The Best Canister Vacuums for Cleaning Up Pet Messes

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker
Published on
March 26th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Adam has a passion for cleaning from his youth growing up in England, and he has carried it with him to the US. Adam’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the Advanced System Cleaning specialist (For HVAC cleaning / ductwork), through NADCA (this is the highest certification that NADCA has), as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Adam has either advised, consulted, or done research with dozens of cleaning and cleaning related business entities. Adam holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a Master’s degree from Harvard Business School.

The Cleaning Institute

A good canister vacuum is a tremendously useful household appliance when you have a pet. It can be used in most any room of the house and can make cleanup quick, easy, and fun. The best vacuum cleaners provide enough power to suck up dirt, dander and clutter, while reducing the time needed to get your house in “guest-ready” condition.

In this guide, we will run down some of the top picks in canister vacuums, along with a green option.

Testing Categories

In the course of comparing canister vacuums and how well they work for pet owners, the importance of power, durability, ease of use, weight and power saving features will quickly become apparent. These factors will influence the general usability of the device, as well as the quality of performance you can expect.

Power. A vacuum should be able to provide adequate suction for most applications. The most powerful vacuums can suck up even toys and large debris, so you can imagine how effective they are at sucking up dirt and dander. That being said, there is such a thing as too much power. You definitely don’t want your vacuum to damage anything in the process of cleaning. You should, therefore, make sure that the unit you purchase can be dialed back for lower suction when necessary.

Durability. Unfortunately, this is where so many vacuums fail. A good vacuum should be able to provide years of reliable performance. Vacuums are prone to overheating, which can put undue stress on some of the components. When choosing a vacuum, check the user reviews to find out how it holds up to regular use.

Ease of Use. Vacuums can be surprisingly difficult to operate. Some of them seem to have minds of their own, and you might find that a good deal of your cleaning time is spent wrestling with the unit instead of actually getting anything done! A lightweight vacuum is generally easier to handle, but this shouldn’t come at the cost of performance. With careful comparison shopping, you should be able to find a unit that strikes the perfect balance between performance and manageability.

Weight. A lightweight vacuum is generally preferable to a heavy unit, but there are other factors to consider as well. Heavier units generally provide more power and have better performance, and some are actually easier to handle. A good rule of thumb is to choose a vacuum that provides sufficient power for your uses without being excessively heavy.

Power-saving features. Vacuums suck up more than just dirt. They are also notoriously power hungry, which should concern those looking to keep their electricity costs low. More modern designs will have power-saving features. These are essential for getting the most out of your unit without adding too much to your costs.

Top Pick

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower
Lightweight Commercial
Canister Vacuum

A powerful and versatile unit that effectively cleans tight spaces where pet dander gathers. It comes with a reusable cloth bag and can also be used with paper dust bags. The built-in blower provides added functionality.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The Hoover CH30000 is one of those vacuum cleaners that can effectively clean most areas with ease. It is equally capable of cleaning tight spaces as it is wide open areas. We also like how the cord is long enough to reach the furthest corners of even sizable rooms. With this unit, you won\'t have to unplug and plug in the unit repeatedly. The suction is also nice and powerful, and it performed well picking up pet fur and dander on both carpet and hard floors.

Biggest downsides: The handle isn’t as ergonomic as we would have liked. After several minutes of using it, you will probably start to feel a bit of hand fatigue. We would have also liked to see a padded shoulder strap and a cord that wraps securely around the handle.

5/5
Power
5/5
Ease of Use
5/5
Weight
4/5
Power Saving
5/5
Durability

Honorable Mention

Bissell
Zing
Bagged Vacuum

A portable and handy unit that cleans up different types of surfaces well. Powerful vacuuming action sucks up pet dander on most floors, and a convenient switch lets you go from carpets to hard floors.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The Bissell Zing is so lightweight and portable that we were surprised to find how effective it actually was. It weighs barely 10 pounds, which makes it extremely easy to move from spot to spot. Even if it was considerably heavier, we have no doubt that it would be just as easy to manage, given the large and very effective wheels. The powerful suction and easy cleanup make this vacuum a winner in our book.

Biggest downsides: The Bissell Zing is a bit thick, which makes it less suitable for tight spots, which is often where pet fur gathers. The tool holder also leaves a bit to be desired in terms of form and functionality, as it tends to get caught on furniture or fall off during use. Replacement bags are also a bit pricier than the average.

4/5
Power
4/5
Ease of Use
5/5
Weight
4/5
Power Saving
4/5
Durability

Green Pick

Eureka Mighty Mite
Bagged Canister
Vacuum Cleaner Pet

A specialized vacuum designed for pet hair and messes. It works well as a dust remover, with a HEPA filter that effectively sucks up 99.97% of the dust in a given area. A 20-foot cord provides extended reach.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The aptly-named Eureka Mighty Mite is everything that the name suggests. Strong and durable, it boasts of powerful action in a compact package. Even the wheels are solidly built, and we are fully confident of the unit’s ability to go the distance. The length of the cord is an especially nice feature. It is long enough to reach from end to end of the largest rooms, but it isn\'t quite long enough to become unmanageable. We also love the thick and durable hose and the excellent HEPA filter that prevents dust from escaping.

Biggest downsides: The hose can be prone to occasional kinks, which cuts off the suction at the most inopportune moments. The switch for dialing back the power is also too easy to activate, and it can take a while before you notice that you are on the low setting.

4/5
Power
4/5
Ease of Use
4/5
Weight
5/5
Power Saving
4/5
Durability

The Best Canister Vacuums for Cleaning Up Pet Messes

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower
Lightweight Commercial
Canister Vacuum

Power

Ease of Use

Weight

Power Saving

Durability

Bissell
Zing
Bagged Vacuum

Power

Ease of Use

Weight

Power Saving

Durability

Eureka Mighty Mite
Bagged Canister
Vacuum Cleaner Pet

Power

Ease of Use

Weight

Power Saving

Durability

All Our Picks

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower
Lightweight Commercial
Canister Vacuum

Bissell
Zing
Bagged Vacuum

Eureka Mighty Mite
Bagged Canister
Vacuum Cleaner Pet

Quick Links

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The Best Canister Vacuums for Cleaning Up Pet Messes

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Hoover CH30000 PortaPowerLightweight CommercialCanister Vacuum

Power

Ease of Use

Weight

Power Saving

Durability

Bissell Zing Bagged Vacuum

Power

Ease of Use

Weight

Power Saving

Durability

Eureka Mighty Mite Bagged CanisterVacuum Cleaner Pet

Power

Ease of Use

Weight

Power Saving

Durability

All Our Picks

Hoover CH30000 PortaPowerLightweight CommercialCanister Vacuum

Bissell Zing Bagged Vacuum

Eureka Mighty Mite Bagged CanisterVacuum Cleaner Pet

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower
Lightweight Commercial
Canister Vacuum

Bissell
Zing
Bagged Vacuum

Eureka Mighty Mite
Bagged Canister
Vacuum Cleaner Pet

Hoover CH30000 PortaPower
Lightweight Commercial
Canister Vacuum

Bissell
Zing
Bagged Vacuum

Eureka Mighty Mite
Bagged Canister
Vacuum Cleaner Pet