Not only is this great for allergy suffers, catching and sealing fur, dirt and dander, but it prevent odors too. Jodhaira Rodriguez has been testing vacuums and other floor-cleaning appliances in the Good Housekeeping Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab since 2021. During recent testing for the 2022 Cleaning Awards, she assisted Carolyn Forté, Executive Director of the Cleaning Lab, in testing 24 of the newest robots, stick, canister and upright vacuums on the market. Sometimes big messes are unavoidable, and when you need a serious machine for larger-than-average areas, this vacuum cleaner will do the trick. With a 40-foot cleaning radius and a 2-liter dust cup, the SmartClean Canister Vacuum is made for big jobs.
This handheld vacuum’s lightweight design makes it easy to maneuver around furniture and use on stairs. When it comes to cleaning products, the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab tests everything you need to help keep your home in tip-top shape. Bissell has a history of manufacturing vacuum cleaners from as early as 1867, and we have been testing Bissell vacuums for many years. We consistently find that Bissell vacuum cleaners rank as some of our favorites across the board for their versatility, durability and ease of use. The Bissell MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet Vacuum pulls up so much hair that it makes my carpets look brand new again.
What we loved on test
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. 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. Mounted on the hard floor head, it’s more than just a gimmick, revealing all the dust and dirt the eye can’t see. The Bissell 1782 Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Pet Vacuum is lightweight, cordless, and contains a motorized brush that helps capture more embedded pet hair and dirt. It’s bag less dual-action filtration system is designed to extend the life of the filter providing easier cleaning. This BISSELL CleanView Swivel Rewind Pet vacuum cleaner includes two Febreeze Pet Odor Eliminator filters that help get rid of pet-related odors. The pet hair corner and pet turbo eraser tools help you remove pet hair and dander from hard-to-reach areas, and the included three-in-one stair tool makes cleaning your stairs easier.
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’. If you want more detail, here’s our rundown of the very best vacuums for pet hair. Best bagged upright for pet hair
This old-school upright will catch and seal pet fur and smells. Best robot vacuum for pet hair
Automatic pet hair removal, monitored from your phone.
Though it can’t compare to the suction power of an upright vacuum, it is a mighty little tool for fur, dirt, pet food and any other dry debris that might be lurking in your home. Alongside a dependable pet odor remover like Angry Orange, it’s an easy way to quickly clean pet messes. Even if you don’t have pets, this vacuum would be a good choice as a car vacuum or to clean up after kids. The two-in-one design features a detachable pod you can remove to hit your walls and ceilings, while the HEPA filter traps most dust and allergens so that you can breathe easy. Use this vacuum to clean every floor in your home and attach the included tools to clean on top of furniture and between appliances.
We’re proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear. Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People, covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She’s a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism. As Head of eCommerce, Alex makes sure our readers find the right information to help them make the best purchase.
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. Good to know
Like most uprights, it weighs in at 17lbs, so while it’s nimble at bissell handheld vacuum moving around furniture, it can be awkward to carry up and down stairs. They are an important part of your home and family, but the hair and pet mess around your household isn’t always quite as lovable. Per the instructions, I used it on soft fabric surfaces such as blankets and bedspreads.