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Best dog hair vacuum 2023


Best vacuum for pet hair 2023: tested by our expert team

Cleaning up after dogs or cats is easy with the best vacuum for pet hair. Designed to capture hair, dust, dirt, and dander, these vacuums are a must-have for pet owners. Using a pet vacuum can also make your home hypoallergenic, which works wonders when seasonal allergies hit. 

Our panel of expert reviewers meticulously tested the best vacuums for pet hair, so you can trust our judgement on what's best to buy. Thanks to our hands-on experience of trialling these vacuums in our homes, I'm certain that every single one of them is a good buy. 

The specialized models from household names like Dyson, Shark and Bissell all have features that go further to clean up after your pet, which puts them among the best vacuum cleaners.

Best vacuum for pet hair 2023

Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

(Image credit: Dyson)

1. Dyson Outsize +

Best vacuum for tackling pet hair

Specifications

Type: Cordless Stick

Power: 220AW

Dust bin: 0.5 gallons

Weight: 7.98lb

Max dB: Not disclosed

Battery life: Up to 120 minutes of run time (across two batteries)

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Large dust bin

+

Excellent 220AW suction

+

Advanced de-tangling brush bar technology

+

Strong battery life 

+

As powerful as a plug-in vacuum

Reasons to avoid

-

Bulky to carry around

Why you should buy it
It's the best vacuum for pet hair you can buy.

Why I love it
Nothing comes close to the Dyson Outsize +. With 220 AW, this cordless vacuum packs all the power of a plug-in model. Loaded with all of Dyson's most exciting technology, the newly revamped detangling brush bar means that hair doesn't get tangled, and sensors that automatically adjust the suction power to each floor type. Even better, there’s an LCD screen at the rear that gives you the current battery life in minutes and even shows you handy how-to videos to keep the vacuum running its best. The most notable feature is - unbelievably - a laser. Mounted on the hard floor head, it's more than just a gimmick, revealing all the dust and dirt the eye can't see. 

I love the enormous half-gallon dust bin, which holds plenty of dirt and keeps you from going to the trash too often. The attachments are fantastic too, especially if you have pets. The most useful for pet hair is the mini motorized tool, which is great for pet hair on stairs and upholstery, but you also get a combination tool, a crevice tool, and a stubborn dirt tool with plenty of storage on the charging dock and the vacuum itself.  

Good to know
The enormous half-gallon capacity makes the Outsize a lot bulkier than other cordless vacuums, so it's noticeably heavy when cleaning moldings and stairs. The eject system on the dust bin is usually effective, but if you overfill the bin you'll have to reach in to pull out clumps of dust. Like all Dysons, it comes with a considerable price tag.

Find out more in my Dyson Outsize review.

(Image credit: Shark)

2. Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum

Best upright vacuum for pet hair

Specifications

Type: Upright

Power: 1344W

Dust bin: 1.48 quart

Weight: 17.2lb

Max dB : Not disclosed

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Powerful suction

+

Versatile design

+

Easy to maneuver

+

Odor-neutralizing cartridge

+

Self-cleaning brushroll

Reasons to avoid

-

Quite bulky

-

Small Dust bin

Why you should buy it
Exceptional suction and an odor neutralizer that banishes pet smells.  

Why we love it
Our expert tester Camryn Rabideau loved this vacuum after testing it in a house with two long-haired dogs. It has two hard and soft rollers that work together to uncover dust and debris from carpets and hard floors alike. Like many Shark vacuums, it stops hair wrapping around the floor brush and saves you the gross job of detangling your vacuum. 

Upright vacuums can be too bulky for delicate jobs, but the Shark Stratos comes with a Powered Lift-Away mode. Camryn said that 'This allowed me to pop out the main cylinder and bin, leaving me with a smaller, more nimble hand held cleaner and hose for getting under furniture and into tight spaces'.

We also love the Odor Neutralizer Technology, an innovation we've never seen before. It's a cartridge that releases a 'light, fresh scent that makes the room feel cleaner', which is especially welcome in homes with pets. 

Camryn found that the bin, which lifts out the front, could be cleanly emptied via the flap at the bottom. She also liked that you can clean the whole bin out too, too, once it gets dirty. It’s just as simple to clean the two HEPA filters.

Good to know
While Power Lift-Away makes it a little lighter to hold, this vacuum typically weighs 17lbs, so it might not suit people with mobility problems. You should also watch out for the two different versions. It seems pedantic, but the AZ3000 is just a vacuum, whereas the AZ3002 comes with an effective motorized HairPro Pet Power Brush, a duster-crevice combination tool, a multi-angle dust brush, an anti-allergen dust brush, an accessory bag, and two extra odor cartridges.

Camryn's Shark Stratos upright vacuum review has more details. 

Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum | was $429.99, now $299.99 at Shark
Use the code STRATOS130 for a discount on the Shark Stratos. Saving you $130, it's the best-value vacuum deal on offer today.

(Image credit: Samsung)

3. Samsung Bespoke Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum with All in One Clean Station

Best cordless vacuum for allergies

Specifications

Dust bin capacity: .5 liter

Weight: 6.28lb

Power: 200W

Noise : N/A

Battery life: Up to 60 minutes

Warranty: 1 years

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Exceptional cleaning on all surfaces including hard-to-reach areas we often miss

+

Versatile with loads of accessories and attachments

+

Easy to maneuver

+

Hassle-free emptying

+

Plenty of accessories

Reasons to avoid

-

Set up is complicated

-

0.5L bin would be small for a large home

-

Heavy clean station

-

Telescopic tube doesn't extend by much

Why you should buy it
The best cordless vacuum for allergies.

Why we love it
Much as we adore them, pets can cause a lot of problems if you suffer from allergies. This is especially true when vacuuming, which lifts up pet hair and dander and increases the chance of irritated sinuses. However, the Samsung Bespoke could be the solution. Like other vacuums, it has 5-layer HEPA filtration system to trap allergen particles inside the dustbin. However, it goes even further. 

The Bespoke is charged on a 'clean station', which not only powers the vacuum but sucks out any collected dust into a sealed bag. That means that when the clean station is full, you can lift out a sealed bag, removing the chance of breathing in any allergens.

On test we found it easy to maneuver, with a good 60 minute runtime. We also appreciated the handy digital screen, which displays notifications of the power level and alerts about airflow issues, clogs, missing filters, and more. 

Good to know
The powerful Jet mode is incredibly effective but the payoff is that it's very loud. Our 5"9 tester also found that the telescopic shaft is a little short, so it might not suit taller readers. 

Our full Samsung Bespoke Jet Pro Extra review has more detail.

Samsung Bespoke Jet Cordless Stick Vacuum | was $899, now $549 at Best Buy.
By sheer discount, this is one of the best deals around. You can now save $350 on the Samsung Bespoke Jet Cordless Stick vacuum, our choice for the best vacuum for tackling allergies.

(Image credit: Dyson)

4. Dyson Ball Animal 2

Best upright Dyson

Specifications

Dust bin capacity: .55 gal

Weight: 17.5 lb

Power: 270AW

Noise : ~90 dba

Cord length: 35 feet

Warranty: 2 years

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Very powerful

+

Particular excellent on carpet

+

Long hose and extension reach

+

Maneuvers easily

+

Large dustbin

Reasons to avoid

-

Hair wraps around the brush roll

-

Only one power setting

-

Heavy to carry between levels

Why you should buy it
The best upright Dyson

Why we love it
Dyson's Ball Animal 2 is an older release than the Ball Animal 3, but we actually think it's better than its successor.  

Though not as powerful as the Ball Animal 3, it's incredibly effective on all floor types, and particularly good at getting pet hair up from carpets. When we rolled it down a carpeted hallway, the big half-gallon dust bin filled up with hair and fur which other vacuums in the same test had missed. 

A 35-foot cord means you cover whole rooms without needing to unplug and replug, which means that in some single-story homes you can clean the entire place. The hose has an enormous 40-foot reach, making it easy to clean stairs and catch cobwebs in the corner of your rooms.  Despite the size, Dyson's famous ball design makes it nimble when moving around furniture. 

Good to know
Like most uprights, it weighs in at 17lbs, so while it's nimble at moving around furniture, it can be awkward to carry up and down stairs. 

There's more detail in our full Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum review.

Dyson Ball Animal 2 | was $499. 99, now $349.99 at Dyson
This is probably the best Dyson deal you'll see — $150 off an old Dyson upright that we think can more than match some of the newer models. 

(Image credit: Dyson)

5. Dyson Ball Animal 3

Best pet hair vacuum for carpets

Specifications

Type: Upright

Power: 290AW

Dust bin: .55 gallons

Weight : 17.3lb

Max dB: Not disclosed

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Powerful suction

+

Easy to maneuver

+

Performs extremely well on carpets

+

Three suction settings

+

Other models available with different tools

Reasons to avoid

-

Heavy 

-

Awkward control placement

-

Hard-to-use hose/wand

Why you should buy it
The best suction on carpets and area rugs; great for large homes.   

Why we love it
Dyson's latest upright, Camryn's tests of the Ball Animal 3 found that iconic ball design of the Animal range means it easily steers around furniture and between chair legs. It's powered by a mighty 290 AW, and has three suction settings with settings for high and low pile carpets and bare floors. Though it has great performance on hard floors, this vacuum truly shines on carpets and rugs. Camryn found that it does 'an unbelievable job pulling dirt and dog hair out of the fibers', lifting up pet hair and dust she couldn't even notice with the naked eye.

The Ball Animal 3 also has a newly designed brush head. It incorporates “hair removal vanes” to prevent long hair from getting wrapped around the brush roll, saving you from detangling it. 

For detail work, the hose removes for use with the combination tool (crevice tool and brush), and stair tool. Additional variations are available too that include the likes of a pet grooming tool, a mini-motorized tool for cleaning upholstery, and even a mattress cleaning attachment.

The bin removes easily from the front, letting you eject dust without making a mess. And, thanks to the washable HEPA filter, the Animal 3 is certified asthma and allergy-friendly, too. 

Good to know
Like the Shark Stratos and Ball Animal 2, this vacuum weighs in at 17lbs. It might not suit people with mobility problems or homes with several floors. This is made worse by the fact the three suction settings are changed by a button on the floorhead, so if you struggle to bend over it can be frustrating to use. 

In some ways it struggles from success — while not a problem Camryn faced, some users complain that the suction power makes this vacuum hard to push on the carpet. 

Camryn's full Dyson Ball Animal 3 review goes into more detail

Dyson Ball Animal 3| was $499.99, now $399.99 at Best Buy
If you want to save a little money, there's $100 off this powerful vacuum at Best Buy.

(Image credit: iRobot)

6. iRobot Roomba j7+

Best robot vacuum for pet hair

Specifications

Type: Robot

Dust bin size: .42 gallons

Noise level: N/A

Battery life: 75-minutes

Warranty: 1-year

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Accurate Obstacle Detection

+

Self-emptying

+

Superb cleaning

+

Intelligently maps and shows where it cleans

+

Beautiful design

Reasons to avoid

-

Replacement bags cost extra

-

Can't set Keep Out Zones until after a map is complete

Why you should buy it
The best robot vacuum, effective pet hair

Why I love it
I adore the iRobot Roomba j7+. It's the first iRobot to use PrecisionVision Navigation to recognize objects and avoid obstacles like pet waste and charging cords. It operates in clean, methodical lines and spots any obstacles in its path. On test, it flagged everything from dog toys to shoes and even thin power cords, with a photo of the obstacle so you can mark out no-go areas if needed. 

My new favorite standard in robot cleaning is the self-emptying base. When the iRobot Roomba j7 detects that it is full, it automatically goes to eject into the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal, a sealed system that can hold up to 60 days of debris. The j7+ comes with a bag pre-installed, and an extra one. 

I found this vac incredibly effective at pulling up pet hair, eradicating crumbs, and navigating throughout the home. The only reason I haven't placed it at the very top of this ranking because not all of you will be looking to buy one of the best robot vacuum cleaners. 

Good to know
You can't set Keep Out zones until after a map is finished, which is a little counterintuitive. The app can also be a little glitchy, and like all robot vacs, it's not always effective when cleaning tight corners. 

There's more detail in my full iRobot Roomba j7+ review.

(Image credit: BISSELL)

7. Bissell ICONpet

Best pet hair vacuum cleaner for overall cleaning

Specifications

Dust bin capacity: 0.4ltrs

Weight: 7lb.

Noise: 81dB

Battery life: 50 minutes

Warranty: 3 years

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Headlights useful for cleaning under sofa

+

Best performance on hard floors

+

Tangle-free brushes

+

Wall bracket for charging 

+

Impressive design details

Reasons to avoid

-

Heavier to use than some others

-

Edge cleaning could be better

Why you should buy it
Good for allergy sufferers, hard floors and low pile carpet

Why we love it
Expert tester and pet owner Courtney Irwin found that the Bissell ICONPet's 'powerful suction traps pet hair and dander', and it's great for those with allergies. It also swivels for fantastic maneuverability, and Courtney reports that the tangle-free brush roll is the real deal when dealing with accumulated strands of hair from humans and pets. This cordless vacuum is perfect for hardwood and area rugs. 

At the center of the ICONPet is a 22V Lithium-Ion battery which gives you up to 50 minutes of fade-free suction, ample time to do a thorough cleaning job of an average sized house. The Clean Slide technology makes for easy dust bin removal with as little contact with dirt as possible. This a major moment for anyone who hates dealing with cleaning out the vacuum. Courtney also enjoyed the small design details like the LED crevice tool, which lights up nooks and crannies as you clean, as well as the handy progress indicator on the inside of the charging dock

Good to know
If you've got high-pile rugs and carpets, look elsewhere. Courtney found that 'it didn’t live up to my expectations on the plush carpet in my bedroom', struggling to perform on even the strongest setting.  

We tested the original ICONPet, but Bissell has since released Edge and Turbo editions. Everything we've seen so far indicates an improvement on the original, with the Edge promising better edge cleaning and the Turbo offering more powerful suction.

Courtney's Bissell ICONpet review has more details.

(Image credit: Miele)

8. Miele Classic C1 Cat and Dog Canister

Best pet hair vacuum for bagged cleaning

Specifications

Type: Canister

Power: 1200W

Dust bag: 4.5qt.

Weight: 16.1lb.

Max dB: 80dB

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Generous operating radius

+

Self-sealing bags

+

Easy to maneuver

+

Lots of power

Reasons to avoid

-

Replacement bags are expensive

-

Limited Availability

Why you should buy it
A sealed bag system makes this great for allergy sufferers.  

Why we love it
The Miele C1 Cat and Dog Canister vacuum has spacious 4.5qt bags that self-seal on removal and provide extra filtration on top of a HEPA filter. Miele's models for pets use a special charcoal filter called Active AirClean filter that captures and retains over 99.9% of lung-damaging particles as well as hair and fur. Not only is this great for allergy suffers, catching and sealing fur, dirt and dander, but it prevent odors too. 

The hose and wand come off the back, so you can use the crevice tool and small turbo brush for smaller areas. The latter is particularly effective for tackling pet beds and upholstery. There’s a 29ft cleaning radius with this model, so you won’t need to keep swapping power sockets as you make your way around the house. Suction power is incredible, thanks to the 1500W motor, so cleaning across the board, not just for pet hair, is exceptional.

Good to know
The obvious downside to these self-sealing bags is that they're a recurring cost. Miele only make high-end products, so this recurring cost is on top of an already high price. 

This vacuum has been reviewed by one of our editors and the full review will be available shortly. 

(Image credit: Tineco)

9. Tineco Pure One S15 Pet Smart Cordless Vacuum

Best vacuum for pet hair for smart features

Specifications

Corded or battery powered?: Cordless

Dust bin: 0.47 liters

Weight: 6.8lb

Max dB: Not disclosed

Battery life: Up to 40 minutes

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

iLoop sensor detects hidden dirt 

+

Flexible and easy to use

+

Impressive LED screen

+

Built in headlights to catch dust 

Reasons to avoid

-

Struggled with large debris in our tests

-

Can only be charged via Floor Dock

Why you should buy
Smart features, deep cleaning, and quick pick ups.

Why I love it
The Tineco Pure One S15 Pet Smart Cordless Vacuum adjusts power on the fly for different surfaces and levels of dirt. I love the neat screen at the back which shows you battery life, and has a colored progress ring around the outside: it’s red when there’s dirt and turns blue to show you when you’ve finished cleaning. The battery lasts up to 40 minutes when you use the auto-suction feature – not the longest I've tried but good enough to whizz around an average-sized house. 

The Pure One S15 comes with tons of accessories: a 2-in-1 dusting brush, a crevice tool, a soft dusting brush, and it all conveniently stores on the included Floor Dock. The stand out is the mini power brush, which is great for cleaning pet beds.

If you struggle with mobility, this vacuum is one of the lightest in this feature, weighing in at just 6.8lbs. 

Good to know
While it's great for deep cleaning of pet hair and dander, it struggled to pick up larger debris like rice and cereal, requiring extra passes.  The only way to charge this vacuum is through the dock, which takes up floor space. 

Our Tineco Pure One S15 review has more details

How we test the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair

At Homes & Gardens we like to get hands-on experience with all the products we feature. You can learn more how we test products in our dedicated guide, but the reason for this is to simply help you: we share our testing experiences so you can be confident in what you are buying. 

Each new vacuum we get the opportunity to review is tried and tested in our own homes, undergoing rigorous testing on a range of flooring and household challenges (cereal on hard floors, pet hair on the sofa, debris on carpet, and more).

We test the vacuum cleaners for a number of weeks (sometimes months) so we get a feel for the longevity and durability of each model. In some instances, we are also fortunate enough to keep the vacuum cleaners after writing up the review so we can continue to learn about them and share our findings with you. We look out for factors such as maneuverability, run-time, emptying of the dust bin (or bag), and general controls so you know exactly what you are getting for your money, and whether or not it is worth it for what you need it for. The feedback from other users is also something we look out for, especially if we are in the process of reviewing a product and we felt it was (already) a good enough product to feature in our round-ups of the "best of" guides.

Below, you can discover more about the team responsible for testing these vacuums.

Jaclyn is the US eCommerce editor for Homes & Gardens, where she oversees sleep content including mattresses and bedding. She tested a number of vacuums within this list, including our standout top pick, the Dyson Outsize, the Shark Vertex, Tineco Pure One S15, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 and the iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum, so she's well informed to tell you which one to invest in for your home.

Homes Editor, TechRadar

Jen is Homes Editor on TechRadar. Previously she has written for Ideal Home, Real Homes and Homes & Gardens as our Appliances Editor. She has tested out a number of vacuums in this guide, including the Shark Vertex Upright Vacuum with Powered Lift-away, and the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Vacuum Cleaner.

Product Reviewer

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer who has been testing home goods, including cleaning tools, for several years. She tested the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Vacuum and Shark Stratos Upright from her small homestead in Rhode Island. As the owner of two dogs and a cat, she’s always looking for the best products to help keep her home (at least somewhat) free of pet hair.  

Contributing Editor

Midwestern product tester and writer Courtney Irwin is a working mom of three who loves nothing more than a good deal. Courtney has spent years curating home renovation and appliance content, and has tested a range of products for Homes & Gardens, including mattresses, kitchen appliances and vacuums.

Vacuum cleaner for pet hair FAQs

How do I choose a vacuum cleaner for pet hair?

How do I choose a vacuum cleaner for pet hair?

Pet hair is a challenge for vacuums to pick up, and you also need to contain fur and dander to prevent allergies. You need a cleaner with good suction, the right types of accessories, and HEPA filters.

For dealing with carpets or rugs, this means a motorized brush bar, which uses rigid bristles to agitate and loosen hair so that it can be sucked up into the bin. 

For hard floors, having pure suction flow through the cleaner makes more sense for hair, but look out for a cleaner that has a soft brush, designed to pick up pet dander and microscopic bits of dust first.

Tools for dealing with pet hair around the house are just as important. A mini motorized brush can be your best friend, giving you the same qualities as a floor brush in a smaller package that can help clean up pet beds and upholstery with ease.

Any motorized tool with tangle-free technology is worth looking for, as you won’t have to worry about cleaning the tools so often.

Otherwise, look out for regular accessories (dusting brushes, crevice tools and so on) for getting into those hard-to-reach areas and removing all traces of pet hair from your home.

Bissell IconPet tested on hard floor

(Image credit: Courtney Irwin)

What's the best cordless vacuum for pet hair?

Our top pick, the Dyson Outsize+ is a great option if you're after a powerful design with all the bells and whistles, and several attachments to make cleaning up after pets a lot easier. Its power replicates that of a corded design and offers up to two hours of battery life, more than enough time to clean. The half-gallon dust bin is the largest dust bin available on a cordless, so if your pet sheds excessively, you won't have to empty the dust bin every five minutes.  However, it costs nearly $1000

Our runner up is the Shark Stratos Upright . It's hundreds of dollars cheaper, and offers anti-hair wrap technology that will save you picking pet fur out of your vacuum, and an odor neutralizer that banishes pet smells. 

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

What's the best vacuum for pet hair on a carpet?

When it comes to homes with ample carpet, we continue to love Dyson upright models, including the newly upgraded Dyson Ball Animal 3 or its predecessor, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 . Both offer tremendous suction power and cull out the most embedded dust and dander from carpets. 

We were also impressed with Shark's corded offerings, be it the Shark Stratos or the Shark Vertex , which are slightly easier to push or maneuver over the carpet as they have a built-in propellant. 

What's the best vacuum for pet hair on hardwood floors?

Again, the Dyson Outsize + is a great option for cleaning on hard floors, especially with the addition of the Laser Slim Fluffy Cleaner Head, which is specifically built for cleaning on hard floors.  

We also like the design of the Shark Stratos and the Shark Vertex collection, both upright and cordless models with its Duo Clean Power Fins Technology that incorporates a silicone PowerFins roller and a soft roller to swiftly suction dust and debris, even larger pieces and stays well-engaged with floors. 

(Image credit: iRobot)

What's the best robot vacuum for pet hair?

The best robot vacuum for pet hair is without a doubt the iRobot Roomba j7+ . Not only does it have decent pickup performance, an auto-emptying bin so you can basically set it and forget it,  and amazing navigating skills, but it also has features designed specifically for pet parents, including the ability to avoid pet accidents, pet toys, food bowls, cords, among others. They also offer this very unique proposition: the Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P) where iRobot will replace your j7+ if the accident turns gets dragged into a larger one.

What's the best vacuum for pet hair on a couch?

For removing pet hair from a couch or other upholstery, you'll want to select a vacuum that comes with attachments such as a mini-upholstery tool that make it easy to vacuum across delicate fabrics. Most cordless and handheld vacuum styles will be sufficient for removing pet hair and dander from upholstery. 

The Dyson Outsize + comes with a mini-powered tool, and many of the best Dyson vacuums come with one as well. As the base model, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 does not come with a hair turbine tool, but it can be found on upgraded models like the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra or the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Complete  

However, the Shark Stratos base model does indeed come with its own non-motorized tool which is just OK, but its upgraded model comes with the HairPro Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush, a motorized tool for furniture.

Which is the best vacuum for pet hair from the car?

For removing pet hair from places like the car, we recommend one of the best handheld vacuums like the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Lithium Ion Hand Vacuum which has a built-in hair tool attachment that's easy to slide across upholstered seats. It's compact enough to stay in your trunk too if you want a dedicated product. otherwise, you'll get on with one of our other cordless options that also have a hair tool attachment. 

Are HEPA filter vacuums worth it?

When sucking up dust and pet hair, it’s not what you can see that can cause irritation and allergic reactions, but the microscopic dust that you can’t. 

Pet dander, for example, are microscopic skin cells shed from animals that cause reactions in people with allergies.

HEPA filters are designed and rated to prevent these particles from escaping the vacuum cleaner, sealing in the dirt that’s collected. This is very important in a pet vacuum cleaner, particularly if anyone in the house (or a regular visitor) has sensitivities to your animals.

Are bagless or bagged vacuums better for allergies?

As discussed above, a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters is what you need if you have allergy sufferers, keeping the microscopic irritants sealed inside the dust bin. However, the big issue is what happens when you empty a vacuum.

For bagless cleaners, emptying has to be done with care, as opening the bin can create a cloud of dust, releasing smaller particles back into the air, causing issues for those with allergies.

Bagged vacuum cleaners have an extra level of protection, as the bags act as both additional filters to prevent particle escape, but you also remove and throw away the dirt without exposing it to fresh air. Look for a cleaner that has self-sealing bags for the best results.

As such, bagged vacuum cleaners are often easier to deal with for households where members are very sensitive to allergens. 

That doesn’t make bagless cleaners a poor choice, though: just be careful how and where you empty the vacuum’s bin. To prevent the spreading of allergens, a vacuum bin should be ejected either down, directly into a larger internal bin or, for additional safety, emptied in the same way into an outside bin.

Round up of today's best deals

Shark Stratos upright vacuum

£329

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Samsung Bespoke Jet

£529

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Dyson Ball Animal 2

£374. 90

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iRobot Roomba j7+

£847.86

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Bissell ICONpet Cordless Vacuum

£499

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Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog

£159.99

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Jaclyn is H&G's eCommerce editor and oversees all things shopping. She's also a bonafide sleep expert, and previously managed all sleep content on Homes & Gardens and Real Homes– in fact, she has passed our five-step certification process to become a verified customer advisor on mattresses. She regularly scouts out the best of the best for buying guides to help you fill your home with only the best. She joined the team in January 2021. She has previously worked with Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, The Spruce, The Spruce Eats, and MyDomaine.  When Jaclyn's not working, she loves browsing real estate listings, unwinding with a chilled glass of Rosé, and entertaining her Cavapoo, Reese. 

Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum review (AZ3000)

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If you share your home with a dog or cat – or multiple pets – a high-quality vacuum is an absolute must. The best vacuums for pets have powerful suction that can handle hair, dirt, and dander, and you may also want to look for things like HEPA filtration and tangle-free brushrolls, especially if your pets have long hair. 

The Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum (AZ3000) boasts all these features, as well as odor neutralization and multiple attachments. The Stratos also stands out among the best vacuums thanks to its versatile design, which has a unique LiftAway mode that makes it easier to tackle hard-to-navigate areas, like stairs and underneath furniture. There are even LED lights on the brushroll that make it easy to spot dirt and hair on your floors and in dim corners, delivering a more thorough clean. 

While the Shark Stratos sounds like a great choice for multi-pet households, we wanted to see if it lives up to the hype. I tested the vacuum for two weeks, using it to clean up after my two long-haired dogs, and I was thoroughly impressed by its suction power and ability to handle tough messes. 

Shark Stratos Special Offer| $429 $299 at Shark Cleanwith code STRATOS130

This special promotional price is available exclusively via Shark and includes a free under-appliance wand.

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About our reviewer

About our reviewer

Product Reviewer

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer who has been testing home goods, including cleaning tools, for several years. She tested the Shark AZ3000 Stratos Upright Vacuum from her small homestead in Rhode Island. As the owner of two dogs and a cat, she’s always looking for the best products to help keep her home (at least somewhat) free of pet hair. 

When Camryn is not tinkering around with the latest home gadgets, she spends her time tending to her animals, working in her garden, or crafting.

Who will love the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum?

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

The Shark AZ3000 Stratos Upright Vacuum is best for busy households with one or more pets, as it offers powerful suction and filtration, and it’s equally effective on both long and short pet hair. It’s designed to be used as a primary vacuum for deep cleaning carpeting and hard floors – because it’s a corded model and fairly bulky, it isn’t the most convenient option for picking up small messes or cleaning out your car.  

Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum: Specifications

(Image credit: Shark)

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

My first impressions of the Shark Stratos were that it’s fairly heavy but easy to maneuver. It weighs a substantial 17.2 pounds, which makes it quite bulky to carry around, but its swivel steering allows you to get into corners and around obstacles. Still, I think the size and weight of this vacuum will make it hard for some people to use.

I love that this vacuum has two brushrolls on the floorhead – the PowerFins HairPro brushroll has stiff fins that dig deep into the carpeting to pull up hair and dust, while the soft brush roll does a great job picking up dust and fine particles from hard floors. Plus, if one of the brushrolls ever gets stuck, the LED lights on the front of the floorhead turn red, letting you know that you need to stop and fix the problem. I only ever had an issue with this when I was using the wrong suction setting.

The other thing I noticed right away is that the vacuum gives off a fresh odor when you’re cleaning, thanks to the “odor-neutralizing cartridge.” I can’t say whether it actually gets rid of pet odors or just covers them up, but it does leave behind a light, fresh scent that makes the room feel cleaner.

What is the Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFin Upright Vacuum like to use?

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

Unboxing the Shark Stratos

 When the Shark AZ3000 Stratos arrived on my doorstep, the packaging wasn’t in the best condition. It had gotten banged up quite a bit during shipping, and the top was partially ripped off. However, the good news is that everything inside the box was still in perfect condition. All of the different components were wrapped in styrofoam padding and plastic, and while this made for a lot of waste, it did keep the pieces from being broken or scratched during transport. 

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

The vacuum was quick and easy to assemble. All the pieces clicked into place, and assembly was very intuitive, only taking me around five minutes to complete. The only time I had to consult the manual was when inserting the “odor neutralizer cartridge,” which gets installed in the top of the floorhead. It simply twists into place, and you’re able to adjust it to give off more or less scent. 

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

On Carpets
While my house has mostly hardwood floors, there are area rugs in almost every room, and they collect lots of dirt, dust, and pet hair throughout the day. There’s a slider on the vacuum’s handle that adjusts the suction for different types of flooring, and I typically used it on the medium setting, as my rugs are low-pile. 

I was honestly shocked at the pure suction power that the Shark Stratos delivers, and it excelled at removing pet hair and dirt from my carpets, quickly filling up the dustbin. Even just vacuuming the 9-by-6-foot area rug in my dining room, the dustbin was full of hair and dirt and needed to be emptied before I moved on to another room. It also managed to pick up ⅛ cup of uncooked rice in a single pass, leaving the floor spotless.  

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau)

On Hard Floors 
Upright vacuums don’t always work well on hard floors, as their powerful brushrolls can scatter debris around, but the Stratos had no problem picking up pet hair and dust from my hardwood floors. Its soft brushroll helped to capture those fine particles, and it was also able to pick up larger debris, like leaves and fuzz from dog toys, with no issues. I even spilled ⅛ cups of uncooked rice, and the vacuum picked up the pieces with no problems, pulling the rice out from between the cracks easily.

The only issue I ran into when vacuuming the hard floors in my kitchen was that the vacuum sucked up the small kitchen mat. I had the vacuum on its highest suction setting, which is meant for hard floors, and it ended up pulling the mat up into the brushroll. 

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

On Stairs
 The main staircase in my house often has little piles of dog hair in the corners of each step from my pets running up and down all day, and I typically use a cordless vacuum to suck them up. However, I found it to be almost as easy to use the Shark for this task thanks to its LiftAway mode. When you press the LiftAway button on top of the canister, the whole thing lifts off the base, making it much more compact and lightweight. I could easily rest the canister on the stairs as I cleaned with the crevice tool, and the suction power is much stronger than my cordless vacuum, meaning it picked up more dust and hair with each pass. 

My only complaint about this mode is that the hose itself is quite short—probably around 2.5 or 3 feet. It’s supposed to be able to stretch out, but because the suction is so strong, it ends up shrinking back on itself when you turn the vacuum on. 

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

On Furniture
I tested the Shark Stratos AZ3000, which only comes with a non-motorized upholstery tool, but if you opt for the Stratos AZ3000 (a slightly more expensive model), you’ll also get the HairPro Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush, a motorized tool for furniture. I used the tool to clean off one of our dog beds, as well as the sofa where my dogs like to nap, and I wasn’t really wowed with its performance. 

The vacuum needed to be on its lowest suction setting, otherwise, the tool just sucked onto the fabric too hard. It did pick up most of the dirt and debris on the furniture, but it wasn’t able to pull out embedded hairs. 

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

Cleaning and Maintenance
When I first looked at the Stratos vacuum, I thought it had a large dustbin—ideal for picking up lots of pet hair. However, once I started using it, I noticed that the “Max Fill” line is only about ⅓ of the way up the side of the bin, which was really disappointing. When I vacuumed my kitchen and dining room, I ended up having to stop and empty the bin two times, and even then, I usually ended up filling the bin more than I should have between empties. This is definitely one of the major downsides of this vacuum.

There are a few other maintenance tasks you’ll need to complete to keep the Stratos running in peak condition. It has a washable foam filter that needs to be rinsed once a month. Honestly, after two weeks of fairly heavy use, this filter was already starting to look quite dirty and could likely be cleaned. You’ll also need to periodically replace the odor-neutralizing cartridge—the brand recommends installing a new one every six months.

Storage
The Shark Stratos isn’t the most convenient vacuum to store. It has a fairly large footprint and is quite tall, meaning it will take up quite a bit of space in a closet or other storage space. The power cord can be wound around the cord wrap on the side of the machine, but unfortunately, there’s nowhere to store the accessories on the vacuum itself.  

How does the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum rate online?

On the Shark website, the Stratos AZ3000 has more than 300 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars. It gets top marks from pet owners, who agree that the suction is unbeatable, and many people also note that it works well on both fine particles and larger debris. 

Among those who weren’t totally satisfied with the vacuum, some of the most common complaints were that the vacuum is quite heavy and can tip over easily when you’re using the attachment hose.  

How does the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum compare to other models?

You may notice that there are two versions of the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum—the AZ3000 and the AZ3002 —and the main difference between the two is the included accessories. With the AZ300, you only get a crevice tool and a non-motorized upholstery tool. However, if you upgrade to the AZ3002, you’ll receive the motorized HairPro Pet Power Brush, a duster-crevice combination tool, a multi-angle dust brush, an anti-allergen dust brush, an accessory bag, and two extra odor cartridges. However, this model has a higher price tag. 

Also within the Shark lineup is the Shark Vertex Upright, which has many similar features, except it does not have the new Odor Neutralizer Technology. The Vertex has a slightly smaller dust cup, but it also weighs marginally less, while also having a larger cleaning path and a longer hose. The two are pretty comparable in terms of suction power, pick up, and maneuverability.  At it's base, the Shark Vertex comes with more accessories, but the extra Pet attachments are available with the AZ3002 version. 

In terms of price and size, the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum is quite similar to the Dyson Ball Animal 3 , which we also tested. The two offer similar suction power and weigh around the same, but the Dyson does have a larger dustbin capacity and on-board accessory storage.  

Should you buy the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum?

(Image credit: Camryn Rabideau )

This is on the higher end as upright vacuums go, but the pure suction power of this machine makes it worth it. The vacuum performs excellently on virtually all surfaces, and its detachable canister makes it more convenient to clean stairs and other hard-to-reach areas. Plus, it handles pet hair like a pro and leaves a fresh scent behind as you clean.

The main reason you might not want to buy this vacuum is its weight. At more than 17 pounds, the Stratos is quite bulky and can be somewhat hard to move around, which may not be practical for some households.  

Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum: where to buy

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Top 5 Hair & Hair Robot Vacuums (2023)

To avoid making the wrong decision, there are a few things you need to know before buying a dog hair robot.

Good cleaning of pet hair is a must for a robot vacuum cleaner in a pet household.

However, we also consider other important criteria that make life with a four-legged friend much easier.

Here is an overview of the most important points:

In the following, we will take a closer look at the individual points.

Requirements: The model must first of all be a universal good robot vacuum cleaner!

In the " Best Pet Hair Robots" category, we only review excellent robot vacuums that, in ADDITION, also handle the special challenges pet owners face as well as possible.

A good robot vacuum must meet very specific requirements. Including: strong suction power on hard floors and carpets, clear and versatile App mobile app, good navigation, long battery life, low volume and good value for money.

If you want to know more about what a good robot vacuum can do, check out: robot vacuum overview. Here you can also find our selection of the best robot vacuum cleaners.

Because let's be honest: What's the point of having a robot vacuum cleaner that perfectly removes dog and other pet hair...

...but otherwise leaves most of the dirt in the apartment?

Probably not too much.

We summarize: The ideal solution is: a superior robot vacuum cleaner that also additionally is also well suited for cleaning pet hair.

As a pet owner, you naturally have special requirements for your robot vacuum cleaner.

We will look at them in more detail in the following sections.

Suction power

A robotic pet hair cleaner must have good suction power...

...at first glance, this may seem a bit trivial. But especially with pets, excellent suction power is very important.

This applies to both hard floors and carpets.

Because pets not only lose a huge amount of hair. Also, a lot of different dirt is brought into the apartment.

In this case, you must trust your robot vacuum cleaner.

Check that the device has several cleaning modes.

Maintenance required to clean the brush

Long hair is not usually a problem for the robot cleaner. The dog's hair is very light, so it can be easily picked up and sucked up by the robot vacuum cleaner.

However, animal hair (especially long hair) may wrap around the brush.
This applies to almost all tested robotic vacuum cleaners (exception: iRobot Roomba i7).

Then why not just remove the brush?

It doesn't make sense.

This is because the brush usually consists of bristles. The texture and rotation of the brush ensure that the dirt is firmly picked up from the floor.

Good cleaning results on hard floors and carpets are usually achieved largely thanks to a good main brush.

But how do you get rid of hair on your brush?

In principle, it is not a problem if a few long hairs wrap around the brush.

The robot cleaner can continue to clean your home normally.

However, there will come a time when you will have to remove long hair.

When buying a robot vacuum cleaner, make sure that the brush can be easily removed and can be disassembled on the sides. Because long hair often gets stuck here.

Ordinary scissors can be used to remove trapped hairs.

Many manufacturers offer a more convenient solution. There is often a special cleaning tool under the hood.

This cleaning tool is specially designed for hair removal.

Long animal hair and human hair can be removed easily and reliably.

Also very practical: the cleaning tool can be stored directly under the hood of the robot vacuum cleaner, so it is always at hand and cannot get lost.

Some manufacturers have recognized the problem and offer special solutions for this.

Big plus: long hair can't get stuck here. If a bit of the dog's hair is caught on the sides, it can be easily pulled out without much effort.

Mobile dust container size

Who doesn't know this: you just cleaned your apartment and the floor is already dirty again.

Even our little dog - so cute - regularly makes a big mess.

The mobile dust container of the robot cleaner fills up quickly.

In particular, pet hair takes up a lot of space in the dust container.

Therefore, the larger the dust container, the better.

(optional) automatic self-cleaning system

Especially if you have several large dogs at home, the robot cleaner will quickly reach its limit.

A large amount of dog hair fills the mobile dust container relatively quickly.

So you have no choice but to manually empty the container every day.

The solution to your problem is called: automatic self-cleaning station.

And here's how it works: When docked with the charging station, the mobile dust container of the robot cleaner is sucked out using a special device. The dirt is then securely stored in a separate dust bag at the self-cleaning station.

The dust bag at the charging station only needs to be replaced every few months.

It facilitates and automates your daily cleaning.

Especially for heavily soiled households with several dogs, a robot vacuum cleaner with an automatic self-cleaning system can be the ideal solution.

Does the robot vacuum cleaner have a built-in wet cleaning function?

Robot vacuum cleaners with a mop function have one big advantage: they can vacuum and mop the floor at the same time.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the so-called combined devices (hybrid models) are very popular.

As a pet owner, a robotic vacuum cleaner with a wipe function can also be of great interest.

Your four-legged friend's paw prints and water stains can be successfully removed.

However, at this stage we would like to emphasize that although the cleaning performance of hybrid models is constantly improving, it does not currently replace manual floor cleaning.

If your four-legged friend took a nice mud bath outside before, even the world's best robot vacuum cleaner won't help :)

However, the wipe function reliably removes light stains, small pieces of dirt and dust and , thus making your home cleaner.

If you want to learn more about the Wet Cleaning Robot Vacuum, then read our detailed review on the topic: Best Cleaning Robot Vacuum: Our Favorites and Our Review.

Tip: Pay attention to the size of the water tank. The larger the water tank, the more area can be wiped at a time.

Does the robot vacuum cleaner have a HEPA filter?

We strongly recommend that you make sure that your Pet Hair Robot has the HEPA Filter .

As a pet owner, you certainly know how much dirt our dear four-legged friends bring into the apartment every day.

It is not enough if the robot cleaner sucks up coarse dirt, but leaves fine and invisible dirt (eg allergens, fine dust and pollen) in the room.

Fortunately, however, there is a HEPA filter.

This guarantees that even the smallest dirt particles are previously removed from the intake air.

The HEPA filter, especially for allergy sufferers, is an absolutely essential part of robotic vacuum cleaners.

How good is the cleaning of skirting boards and corners?

Especially along the skirting boards and in the corners, a lot of animal hair accumulates.

Therefore, a robot vacuum cleaner must achieve good cleaning results in these hard-to-reach places.

Cleaning along skirting boards:
For good results when cleaning along skirting boards , it is important that the robot cleaner has side brush .

The robot cleaner then moves very close to the baseboard and the side brush can selectively pull out the dirt stuck there and transport it to the suction port.

Corner cleaning:
As a rule, robotic vacuum cleaners are round in shape.

Therefore it is physically impossible to remove 100% dirt from corners.

However, robot vacuums perform satisfactorily in this category as well.

Only a small area deep in the corner cannot be brushed with the side brush.

As the proud owner of a robotic vacuum cleaner, you have the privilege of cleaning your home almost daily. This means that there will be significantly less dog hair in the corners.

Therefore, the problem in this case is not so big.

Roborock S5 Max also keeps us clean every day. Thus, very little dirt accumulates in the corners. With a conventional cordless vacuum cleaner, we only need to briefly vacuum the corners once a month (more information here: Cordless vacuum cleaner in the test review). Do not need anything else.

D-shaped robot cleaners achieve slightly better results when cleaning corners. In particular, there are several interesting models in the Neato Robotics range. However, even they do not give 100% satisfactory results.

"D-shaped" robot vacuum cleaners have many disadvantages elsewhere, so we would not like to make recommendations for "D-shaped" models.

Restricted/Prohibited Zones

If you have pets in your home, there will always be places where the robot vacuum cleaner should not vacuum.

Typical examples are a drinking/eating bowl or a cat litter box.

So more than practical if you can quickly and easily define the appropriate restricted areas in the App mobile phone application.

Volume

A loud vacuum cleaner is not only a concern for people.

Especially four-legged friends have very sensitive hearing . Loud noises can scare pets.

Therefore, it is recommended to choose a robot vacuum cleaner that is as quiet as possible.

Generally, robot vacuum cleaner noise level is 50-65 dB.

In addition, most models offer suction control via the App app.

If you select one of the low cleaning modes, the noise level for your pet will be reduced accordingly.

Automatic obstacle detection using artificial intelligence (AI) technology

If you have several pets at home, you probably know what the problem is: there are always objects on the floor. You don't get to clean up.

Even for a robotic vacuum cleaner, an untidy apartment can be more or less of a problem.

It can quickly happen that the robot cleaner gets stuck on loose objects, such as dog toys. In order to continue cleaning, you must intervene and release the au pair.

In other words, laser navigation is reaching its limits.

Help is provided here by “artificial intelligence”.

In this way, the object can be identified as a specific obstacle and the robot cleaner can drive around it.

Deebot OZMO T8 AIVI, Roborock S6 MaxV or Deebot OZMO T8+ are examples of such modern robot vacuum cleaners.

Dog feces are generally safely identified as an obstacle and avoided.

While the technology is currently not 100% reliable, it is nevertheless a significant help for large households with multiple dogs.

Value for money:

Your new robot vacuum cleaner will accompany you and your pet for years to come and make life easier for you.

Learn more