Why pet hair is so hard to vacuum and 3 brilliant tips from professional cleaners that will make the job easier

Living with pets is a beautiful privilege, but one that comes with never ending clean up. Pet hair is particularly hard to vacuum as it sticks so easily to carpets, rugs and furniture, and I'm sure most pet parents have tried many methods to get rid of it.

The good news is with expert advice, there are ways you can improve the ease with which you remove pet hair from your carpets. I have spent hundreds of hours testing the best vacuums for pet hair and it's rare to find one that lives up to its claims, but with these three simple tricks from professional cleaners, you'll be amazed at the improved results.

Why is pet hair so hard to vacuum?

Just like dust and dirt, pet hair clings to carpet fibers but unlike other household messes, pet hair also generates static, and the long, thin strands are able to wrap around carpet fibers. Natural oils in the animals' fur helps it to stick even further, making it harder to remove, even if you have one of the best vacuums for carpet.

'Different breeds of cats and dogs have different hair types,' explains Luke Stitson, floorcare engineer at Dyson.

Luke Stitson

Luke is a Lead Research Engineer in the Floorcare Research Team at Dyson. Luke began his Dyson career using his multi-disciplinary skillset to develop new cleaner head technology for the next generation of Dyson cordless vacuums. In his time at Dyson, he has built a strong foundation in experimental work, the design, build, and testing of cleaner heads, primary separation systems, and test rigs.

Luke continues, 'If we look at dogs alone, you see French Bulldogs with smooth coats that consist of short, stiff fibers. Poodles and Doodle cross-breeds have textured coats with tight curls and waves. Even for longer haired breeds there can be variation in texture, with Golden Retrievers having a stiffer drop coat and Cocker Spaniels having a silky soft coat.'

This is why floorcare brands have struggled to design the perfect pet hair vacuum. 'Each of these different hair types provides a different challenge for a vacuum cleaner,' he shares. 'The longer fibers are less likely to get trapped in the floor, however once agitated by a cleaner head brushbar are more likely to wrap. Shorter fiber types do not tangle easily, but are more likely to get trapped in carpets and rugs and be harder to agitate in the first place.'

'In addition, different breeds can shed pet hair at different rates. Some do not shed at all, whilst others shed seasonally or constantly. This means different breeds will introduce different amounts of fibers into the home at different rates across the course of a year,' he elaborates.

But it's not just the hairs' structure that creates the challenge of keeping a home clean when you have pets. 'When pets groom themselves, they deposit minute allergy-causing protein particles on their hair and skin,' Luke explains, highlighting one of the most common household allergens that trigger symptoms.

'As their skin cells dry and flake off [dander], they become airborne and can carry these allergens around the home, which float in the air and settle on surfaces. Because of their microscopic size and jagged shape, they can easily stick to furniture, bedding, fabrics and items carried in and out of the home. They can also remain stuck on hair fibers,' he adds.

Allergens becoming airborne is a major reason to consider one of the best air purifiers. I use one myself as an allergy sufferer and I can't remember the last time my symptoms were triggered at home.

To help curb the pet hair and pet dander problem at home, I spoke with professional cleaners who recommended three simple but reliable methods to vacuum pet hair more effectively.

1. Groom your pets

To keep your home as fur-free as possible, start by grooming your pets. 'Keeping your pets well-groomed reduces the amount of hair they shed,' suggests Bryan Griffin, founder of Patriot Maids Cleaning Services.

Doing so will essentially get ahead of the problem, minimizing how much of your beloved animal's fur will land on carpets and furniture.

Bryan Griffin

Bryan Griffin is the founder of Patriot Maids, which he launched in 2017 and now serves over 2,000 homes annually across 12 major cities.

'Regular brushing, especially for long-haired breeds, can massively cut down on the hair around your home,' Bryan adds. A pet groomer, such as the Groomi shedding tool from Amazon, should be part of your cleaning supply checklist for pet owners.

Unlike clippers and combs, a special pet grooming vacuum such as the oneisall Dog Hair Vacuum at Amazon will capture the loose hairs it gently pulls from your pets, rather than letting them fall to the ground.

2. Pre-clean

'If you have some extra time or want to finish vacuuming quicker than usual, I suggest pre-cleaning!' says Jade Piper, cleaning professional and operations manager at BetterCleans.

'On floors, use a carpet rake first to get pet hair really embedded on carpets or rugs. I find the FURemover Original Indoor Pet Hair Rubber Broom [available at Amazon] effective for me,' she suggests.

'If you’re onto upholstery or bed, I suggest you try the Chom Chom Roller [available at Walmart]. I was skeptical at first when I purchased this, but this picked up every bit of their shedding. If you don’t have that, a lint roller works too,' she adds.

Once you've given your floors or upholstery this special treatment, vacuuming becomes much easier, just make sure you're vacuuming pet hair the right way – go against the grain, work from high to low, and overlap your vacuum passes. And don't ignore the importance of a dedicated pet vacuum.

3. Invest in a pet vacuum with the right attachments

Finally, one of the best vacuums for pet hair will do most of the work for you, banishing fur, dander and allergens from your home. We've tested 65 vacuum cleaners and know the important of having one the best vacuum attachments for pet hair.

From the dozens of hours I've spent testing vacuums at a local pet shelter, I can confirm that a vacuum with powerful suction, a robust anti-tangle brushroll, a HEPA filter and a mini motorized tool absolutely does do the trick.

Image 1 of 2

I've turned the shelter's carpets and rugs from pet hair-ridden to spotless using my best-on test picks:

Next, find out how often you should vacuum with pets, and browse our tested guide of the best carpet cleaners for pets to truly deep clean your floors.