have carpeting and you think a lighter vacuum cleaner could do the trick, have a look at our top stick vacuums.
- Alternatively, if you need a sturdy vacuum, but you feel an upright vacuum is too bulky, your choice could be one of our top canister vacuums.Â
An upright vacuum should be your choice if you're looking for a robust and powerful vacuum to be the primary vacuum of your home and to do weekly cleaning. It is the best choice for homes with medium and long pile carpeting, and anyone looking for a very strong vacuum for tough jobs.
Not sure if the upright is the ideal type of vacuum for you? Check out our listing of the best vacuums for pets.
Upright vacuums are the most powerful type of vacuum. They have big powerful motors which give a strong suction and sturdy design to apply pressure to the area being cleaned. Usually, they also have many useful features and attachments which provide them with versatility. With all these features an upright vacuum is perfect for removing stubborn pet hair.
An upright vacuum is the number one choice if you are looking to thoroughly clean carpets removing all pet hair, dust, dirt, and dander. Their powerful brush rolls do an excellent job at it when you're working on the floor. And when you need to apply that strong suction on above-floor areas, you can choose the right attachment to make sure you get the cleanest of cleans.
So yes, an upright vacuum can certainly wipe out pet hair.
Upright vacuums can have a bulky design, and many manufacturers have tried to come up with new kinds of design to offer more versatility and maneuverability. When you're looking for an upright vacuum, you need to decide which features will be the most beneficial for you.
A pet owner will need functional attachments and something that enables cleaning furniture and other above-floor areas. A brush roll tool is the most effective for pet hair on upholstery, but you also need a crevice tool to get to those tight spots and maybe some other tools for other surfaces. The hose and wand used with these tools should be long enough, or you need a vacuum with a 2-in-1 design with a detachable handheld vacuum.
All of the upright vacuums in our top 5Â list have excellent suction power and functional design. They are good at removing pet hair from different surfaces, and they also deal well with other pet-related messes. For you to find the right upright vacuum for yourself, you should consider your needs.
Do you need to vacuums stairs? Then the upright vacuum should have a very long hose or lightweight design to be easily carried up the stairs with you. If you need to vacuum under furniture, maybe you need a vacuum with slim design or a detachable wand. The size of the dirt cup can be a deciding factor if your pets shed a lot, or maybe you have sensitivities and need a HEPA- filter.
To find the right upright, have a looks at our reviews and comparison table. With the information provided you will be able to compare these top upright vacuums against each other to find the perfect match for your home.
Upright vacuums are not better than canister vacuums. They both have their pros and cons, and it is up to individual preference which type is better for your home.
An upright vacuum cleaner is great for thick carpets because the weight of the vacuum adds to the cleaning power. However, upright vacuums can be more difficult to maneuver and steer, and depending on the design, it may not fit under low-built furniture.
A canister vacuum is easy to maneuver, and it fits under furniture and appliances. Still, the cleaning performance is not quite as good when it comes to very challenging surfaces like thick and dense carpets.
The best upright vacuum to buy is the Shark APEX DuoClean Zero-M. It is the most powerful vacuum cleaner from Shark, and it has many excellent features like the fully-sealed filtration system with a washable HEPA filter, DuoClean tangle-free brush roll, and three attachments including the motorized pet tool. This incredibly powerful upright vacuum is highly functional, and it offers fantastic cleaning performance.
The best upright vacuum for hardwood floors is the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away with the Hard Floor Hero brush roll attachment. This upright vacuum carefully yet thoroughly cleans hardwood floors, giving them a polished look.
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