Are stick vacuums good
for pet hair?

Published on June 8th, 2020

So you have a pet that sheds, and often you feel like pet hair is absolutely everywhere. In covers your furniture and clothes, you find it in your bed, and it even finds its way into your food. Yuck.

The battle against pet hair is constant, and there is no end to it because the supply is living with you and will not stop shedding no matter what you do.

You can try to minimize shedding by brushing, bathing, and grooming your pet, and even the diet plays an important role in shedding. But no matter what you do, your pet will shed, and especially during shedding season, hair is everywhere. It literally invades your home.

So what is the solution?

There is nothing that beats a good vacuum cleaner when it comes to removing pet hair. But it can be tiresome if you don’t have a vacuum that does the trick. So how do you make vacuuming easy and effortless?

A stick vacuum is lightweight, versatile, and easy to use. You can use it to vacuum almost any surface. But are stick vacuums good for pet hair?  Let’s find out..

Why is pet hair a problem?

The problem with pet hair is that it is everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. You pet tosses and turns on the couch, leaving it covered with pet hair, and once he gets up, all that hair is wafted into the air landing throughout your home.

Pet hair can be found on the floor and carpets, but it is especially good at latching onto upholstery and bedding. And it doesn’t stop there. If you’re a pet owner, you probably own a few lint rollers because your clothes are always covered in fluff. You’ve also probably found yourself using desperate measures like duct tape or wet rubber gloves for a quick clean up before the guests arrive.

Because pet hair is everywhere, your vacuum needs to be able to handle all sorts of spaces, areas, and surfaces. And that is why powerful stick vacuums are the perfect choice for pet homes.

The perfect allrounder

Dyson v10 on floor

A stick vacuum with a good floor cleaning head and a sturdy brush roll will not just pick up pet hair from floors, but it will keep your carpets clean as well. And because it’s slim-lined and easy to maneuver, you can easily clean under the bed and furniture – areas which tend to collect wads of pet hair.

Once you’re done with the floor and carpets, just change into the handheld vacuum to clean all the above-floor areas. A good set of attachments will help you clean and dust:

  • Baseboards
  • Bedding
  • Mattresses
  • Shelves
  • Door frames
  • Vents
  • Fans
  • Curtains…

The list goes on and on. Where there is pet hair, there is a need for a vacuum cleaner. And a stick vacuum is the perfect vacuum is your looking for a practical and convenient allrounder to keep pet hair under control. (More about This is a stick vacuum.)

Easy to use (so you will actually use it)

Another critical factor is that a vacuum cleaner for pet hair needs to be easy to use. If the appliance is heavy, difficult to steer, or it doesn’t adapt to different surfaces easily, chances are you won’t use it.

Vacuuming will feel like a chore when you don’t have functional and efficient equipment, and you will start to avoid doing it altogether. Your pet will keep shedding, but since you're not vacuuming, the mess builds up.

And when pet hair accumulates, you will find it even harder to grab that vacuum and start cleaning. It’s a vicious circle.

When trying to keep your home free or pet hair, having the right equipment and keeping to a routine is key. Since your pet sheds every day, you need to vacuum every day too.

But if vacuuming feels like a tiresome chore, you are less likely to stick to a routine. And this is the reason we recommend stick vacuums for pet owners who want to keep their homes clean.

A stick vacuum is easy to pick up, and it is always ready in its charger for a quick spin. Because it's lightweight and easy to maneuver, vacuuming will feel like a no-sweat job, and you won’t mind doing it. Sticking to a routine and using just a couple of minutes every day to remove pet hair will have a significant impact on the cleanliness of your home. And because you have a stick vacuum, it won’t even feel like a chore.

pet hair on floor

5 essential features to look for

Stick vacuums are definitely good for pet hair. You can use then on all surfaces, and they are convenient, which helps you keep to a routine when removing pet hair. If you have a pet that sheds, but you would like to have a pet hair-free home, you will benefit big time from getting a stick vacuum.

So how do you choose a stick vacuum that can wipe out pet hair? Focus on these key features:

Suction and brush roll

A stick vacuums should have powerful suction to be able to pick up persistent pet hair (and dust, dirt, and other debris). However, stick vacuums do not just rely on suction for picking up dirt.

A brush roll plays a big part in how well a compact vacuum like this performs. Make sure the vacuum has a strong suction combined with a powerful brush roll that has proven to be efficient at picking up pet hair.

A sturdy brush roll will engage the surface of the carpet and dig deep to lift up dirt, dust, and pet hair. With a good brush roll bar, the vacuum will be able to clean carpets and catch even the most persistent needle-like pet hair.

Attachments

When it comes to stick vacuums, functional attachments and tools add to the versatility of the appliance.

Most of these vacuums come with a crevice tool for tight spots and a dusting brush you can use to dust above-floor areas and delicate objects. Some vacuums even come with flexible extension hoses, upholstery tools, or car kits (or you can buy them as add-ons).

For pet owners, the most important tool is a motorized brush roll tool. It is the easiest way to keep your furniture and bedding free of pet hair.

brush roll stick vacuum
Dyson Cyclone V10 Combination tool, Crevice tool, Mini Soft Dusting Brush, Mini-motorized Tool

Dirt cup and filtration

First of all, you will need a dirt cup that can fit all the pet hair the vacuum picks up. If the dirt cup is too small and gets packed up quickly, it may affect the performance negatively. If you have one short-haired pet, any dirt cup will be sufficient, but if you have a whole pack of Huskies, it is a different matter.

Secondly, you should make sure the filtration on the stick vacuum is adequate. This is especially important for pet owners with asthma or allergies since pet dander is one of the most common allergens. A good filter will not only filter out pet hair but even the smallest dust particles too.

Summing up

Stick vacuums are the ideal solution for keeping your home clean and preventing the invasion of pet hair. Because these vacuums are so convenient and easy to use, your battle against pet hair just got a lot easier.

From the floor to ceiling, a stick vacuum can handle every inch of your home, removing pet hair carefully and efficiently. And not just pet hair but all other pet-related messes as well. Scattered kitty litter, spilled kibble, dirt on the hallway floor – just grab your stick vacuum, and the mess will be gone within seconds.

If you are the owners of a pet that sheds, you will love a stick vacuum. Once you have one, you will never want to use anything else.

Matt Clayton
Matt Clayton
Chief Editor & Founder of PetHairPatrol

Matt is the founder of PetHairPatrol.com and has years of experience helping pet owners keep their homes clean. He's been featured in publications like Reader's Digest, Money, and BestLifeOnline. When this neat freak is not searching for better ways to get rid of pet hair, dander, and other messes pets leave behind, he's usually enjoying outdoors with his two (hairy) Goldens: Ben and Jerry. Read more.

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