10 Best Hand Held Vacuums for Cleaning Up Pet Hair

Pet Parents

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Handheld vacuums serve multiple purposes. I find myself more successfully keeping pug and pomeranian hair off furniture when I have an easily accessible hand vacuum versus a heavier option that takes a little bit more work to maneuver. Today’s handheld vacuums are a far cry from the low-power versions on the market a couple of decades ago. The vacuums are either corded or battery operated, tend to perform with more suction, and can even have attractive features such as HEPA filters, removing small particles of debris from the air. And the next time your kid knocks Cheerios all over the kitchen floor or when your four-legged friend goes into shedding season, a handheld vacuum might be a good option. We’ve looked through reviews to determine some of the best options out there.

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Things to Know

  • 2.08 lbs

  • Battery powered

  • Universal nozzle accepts 1-1/4 in. accessories such as dust brush, crevice tool, utility nozzle, and two ft. hose (kit sold separately)

Ryobi offers a solid line of battery-powered blowers, lawnmowers, weed eaters, and vacuums! The handheld vacuum promises powerful suction of dry debris. A lithium-ion battery gives the handheld device a longer run time. Considering that folks use this for more heavy-duty reasons, such as cleaning out cars or dirt from within their shops, we think it could handle pet hair.

What People Are Saying

“Great little vacuum. Best suction I’ve seen on a handheld vacuum. Also has a built-in slot on the back so you can hang it on the wall. Some people don’t realize that it’s there.”

Things to Know

  • 2.05 lbs

  • Cordless

  • Comes with storage base

It takes up to a few hours to charge this vacuum, delivering about 40 minutes of run time. That vacuum features basic attachments such as a brush and crevice tool. However, the HEPA filter pulls more particles out of the air. Choose from two suction levels, and enjoy an easy-to-clean bin.

What People Are Saying

“This is a wonderful little vacuum. It charges by usb. Completely cordless cleaning. Wish it had a longer charged time. I live with a very long haired cat and it is fantastic for cleaning her fur off furniture.”

Things to Know

  • 2.03 lbs

  • Cordless

  • Comes with brush and battery

This is a true minimalist vacuum with basic attachments that can pull up fur while not being overly complicated. A pretty pink cylinder design kind of looks like a water bottle when sitting on a desk and can simply be charged quickly via USB. Runtime averages at about 20 minutes. Two different speeds provide a variation of suction, which customers note to be pretty good! However, it should be noted that some reviews detail the vacuum to be good for light-duty jobs, but nothing heavy. Other colors include black, mint green, and silver.

What People Are Saying

“Ok used in my car. Definitely need the crevice tool. It’s good for light vacuuming. Good for just keeping up with the dirt but not a big full-on vacuuming job.”

Things to Know

  • 1.34 lbs

  • USB charger

  • Low noise

Coming with a few clever attachments, such as a brush and crevice tool and a hose that can turn in various angles, that hair suddenly becomes much easier to deal with. It’s surprising in the reviews how powerful the vacuum is, as it charges from a USB. We also like that it has a modern look and can sit in the corner of an office, looking like some cool tech gadget. According to the description, one charge will take about 20 to 25 minutes.

What People Are Saying

“This is a very well thought out handheld vacuum cleaner with very powerful suction for its size. It’s looking like I might need to get one to keep in my truck.”

Things to Know

  • 3 lbs

  • Corded

  • Good on the carpet and hard floors

Vacuuming stairs is a dreaded task that must be tackled often by pet owners who want to keep carpets fur-free. Reduce the burden by utilizing this ultra-lightweight yet powerful handheld vacuum that is ideal for swiftly running across each stair. Quickly and efficiently pull up dander and pet “sprinkles” without running out of power. The cord is 15 feet long.

What People Are Saying

“Lots of power, great for sucking up cat litter, and with 7 litter boxes in the house, a lot of litter ends up on the floor. The motor’s a bit loud, but that’s a small negative compared to the superb job it does of cleaning the floor, whether it’s hardwood or carpet.”

Things to Know

  • 2.8 lbs

  • Corded

  • Vacuum and pet grooming tool

Needless to say, the multi-function of this particular vacuum is a major appeal to pet owners. Remove hair from the source, also clean up surrounding areas. However, I have a dog terrified of vacuums, so this may not work well in that situation. But as a regular vacuum, it removes up to 99.9% of microscopic pollutants via its filtration system with a HEPA filter. The cord is just over 16 feet long, providing ample slack for moving about large rooms.

What People Are Saying

“Absolutely impressed with little hand held vacuum. Did amazing on all my cat trees, couch, and cat benches.”

Things to Know

  • 4.8 lbs

  • Uses Battery

  • Cyclonic

Black and Decker has taken the hand vacuum to the next level with an extendable suction nozzle, a crevice tool that can fit into tight places, and a brush that flips upward for cleaning upholstery. It is portable, meaning users aren’t limited by a cord and can easily clean crumbs out of the pantry or food debris from around kitchen cabinets. The description mentions that the lithium-ion battery holds a charge for up to 18 months. We would suggest looking into how much a replacement battery costs before purchasing. Being able to hold a charge for 15 minutes, cleaning up small messes should be no problem.

What People Are Saying

“This product was more than I expected it to be. I bought it for one particular purpose, clean up kitty litter from my large throw rug. It holds a good charge, charges quickly when needed & is cordless.”

Things to Know

  • 5 lbs

  • Corded

  • Cyclonic Cleaning System

Specially designed to pick up pet hair efficiently, the design is also ideal for cleaning up kitty litter and other gritty messes. Without relying on a battery, the cyclonic feature can deliver consistently. A cord wrap feature makes it easy to keep things from getting tangled when moving about the house or your vehicle. Nearly 1000 people have reviewed this long-standing favorite.

What People Are Saying

“I use this product to clean up after three Shelties with all their hair. I love the product, it makes it so easy to pick up the dog fur.”

Things to Know

  • 1.4 lbs

  • Battery operated

  • Washable filter

This modern vacuum will likely become a household essential with a multi-surface tool designed to pull pet hair out of upholstery, carpet, or off of hard surfaces. Customers have expressed great satisfaction with the chargeable product, saying that it has great suction, which works well for capturing pet glitter. Some folks use this in their car, or RVs, in addition to their homes.

What People Are Saying

“Yes! Just buy it! My mom had one, and I knew instantly I needed one. I have a 10-month-old who is constantly making messes, plus a dog and a cat. This is so easy to whip up and vacuum up crumbs, animal fur, debris tracked in from our shoes, the floorboards in the car, etc. It literally makes vacuuming fun.”

Things to Know

  • Under 3lbs

  • Corded

  • For carpet or hard surfaces

Two basic yet highly effective attachments come with this lightweight vacuum -– a crevice tool to get into nooks and crannies of vehicles or furniture and a power brush accelerated via suction and sweeps up pet hair. Longer strands won’t tangle around the specially designed “no hair wrap” fins within the brush tool. Fifteen feet of cord gives ample space to move around a medium-sized room. The dust cup is designed to be easily emptied and has a streamlined function.

What People Are Saying

“I realize that the cord is not as convenient as cordless handhelds… but this thing is so powerful and cleans VERY well. I am very happy with this purchase and the quality of this model makes me want to shop Shark for my next up-right vac.”


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