Best Vacuum for Pet Hair and Hardwood Floors: What You Need to Know

While price isn’t the only indication of quality, you can trust in well-known brands with their premium vacuum lineups. For those of you who are having trouble with pet hairs and hardwood floors, the Shark AZ2002 will offer impressive cleaning solutions, if you are willing to pay its premium price.

The corded vacuum model from Shark features the incredible amount of suction, making it the most powerful vacuum that the company has ever made. You will have enough suction to deal with many common tasks. The improved suction will also reduce the cleaning efforts, as you only need a single swipe to pick up everything on the floors. And with the thoughtful LED lighting system at the cleaner head, you can easily vacuum during low-light conditions.

Also, thanks to the DuoClean PowerFins, the unit can easily work on multiple surfaces without any troubles. The PowerFin roller can help you collect dust and hairs from deep inside the thick layers of carpets. With the innovative design using flexible silicone fins, the roller won’t get wrapped around with hair, allowing your machine to remain tangle-free afterward. At the same time, the soft roller will work great on your bare floors without sending debris flying all over the place. Not to mention that it’ll also protect your laminate floors from being scratched.

And to make sure that you can easily work the unit on awkward surfaces, the machine comes with the convenient Lift-Away design, which allows users to easily turn their upright vacuum into a canister model. Simply carry it around and start using the flexible hose to work on any targeted surfaces. Or alternatively, you can connect the hose with the included Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush, which offers an impressive cleaning application while still maintaining its maneuverability.

Last but not least, to protect you and your family from fine dust and allergens, the Shark AZ2002 comes with the Complete Seal technology from Shark, which allows all the collected dirt to stay inside the machine. Together with the high-quality HEPA filters that can trap 99,9% of the small particles, you can always enjoy the refreshing atmosphere after each vacuuming session.

   ➜ RELATED: Shark Apex AZ1002: Pet Hair Vacuum Cleaner Test

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For those of you who are looking for an adequate alternative of the Shark AZ2002 at a more reasonable price point, the Shark ZU561 is also a great choice. And while it doesn’t pack as much power or features as its brother, users will still find the machine extremely helpful for many household cleaning tasks.

Here, the self-cleaning brush roll will help you pick up dust and dog hair without causing tangles. Although it doesn’t come with a soft brush to work on hard floors, the soft brushes are still relatively gentle on your laminated floors. And thanks to the swivel steering, you can have much more maneuverability on the machine.

And if you want to properly clean hard floors, the machine also offers many useful attachments which will allow you to work on awkward spots, tight corners, or your laminated floors in general. However, the lack of the motorized brush roll also makes it more difficult when cleaning pet hair. Together with the Lift-Away design, users can make full use of the available attachments and enjoy the Shark ZU561 like an actual canister model.

The vacuum also features a HEPA filter to prevent fine dust and allergens from affecting your breathing. And with the Complete Seal technology available, homeowners can always protect their family while working with the machine.

   ➜ RELATED: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 Upright Vacuum Cleaner

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For budget users, paying a premium or even a standard price for their vacuum cleaners is never an option. But since price is often an accurate indicator of quality, you’ll find it quite difficult to look for a good vacuum at the budget-friendly price point. This is also why we consider the Bissell PowerEdge a rare gem for budget consumers.

With a low price and adequate features, the machine is among a few products that could pass our tests. And it’s all thanks to the unique cleaner head on the Bissell PowerEdge, which comes with the V-shape construction. This allows the machine to easily funnel large debris into the center suction path, making it easier to suck them up.

On the other hand, regular dust and hair will get trapped by the useful bristles at the back of the cleaner head, allowing the floors to be cleaned with just one swipe. We did notice that you’ll have to make a slow and steady path to achieve good cleaning results. But for a product at this price range, you can’t expect more.

In addition, the flat cleaner head will allow you to reach under appliances to perform quick and effective vacuuming in any area. And the corded power source of 6Amps will make sure that you have enough power for cleaning with this pet hair sweeper hardwood floor.

   ➜ RELATED: Looking For The Best Bissell Vacuum? Here’s A Complete Review Of 20 Bissell’s

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While cored vacuum models have consistent cleaning power, sometimes, a cordless design will give you better maneuverability and flexibility, especially when working on small pet messes or spills.  So, if you are looking for the best bang for your buck, the Eureka RapidClean is a good option for many homeowners.

The machine comes with an impressive battery that can produce up to 40 minutes of consistent suction. Also, you can choose to work on the standard or turbo suction modes, which are really useful when vacuuming different areas of the house. The fingertip controls will make it extremely easy for you to control the power of your vacuum.

As for maneuverability, the machine features a relatively lightweight and the flexible stick vacuum design. Thus, making it quite convenient for carrying and working on your floors. In addition, the swivel steering will allow you to make clean turns on tight corners without having to lift the unit. And thanks to the full-flat profile, you can work the machine under appliances and furniture without any trouble. With the LED headlights available, it shouldn't be a problem to work on these low-light conditions.

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Whenever people look for the best vacuum for hardwood floors and pet hair, Dyson is always a good brand to consider. So if you are particularly fond of their products and willing to pay premium prices, you’ll certainly enjoy working with the Dyson V11.

Featuring Dyson’s latest cordless vacuum technologies and many premium functions, the unit will provide intelligent and convenient vacuuming experiences for most users.

Start by getting comfortable with the smart suction optimizations, as the machine will automatically decide the right power settings when working on different floor types. There is no need to make adjustments since everything is already automated for you.

In addition, with an impressive battery capacity which can support up to 60 minutes of run time, homeowners can always finish their cleaning tasks before having to recharge the unit. Not to mention that the advanced charging technology will allow the unit to get fully-charged in a reasonable amount of time.

And if you are concerned about the health of your family, the advanced whole-machine filtration from Dyson allows their V11 unit to trap almost 99.99% of micro particles inside the vacuum. Hence, you can always breath the freshest air after working on the machine.
 

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If you are interested in portable stick vacuum designs, then you will find the Shark ZS362 one of the best vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floors. With adequate features and cleaning power to that of Shark’s most premium vacuum models, along with a relatively portable build, the machine will allow you to clean pet hairs and work on hardwood floors without any trouble. 

Here, you can let the DuoClean power head pick up dust and hair from both your carpets and hardwood floors. The built-in brushes and soft roller will make sure that the machine can work on any surface. The combined parts can automatically adjust on different surfaces, allowing the machine to work fluently. And thanks to the tangle-free design, these brushes will not get stuck when dealing with hair, making it easier to work with the vacuum.

And just like many other innovative products from Shark, the ZS362 comes with the useful Swivel Steering function, so it allows you to easily work the cleaner head around tight corners across the house. Plus, you will have the option to convert the machine into a handheld unit by simply disabling the cleaner head. Once it is converted, you can put on a variety of different attachments, which allow users more flexibility with their use of the vacuum.

   ➜ RELATED: Shark Apex Uplight: Strong Suction In A Compact Body

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When working with vacuum cleaners, oftentimes, you’ll find yourself getting tired of all the pushing and pulling. If you wish to make the entire experience a little less challenging, it’s always possible for users to go for vacuum models that are more lightweight. And if you are also looking for the best vacuum for hard floors and pet hair, then the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser is among the few products that can satisfy your needs.

The machine comes in a full-size upright profile, which allows the manufacturer to include enough features and guarantee the suction power. Despite its look, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is relatively lightweight and will allow you to comfortably maneuver with little effort. As a result, you can make use of its agile design to swiftly move across pet hair, dust, and other debris to pick them up.

Also, the tangle-free brush designs with machine calibrated bristles will make sure that hair won’t likely get stuck to the unit. And the powerful edge-to-edge suction can help to utilize the generated power and will make sure that all the dirt is collected.

When working on bare floors, users will have the option to turn off the brush roll with the fingertip controls. As a result, you can protect your laminate hardwoods or tiled floors from being damaged by scratches.

And just like any other full-sized upright vacuum, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser comes with useful attachments, which you can easily mount onto the included hose and work the machine like a canister model.

   ➜ Related: Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet 2252 - An Affordable Vacuum for Pet Owners.

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For many experienced consumers, Shark products are always among the top choices when it comes to the best vacuum for hardwood floors and pets. Hence, if you are having trouble with pet messes or debris on hard floors, then the Shark Navigator Zero-M is a good option for a deep cleaning session.

To start with, the unit comes in a large build, which allows the manufacturer to enable many useful features. You can make use of the impressive motor to vacuum any floor types with great suction. And the 3XL dust cup will make sure that all the dust and debris are collected before you need to empty it. This will guarantee a consistent level of suction and noise control throughout the cleaning sessions.

Also, the unit comes with the swivel steering function that will help to compensate for its large profile. And whenever you need to work on stairs or other awkward places, it’s always possible to use the built-in hose. With impressive extendable length, your vacuum can reach the full length of stairs or even go as high as the ceiling.

And last but not least, like many latest upright models from Shark, the Navigator Zero-M comes with the Complete-Seal technology, which will guarantee its perfect air-filtering application.

   ➜ RELATED: What Is The Best Shark Vacuum On The Market? 9 Best Shark Vacuums

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For some people, the flexibility of a canister model often makes them more usable than an upright model, which is often quite heavy and only suitable for working with carpets.

If you don’t have many carpets and area rugs in your house, and only need the best pet vacuum for hardwood floors, the Eureka WhirlWind can easily help you with the jobs and will do them better than most other models. Not to mention that it also features a great price for the value.

With the multi-surface vacuuming technology, the machine allows you to change the power settings for carpets, upholsteries, and hard floors. As a result, you can always have the adequate suction power for many different cleaning tasks. At the same time, the complete collection of attachments will make sure that you can have the right tools for any jobs.

In addition, the huge 2.5L dust container will allow the vacuum to run for a very long time before you need to empty it. Plus, you can easily wash the dust container and the filters to make sure that the machine can stay functional.

   ➜ RELATED: Miele Classic C1: The Canister Vacuum to Buy in This Year

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Vacuum cleaning tips for hardwood floors and pet hair

The list above consists of all the best rated vacuum cleaners that you can currently get on the market. Depending on your personal preferences, you can easily choose the right one. But to make better use of them, especially when cleaning hardwood floors or dealing with pet hair, the following tips should be quite useful.

Locate all the spots beforehand

Instead of rushing to clean anything that you see first, vacuum owners should spend some time looking around the room to locate all the spots that need vacuuming. This will allow you to quickly vacuum the area and make sure that the room is properly cleaned.

Protect your furniture with covers

If you have pets that keep shedding hairs and scratching your furniture, putting covers on your stuff is an easy way to manage hair and protect them from being scratched. This also reduces the amount of debris from your pet scratching or biting the furniture.

Avoid using bristle brushes on hardwood floors

A cleaner head without the brush is recommended

Even with the best vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floors, brush rollers can still be detrimental on laminated surfaces. So whenever you need to do some vacuuming on your bare floors, it’s important to turn off the brushes. Or alternatively, you can choose to vacuum with devices like the Shark AZ2002, which features rubber fins and a soft roller that won’t damage the floors.

Adjust the cleaner head on different cases

Depending on the targeted surfaces and the certain types of debris, you’ll need to adjust the cleaner head to optimize the vacuuming results. Use the high profile for large debris and carpets. And enable the low profile for better suction on dust and hairs to make sure that you don’t miss any spots. If your machine doesn’t have an adjustable height function, you will need to do this manually. Simply hover the vacuum over large debris and return to normal height afterwards.

Work multiple times over the same area

Unless you are using a premium vacuum model with extreme suction power and adequate cleaning functions, it will take a few runs before your hard floors are clean. This is because bare floors will make the cleaner head significantly higher above the flat surface, causing the level of suction to be reduced. So make sure to work multiple times over the same area before you move to the next ones.

Vacuum your floors regularly

The best tip to keep your floors clean of pet messes and dust is to clean it regularly. You should make a schedule to clean your house weekly and always be ready to work when the time comes. In addition, by doing this regularly, you also reduce the amounts of hair and debris that need to be dealt with. Thus, making it easier to vacuum your rooms. Also, you should always have a stick vacuum available so you can immediately pick it up and start cleaning any new spots.

Vacuum your floors frequently to keep it clean

Don’t forget to change bag or empty the dust cup

A filled dust cup or vacuum bag will cause the machine to lose suction and increase noise, as the motor will have to work extra hard. Not to mention if you happen to pick up something odorous, it’ll cause the whole house to become smelly because of the airflow. Hence, you should remember to change the dust bag or empty the dust cup when they’re full. Also, if it’s possible, your vacuums will need frequent cleaning to maintain its functions.

Never vacuum sharp objects

While it can be tempting to just pick up anything on the floors with your vacuum cleaners, sharp objects like metal pieces can easily damage your vacuum. So you should check the floors for any potential dangers before proceeding.

Vacuum higher places before moving to the floors

Your hardwood floors should be the last place that you work your vacuum on, if you’re planning to do a deep cleaning session of the entire house. By dusting off all the shelves and collecting hairs on your furniture first, you’ll allow all the remaining to land on the floors. Hence, your final hard floor vacuuming sessions will really finish things up.

Use pet gloves before vacuuming

When dealing with pet hairs on upholsteries or carpets, you might want to use your pet gloves to pick them up before resorting to the vacuum cleaners. Since rubber is great at collecting hairs, you might not need to use your vacuum cleaner at all.

Conclusion

While different people will have different preferences and the products on our list are all top-rated, the Shark AZ2002 is still the best choice because of its functionality and usability. The machine is designed for multi-purpose cleaning and will guarantee perfect cleaning results on any targeted surfaces. Not to mention that it’s also extremely easy to use, thanks to the thoughtful design and many smart features.

Nonetheless, if you find yourself prioritizing other features or aspects more, then you can always select other products on the list to find the best vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floors.