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Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair: 6 Cordless Picks
A cordless handheld vacuum is the tool for pet hair on a couch, a car seat, or a staircase. Three of the six picks below name a motorized brush in their listings, and the other three list brushes or tools of other kinds. The American Kennel Club (AKC) says that “For dogs that shed seasonally, the heaviest shedding usually occurs in spring and fall.” It adds: “You may notice increased hair around your home during these times. This is normal, but you may need to groom your dog more often on a temporary basis.”
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) gives a reason to vacuum with care: “Allergens can get into the air when you pet or groom an animal. Once allergens have settled, they can be stirred into the air again. This can happen during dusting, vacuuming, or other household activities.” The sections below cover what the AAFA and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) say about vacuums.
Best Handheld Vacuums for Pet Hair
Every pick below is cordless. Check price and stock on the listing before you buy.
Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Handheld Vacuum
The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus listing calls it compact and built for quick cleanups and says it is “Designed to tackle car messes, quick cleanups at home, and unexpected pet hair.”
What the listing says
- The accessories are listed as “Crevice Tool, Scrubbing Brush, Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush.”
- The suction is described as “two ultra-powerful cyclonic air streams.”
- The listing describes a CleanTouch dirt ejector “For easy, hands-free debris disposal.”
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser listing says it will “Remove embedded dirt and pet hair with a motorized brush tool designed specifically for homes with pets.” The model number on the listing is 2390A.
What the listing says
- The tool set is a motorized brush tool, an upholstery tool, and a crevice tool.
- Power comes from “a 14V lithium-ion battery.”
- The listing calls the bin an easy-empty dirt bin and the filtration triple-level.
Shark Cyclone PET Handheld Vacuum
The Shark Cyclone PET listing leads with “HYPERVELOCITY SUCTION: Provides incredible deep-cleaning performance in a lightweight hand vacuum.” The model number on the listing is AA701.
What the listing says
- It includes a crevice tool and an “Upholstery Tool & Scrubbing Brush to remove stubborn pet hair from furniture, carpets, and more.”
- It charges over USB and has an XL dust cup.
- The filter is “Removable, washable filter for easy maintenance and cleaning.”
BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum (HNVC215B10)
The BLACK+DECKER dustbuster listing describes “Multi-Surface Versatility - Clean-up small crumbs in the kitchen, pet-hair on furniture, dirt covering high-traffic areas and more.” Its listed tool is a built-in crevice tool. Related reading: Vacuum Cleaner for German Shepherd.
What the listing says
- A wall mount stores and charges it: “Store and charge conveniently with a wall mount that keeps your vac in one place when not in use.”
- The listing calls it a Transparent Bowl so you can “Easily see when the bagless, clear, dirt bowl needs to be emptied.”
- The listing says “Help maintain strong suction with a washable filter and dirt bowl.”
BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Reveal Pet Hair Vacuum (HLVD320BP07)
The BLACK+DECKER Reveal listing says the motorized brush will “Lift stubborn pet hair with the onboard motorized brush.” The listing says the onboard LED will “Help illuminate hard-to-see debris in your cleaning path”.
What the listing says
- It comes with a pet brush and a crevice tool, and it charges on an included charging base with an indicator light.
- The runtime line reads “Long Runtime - Up to 16.5 minutes of runtime*.”
- The dust bowl and filter are both listed as washable.
Vacmaster Cordless Hand Vacuum Pet Vacuum with Motorized Nozzle
The Vacmaster listing gives a runtime for eco mode: “35 minutes of runtime (on eco mode) on a single charge.” The model number on the listing is DHVB1401.
What the listing says
- It offers “two suction speeds for different levels of cleaning,” a 14.8V battery, and a built-in LED light.
- The brush line reads “Lift the brushroll cover for regular floor cleaning, and lower it for safe cleaning of delicate fabrics like curtains and bedding.”
Handheld Vacuums for Car Seats, Couches, and Cat Hair
The Shark Pet Pro Plus listing above names car messes, and three more listings name the car or auto interiors. The Bissell listing lists tools “to tackle messes on furniture, stairs, auto interiors, and more.” The dustbuster listing says to “Use around your home or in your car.” The Reveal listing says “Go from home to car with a lightweight and portable design.”
For couches, the dustbuster listing says its crevice tool will “Reach into tight areas like couch cushions or tops of shelves,” and the Reveal listing says it will “tackle dust, debris, and dirt from floors, stairs, couches, and more.”
The AAFA explains what is in pet hair: “When you have a pet allergy, you are not allergic to the pet’s hair, fur, or feathers. You are allergic to the protein that is found in the pet’s dander (dead skin cells) saliva, and urine. The hair, fur, or feathers collect the dander.”
For cat hair, the ACAAI says on its pet allergy page: “Cats produce multiple allergens (proteins that can cause allergy). These allergens are found on the fur and skin and in saliva.” For both cat and dog allergy, the ACAAI lists this strategy: “Regular use of a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner or a central vacuum can reduce allergen levels.”
Read more about best vacuums for pet hair.
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair
Suction Power
The listings describe suction in different words. The Shark Pet Pro Plus names two cyclonic air streams, the Shark Cyclone PET names HyperVelocity suction, and the Vacmaster gives two suction speeds.
Motorized Brush Roll
The Bissell, the Reveal, and the Vacmaster listings each name a motorized brush. The Shark Pet Pro Plus lists a self-cleaning pet brush, and the Shark Cyclone PET lists an upholstery tool with a scrubbing brush. The dustbuster lists a built-in crevice tool.
Battery Life
The Vacmaster listing gives 35 minutes on eco mode, and the Reveal listing gives up to 16.5 minutes. The Bissell listing names a 14V lithium-ion battery, and the Shark Cyclone PET listing names a lithium-ion battery with USB charging.
Filtration
The AAFA says: “Vacuum fabric furniture and carpets weekly. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly® vacuums meet AAFA’s standards for vacuums.” The listings name filters in their own words: triple-level filtration on the Bissell, and a washable filter on the Shark Cyclone PET, the dustbuster, and the Reveal.
Weight and Ergonomics
The dustbuster item dimensions list 1.4 pounds, and the Shark Cyclone PET listing says “only 1.6 lbs.” The Bissell item dimensions list 3.0 pounds. The Shark Pet Pro Plus listing says “At only 2.8lbs,” while its item dimensions list 3.09 pounds.
Ease of Cleaning
The Shark Pet Pro Plus has the dirt ejector, the Bissell has the easy-empty bin, and the Shark Cyclone PET has the XL dust cup. The dustbuster and the Reveal list a washable dirt bowl or dust bowl.
Read more about best pet carpet cleaners.
Sources
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Allergic to Your Pet? Learn About Dog and Cat Allergies
- American Kennel Club, Dog Shedding: What to Expect and How to Manage It
- American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Pet Allergies
- Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Handheld Vacuum listing on Amazon
- Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum listing on Amazon
- Shark Cyclone PET Handheld Vacuum listing on Amazon
- BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum listing on Amazon
- BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Reveal Pet Hair Vacuum listing on Amazon
- Vacmaster Cordless Hand Vacuum Pet Vacuum with Motorized Nozzle listing on Amazon
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