Those hardwood floors in your home are beautiful, when they’re clean. But if you have a shedding pet, keeping those floors free of dirt and debris can be a real challenge. Using a heavy upright vacuum meant to plow thick carpets can damage your beautiful floors. The best vacuum for hardwood floors and pet hair is one that’s gentle on surfaces, lightweight, easy to slide under tables and chairs, but super powerful when it comes to sucking up pet hair.
Finding the right vacuum for hardwoods can be tricky. While all major brand vacuums have the power to capture pet hair efficiently, quite a few vacuums that are great for carpets just aren’t made for hardwood surfaces. Their stiff brush bristles and hard plastic wheels can scratch or bump, some have floor heads that get easily clogged with fur, and others have small-capacity dust cups that quickly become overwhelmed, especially if you have multiple furry pets.
Miele Classic C1 canister vacuum cleaner for dogs and cats
This vacuum might be a splurge, but its powerful suction can tackle pet hair on any surface, including delicate hardwood floors.
While we’re talking about dealing with pet hair: You can reduce shedding (and aspiration) by scheduling regular grooming sessions for your pet. Book a professional or set aside time to do it yourself. After all, combing your cat or brushing your dog is more enjoyable than cleaning the house, but these wood-safe vacuums will make your household chores a lot easier.
The best vacuum for hardwood floors and pet hair
When vacuuming hardwood floors, you need a vacuum that’s powerful enough to suck up pet hair, but also gentle enough not to damage your surfaces; this Miele model strikes the perfect balance. Miele’s six different suction settings let you adjust that power to best suit whatever surface you’re vacuuming (including hardwoods). This model also features a soft parquet brush that’s perfect for sensitive floors, as well as a variety of built-in tools (including a crevice tool, upholstery tool, hand brush and dusting brush) that make make getting rid of pet hair simple and fast, no matter where it may be hiding.
Notable Features:
- Six-setting suction control via an easy-to-use rotary dial allows you to easily adjust suction for different surfaces
- Five levels of height adjustment.
- The Parquet Twister Floor Brush provides 180-degree rotation for quick and thorough (yet gentle!) cleaning of hardwood floors.
- Ergonomic and lightweight design
Bonus: Mieles are famous for their quiet operation and our review of the top-of-the-line Miele C3 bears this out: the food mix for the normally skittish vacuum clung to watching the cleaning action.
Miele Classic C1 canister vacuum cleaner for dogs and cats
This vacuum might be a splurge, but its powerful suction can tackle pet hair on any surface, including delicate hardwood floors.
Most of the machines on our list have rubber-coated (or rubber-coated plastic) wheels and high-quality brushes to protect your floor, and most importantly, powerful suction to remove stuck-on pet hair. to baseboards and stairs. The best ones have low-profile brushes that allow you to reach under furniture. Some have LED “headlights” mounted on the brush head to help you spot those wisps of pet hair under the bed or behind the couch.
Ken Raasch, business director of quality sewing and vacuum cleaners in Western Washington (and pet parent of a lab mix) adds some expert advice: “If you’re getting a canister vacuum, look for one that vents filtered air upwards.” instead of down or out,” he says. That will prevent dust and fur that you haven’t reached yet from flying around the rooms. “And if you’re dealing with odors from your dog, look for a vacuum with a very good sealed air system and activated carbon filters.”
Fortunately, several manufacturers now offer vacuums specifically designed for both pet hair and hardwood floors that include many of these features. We think you’ll love these machines (even if your pets don’t).
This Bissell upright vacuum is designed specifically for hardwood floors. It features a unique squeegee system that sucks pet hair off the floor and channels it into the vacuum. The unusual V-shaped foot is designed to make it easier to pick up dirt and pet hair around table and chair legs. It’s no wonder this vacuum cleaner has such a devoted following of satisfied customers (and pet owners!). An Amazon reviewer raves about the quality of this vacuum, noting that you never have to replace filters; you just rinse them off, let them air dry, and they’re ready to go again.
Notable Features:
- At 7.5 pounds, this lightweight vacuum is easy to carry upstairs
- 20-foot power cord allows for a wide range of motion without having to unplug and move
- Squeegees on the floor head attract fine dirt, debris, and dander. No brushes to clean or worry about scratched floors.
- V-shaped foot helps clean hard-to-reach places, including corners
Bissell PowerEdge Pet Bagless Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Specifically designed for hardwood floors, this vacuum features a unique squeegee system to suck up pet hair.
Even with its surprisingly lightweight body and the ability to transform into a smaller handheld or ladder vacuum, this upright vac doesn’t disappoint when it comes to cleaning pet hair off hardwood floors. Its powerful 2-amp motor captures dirt, dust and pet hair, and the wide nozzle increases efficiency.
Notable Features:
- Washable and reusable filter reduces maintenance costs
- 3-in-1 design lets you clean a variety of surfaces, including hardwood floors and stairs
- Features an extra-large (and easy-to-empty) dust cup
- Equipped with a crevice tool and 18-inch power cord
Aspiradora Eureka Blaze Stick
This ultra-lightweight upright vacuum transforms into a smaller ladder and handheld vacuum when needed.
Want heavy-duty performance in a lightweight machine? This corded canister vacuum from Bissell is a good option. It has a large 1 liter dustbin that can handle long cleaning jobs and is designed with rubber wheels and extra soft bristles to clean delicate floors without scratching or gouging. A low-profile floor header gives you easy access to areas under furniture where pet hair collects.
Notable Features:
- The brush head is resistant to dirt and soft to the ground.
- Easy-empty dirt tank opens from the bottom for mess-free disposal
- Compact and lightweight design for easy transport and storage.
Bissell Hard Floor Expert Bagless Canister Vacuum
This lightweight canister vacuum is ideal for cleaning hard floors, thanks to its rubber wheels and extra-soft bristles.
Don’t let the old school look fool you. This new model from Oreck is an Amazon’s Choice item and was endorsed by a reviewer in the Chicago Tribune as “tough enough to withstand frequent cleanings in homes with lots of pet hair.” It moves smoothly between carpet and hardwood floors by automatically adjusting to floor height.
Notable Features:
- Balanced brush roll with double helix brushes
- Light (9 pounds)
- Automatically adjusts to the correct height from the floor
- Las ruedas de goma protegen sus maderas duras
Oreck Commercial Upright Vacuum
This vacuum was approved by a Chicago Tribune reviewer as “tough enough to handle frequent cleanings in homes with a lot of pet hair.”
Tired of cleaning up pet hair that gets tangled around your vacuum’s power brush? Take a look at the Shark Navigator upright vacuum cleaner. Not only does it remove pet hair, but it includes a system that removes pet hair from the brush roll.
The Pet Pro is designed to easily switch between carpet and hardwood (just adjust the suction) and has a high-capacity dust cup for all the pet hair you collect. And while it looks like a stud, it can also double as a canister vacuum, with an extendable hose that reaches 12 feet for easy stair cleaning. Includes HEPA filtration to remove allergens and odors. Look for the ZU60 or ZU62 (with duster brush attachment).
Notable Features:
- Anti-allergy sealing technology and HEPA filter
- lightweight design
- Adjustable suction lets you easily go from hardwood floors to carpet
- 25-foot cord lets you move freely around the room (and from room to room throughout your home) without having to unplug
- Accessories (for use with the hose) include a crevice tool and a wide surface upholstery tool for removing pet hair from chairs and sofas. The ZU62 also has a duster brush.
Aspiradora vertical Shark Navigator Zero-M Pet Pro
Not only does this vacuum remove pet hair from carpets and hard floors, it also has a built-in self-cleaning system that removes pet hair from the brush roll.
Need a smaller, lighter vacuum that still packs plenty of power? Check out the battery-powered 7-pound Shark Rocket. It gets rave reviews for its ability to remove pet hair from hardwood floors (use the “Bare Floor” setting), thoroughly and quickly. It’s easy to remove and use the powerful handheld vacuum to get into tight areas. Tip: Look for Rocket Pet Pro models IZ162H and IZ162HC; its batteries are removable and can be charged with or without the vacuum cleaner.
Notable Features:
- Diseño liviano (7.7 libras)
- Adjustable suction lets you easily switch between hardwood and carpet floors
- 25-foot cord lets you move freely around the room (and from room to room throughout your home) without having to unplug
- LED headlights on the floor nozzle help you spot pet hair
- Washable foam and HEPA filters
A corded version of the Shark Rocket won Rover’s Bissell vs Shark: Best Handheld Pet Hair Vacuum Smackdown, with our reviewer commenting “the Shark Rocket is more versatile, achieves better suction, generates less air and fan noise, it works better on different floor types and conditions, and is easier to operate and clean overall.”
Aspiradora de varilla inalámbrica Shark Rocket Pet Pro
The “bare floor” setting of this lightweight, battery-powered vacuum has received rave reviews for its ability to remove pet hair from hard floors.
Use your hands free to remove pet hair from your hardwoods. Pure Clean has eliminated the spinning brush of early robotic vacuums and relies on powerful suction to collect pet hair. Two exterior brushes move dirt from corners into the path of the vacuum. Low profile allows unit to slide under sofas and beds. While this little robotic device has fewer features than most vacuum cleaners (and some other robots), users report that it’s quiet, efficient, and gentle on their floors. Note: Please make sure to get the newest (V2) from Pure Clean, with lithium battery, charging time of four hours and running time of 90 minutes.
Notable Features:
- A one-touch power button initiates hands-free cleaning
- The rechargeable lithium battery has a charging time of 4 hours and a working time of 90 minutes.
- Two rotating side sweeper brushes pick up dirt and debris in corners and on hardwood floors
- Cliff sensors allow the unit to detect stairs and prevent falls
Pure Clean V2 Robot Vacuum Cleaner for Wood Floors and Pet Hair
Equipped with two rotating side-sweeping brushes to suck up dirt and debris, this robot vacuum is a convenient option for cleaning pet hair off hardwood floors.
And now for something completely different. No charging, no storage, and absolutely no risk of damaging your beautiful hardwood floors. This 1400-watt bagless canister vacuum is a must-have in beauty salons; you can see where we’re going with this. It can also be your home solution for drifting pet hair. Just grab a soft-bristled broom (like OXO Good Grips) and move the hair into the EyeVac Pro; As soon as its sensor detects sweeping motion, powerful suction kicks in at ground level and picks up pet hair. This could be the perfect solution if you frequently touch up hardwood or tile in your living or kitchen areas and don’t want to pull out a full-size vacuum every time.
Notable Features:
- contactless activation
- Six foot cord for easy positioning along a wall
- Two high-efficiency filters remove dust and dirt from the air
Aspiradora estacionaria sin contacto EyeVac Pro
This bagless canister vacuum removes dust and debris from the air without the risk of damaging your floors.