For decades companies like Hoover, Bissell, and Eureka were the top vacuum cleaner brands and where most consumers turned when it was time to buy. Upstarts like Dyson and Shark changed the game when they burst onto the scene, albeit for entirely different reasons.
While both companies make vacuum cleaners that excel at cleaning up pet hair, we're going to take a look at Shark's impressive lineup this time around. The best Shark vacuum for pet hair can come in many forms. Whether you're looking for a traditional upright vacuum cleaner or something a little more compact, we have you covered.
SharkNinja is the company behind the Shark brand and also responsible for the Ninja lineup of appliances. While consumers in the United States have enjoyed Shark vacuums since the 90s, their parent company, Euro-Pro, was a well-known name in Europe and abroad.
At this time, Shark is responsible for a wide range of products, including steam mops, irons, and several styles of vacuum cleaners. In fact, they are one of the few manufacturers that continue to innovate with new products and have vacuums in every class from traditional uprights to robotic vacuum cleaners.
Unique Features from Shark
All companies have unique features they use in their products. With Shark, there are a number of techniques and systems in use on their vacuum cleaners, although their DuoClean system is one of the standouts.
The DuoClean system is perfect for homes with multiple types of flooring. It's designed with not one, but two brushrolls. That means it can handle carpet along with engineered hardwood, laminate, or tile, and you'll never have to swap out heads. That also means I can pick up spilled Cheerios or kitty litter as easily as it can pet hair as it has a soft and bristle brushroll.
MultiFLEX is another interesting technology from Shark. It's found on several of the company's ION series vacuums and allows you to access hard-to-reach places in a unique way. The middle of the pole will actually bend, which allows you to get under tables and couches without getting down on the floor.
Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide
Shark has an expansive catalog, especially when you consider all of the older models that are still in circulation. Each year they release updated models, which can make finding the right one for your home difficult. In our guide, we're going to touch on some important areas so you’ll know what to look for when shopping for the best Shark vacuum for pet hair.
Flooring and Pets
What type of floor do you have? Is half your floorplan carpet, or do you have hardwood in half of your home? Every vacuum cleaner on our list will work on multiple types of services, but some are built for carpets while others or ideal for hard flooring surfaces like laminate or tile.
Consider how many pets you have in your home and how badly they shed as well. Several small short hair dogs may not cause much of a problem, but a couple of long-haired cats or a large Chow will fill up your dust cup quickly.
Types of Vacuums
this is the first area where consumers can have a bit of trouble, as there are several types of vacuum cleaners to choose from. That includes skinny stick vacuums, uprights, and even central vacuuming systems along with smaller devices like handheld vacuums. While we won’t include all of the options on our list, below are a few of the most popular options you will encounter.
Upright vacuum - A classic upright vacuum machine has several advantages over other types of systems. They are more powerful and have a wider cleaning pass, but you can also find bagged models in this class. On the downside, these units are heavier than other styles and can also be more expensive.
Stick vacuum - Stick vacuums are the next step down from an upright when it comes to size, power, and usually price. These vacuum cleaners are lighter and many are cordless, but they aren't ideal for deep cleaning and have small dust bins.
Robot vacuum - Robot vacuum cleaners are built with ease of use in mind and ideal for automatic cleaning. Again, they're not as powerful as an upright vacuum, but more than make up for that with features that make life easy like self-cleaning bins, scheduled cleaning and mapping.
Bin Size
Whether you choose a robot vacuum cleaner, upright, or a svelte stick vacuum, every good vacuum cleaner needs to have a large dust bin. It’s hard to pin down an average-size considering it does come down to the style of vacuum you choose. That said, you always want to check the specifications to find out the size of the dust bin or cup on a vacuum cleaner from Shark.
Cleaning Modes
This is another area that can depend on which form factor your vacuum cleaner has but should not be overlooked. With an upright, cleaning modes can come in the form of a switch that allows you to disengage the brushroll. It could also be a simple button the kicks turbo mode into gear for extra suction.
On a robotic vacuum cleaner, every system will have cleaning modes that can vary from spot and edge cleaning to a single room. The options are just as plentiful don't stick vacs as they are with a traditional upright or more if it’s a two in one system.
Ease of use
Vacuuming isn't something most homeowners enjoy, which makes ease of use an important factor in many consumers buying decisions. Maintenance is one area to consider, especially with Shark vacuum cleaners. The company isn't known for making canister are bagged vacuum cleaners, so you want to make sure that the dust bin is easy to empty.
Filter changes can also be an issue with poorly designed machines, just like the weight. Heavy vacuums aren't always easy to push across deep pile unless they are self-propelled. Cable and hose management can also wreck an otherwise flawless machine if they get in the way, and placement isn't well thought-out.
Cords and Batteries
While many of the gadgets and devices we use on a daily basis rely on battery power, that’s not the case with home appliances. Corded vacuum cleaners are your best option when power is critical, although even the most powerful Shark vacuum for pet hair won't do you much good if the cords too short.
Always check on the cord length, and consider how many times you may have to unplug during the course of cleaning. If you opt for a battery-powered vacuum, simply check the battery life along with the recharging times beforehand.
Features
We're not going to spend much time here is the features you get remain fairly consistent with most styles of vacuum cleaners. A large dustbin is always a strong selling point along with machines that allow you to select the power and height.
Lights are common with some manufacturers and rarely found on other machines. HEPA filtration is a feature well worth paying for if you’re a pet owner with allergies and the same goes for powered brushrolls. There are far too many options with robot vacuums for us to cover, but you can read more about those in our robot vacuum cleaner guide.
Accessories
Almost every vacuum cleaner produced today comes with at least a few attachments. You probably still have some tucked away in a drawer from a previous system that may have never been used. When you have a home with pets, those extra accessories can make a huge difference and your cleaning routine.
Extensions for hard-to-reach places, round brushes, and crevice tools are all common vacuum cleaner accessories. Upholstery and other specialty brushes can be included in sets as well, while powerheads are rare but handy with hair.
Some accessories aren't cheap to purchase after the fact, so consider what you might use before settling on a system. If you do have previous attachments and tools, you may want to check and see if the components are compatible.
Noise Level
Pets can be a lot of fun despite the mess and hair they leave behind. Most aren't partial to loud noises, however, which means you may need to keep the decibel level of your new vacuum cleaner in mind. It's a specification most manufacturers mention, especially if the number is low. You may be able to track down a number for your current or previous unit for comparison as well.
The Best Shark Vacuum Cleaners for Pet Hair
Choosing the best Shark vacuum cleaner for pet hair was a difficult job given how many systems are available from the company. With that in mind, the models below will keep your flooring spotless and are geared towards different preferences and price points.
The APEX collection from Shark typically features high-powered systems, and the DuoClean AZ1002 certainly fits that bill. This vacuum cleaner is a true upright and one of their more powerful systems at 1,350 watts.
As the name implies, the vacuum cleaner is equipped with DuoClean technology and the company’s innovative brush roll system. The design is similar to the Navigator series considering they both use “lift-away” systems, but the AZ1002 has some nice extras like LED lights and a longer 30-foot power cord. The cleaning path width is 11” and it weighs around 17 pounds fully assembled.
This vacuum also has a powered lift-away system, which gives you extra power to get in nooks and crannies. A variety of attachments work with the 5.5-foot long hose and you’ll have both HEPA and foam filters on this model as well. Noise reduction, brush roll shut-off, and Zero-M technology are a few other highlights of the AZ1002 upright bagless vacuum.
From the LED lights on the nozzle and handle to power rating, there are many reasons why the APEX DuoClean AZ1002 is one of the best Shark vacuums for pet hair. Homeowners found this unit easy to maneuver and were impressed by its suction, although the dust cup is smaller than what you’ll find on comparable models.
When you want a lightweight vacuum from shark, their ION lineup has always been a great place to turn. Our favorite vacuum from this series is the Shark ION MultiFLEX F80, which has several stellar features and excellent battery life.
The ION F80 is one of the more interesting machines on the market today and a stick vac that won’t take up much space. MultiFLEX allows this vacuum to creep under furniture but also allows you store it in an unconventional fashion. The whole unit is incredibly light as well at only 8.6 pounds sans any additional accessories.
DuoClean is present on this model as well, and you can adjust the carpet height or turn off the brush roller for slick surfaces when you just need suction. Need to clean out the car or hit the top of your drapes? Well, that’s easy with the Shark ION F80 as it converts to a handheld vacuum in a matter of seconds.
The F80 is one of Shark’s more expensive systems, but well worth it when you have hairy hardwood or carpet and require a powerful, lightweight machine. Its flexible nature is the icing on the cake, as are the dual 40-minute batteries. The Shark ION F80 comes with a 5-year guarantee like all of the company’s top models.
Pros
MultiFLEX system
Convertible design
Two 40 minute batteries
Dual roller brushes
Cons
Nothing significant
3. Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum with Zero-M technology
Shark’s Navigator series of vacuum cleaners have always been popular with consumers and feature some of the company’s best technologies. The Shark Navigator ZU561 is our top choice from this series and a great choice for pet owners with allergies.
Hardwood and carpet are no match for this vacuum cleaner, and the design allows you to clean high or low. This is also another lift-away system, so you can remove the canister from the base and attach a wand to extend your cleaning reach. Whether you’re cleaning baseboards or curtains, you will be thankful for their Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology which ensures dust, hair and dander stay where they belong – in the dust cup.
Another advantage of this vacuum is the company’s new Zero-M cleaning head. This brushroll is designed to clean itself, so you don’t have to. There’s only one filter on the ZU561, but it’s of the HEPA variety and the cord is 25-feet long. There aren’t many bells & whistles on this model although it’s powerful and extremely effective on a variety of surfaces.
This vacuum cleaner is reasonably priced, and we like the fact you detach the canister for stairs and other areas. It’s not quite as powerful as some of the other models on our list, but agile, easy to use and performs as advertised with pet hair.
Pet hair can find its way into some strange areas of your home, and it’s something every homeowner that’s owned a dog or cat realizes quickly. It’s also one reason why hand vacuums are so popular, and our top pick from Shark is the Pet-Perfect II bagless hand vac.
This small but mighty vacuum is designed to make pet hair a thing of the past, whether it’s in your home or vehicle. The portable nature of the Pet-Perfect II is a bonus, and the 18-volt battery is rated for around 15 minutes of runtime. Several Shark reviews point towards quick recharge times on this model and it’s comfortable to use with a rubberized grip and weighs around 4.5 pounds.
Shark designed this hand vacuum with a wide nozzle to scoop up large debris, but it also has a detachable head. The motorized brush roll can lift dirt from deep within your carpet’s fibers and into the Pet-Perfect II’s 0.56-quart dust bin. This vacuum also comes with a filter that’s easy to remove and wash as needed.
Good things can come in small packages, and we’re pleased to say the Shark SV780 packs quite the punch for its size. It’s perfect for spot cleaning areas where your pets play or your vehicles after trips to the vet. You’ll get a crevice tool and a few other accessories with the Pet Perfect II along with a 2-year warranty.
Robot vacuum cleaners have come a long way in a short time, and while it took a while for Shark to join the game, they have made their presence known. The Shark IQ R101 still utilizes a few technologies found on their uprights, but it’s considerably smarter and will certainly lighten your load.
This robot is connected, so you can use Alexa and simply ask the robot to clean your home. It works with the Google Assistant as well, along with Shark’s official mobile app. You can set cleaning zones from within the app or scheduled cleaning. The mapping features are excellent on the RV1001 and you won’t be disappointed with the suction either.
While we don’t have a power rating for this vacuum, the self-cleaning brush roll is designed for pets. Dual edge and corner brushes help draw debris and hair from corners while the suction takes care of the rest. The dust bin is 0.8 quarts and the cleaning path width clocks in at 5.6”. It’s also one of the lighter robotic vacuums on our list at 5.7 pounds.
The Shark IQ R101 is the best option for homeowners that hate vacuuming and is reasonably priced compared to its traditional brethren. It’s not quite as smart as a high-end Roomba and only allows you to map one level, but performs as advertised and will keep your home free of pet hair.
If you are looking for something a little less flexible, but just as efficient with pet hair, Shark has another sleek upright worth of consideration. The Shark Rocket Pet Pro can run for just as long as the ION but has several unique features that set it apart.
At only 7.5 pounds, the Shark Rocket Pro certainly won’t break your back, and it’s even light in handheld mode. This capable 2-in-1 vacuum cleaner can suck hair from hardwood or carpet along with larger debris thanks to the Dirt Engage system. It gets closer to the dirt than the brushroll found on the F80 and provides twice the contact.
The self-cleaning brush will keep hair from gumming up the works, and you’ll be happy for the sealed system as well. A HEPA filter traps dust and dander, and the dust bin has a handy feature as well. The CleanTouch Dirt Ejector keeps your hands clean by allowing you to empty the bin with the flick of a switch.
You’ll get 40 minutes of runtime from the Shark Pet Pro, and while it doesn’t have DuoClean, you won’t be disappointed with the Dirt Engage or the tangle-free brushroll. The hand vac and dust bin can be a little awkward to work with at times, but overall, consumers have been very pleased with this system and what it brings to the table.
If you have a smaller home that easy to keep tidy or pet hair is only an occasional issue, there’s no need to buy a top-tier machine. The Shark Navigator SV1106 is the best budget-friendly Shark vacuum for pet hair, and it has some surprising features given its price.
A large dust bin and a rechargeable battery are just a few highlights of the Shark Navigator Freestyle SV1106. That bin measures 0.64 quarts and is easy to access and empty when it becomes full. The suction is excellent on hardwood, but you won’t have a problem with low to medium-pile carpet either.
This cordless stick vacuum has a 2-speed brush roll to help keep hair and debris from dirty paws off your carpet. While you can’t turn the brush off, it does have a lever that lets you switch modes, so you won’t need to be concerned about brushes on delicate floors or rugs.
As long as you don’t need a high-powered vacuum are comfortable with a 1-year warranty, the Shark Navigator SV1106 is well worth a look. It’s a fraction of the price of other vacuums from the company although the battery life has been a common complaint with some consumers.
Pros
Large dust cup
Cordless capabilities
2-speed brushroll
Nice price point
Cons
Battery life
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a special vacuum for pet hair?
A: Not with hardwood as you simply need something with good suction. Carpet is difficult to deal with, however, so you may want to check out a system from our list of the best vacuums for pet hair.
Q: What’s a vacuum with a sealed system?
A: When you hear that term, it means the manufacturer has designed their machine to keep dust in so it won’t leak from the vacuum while you are cleaning.
Q: Is a beater bar the same as a brush roll?
A: No, although the terms are used interchangeably. A beater bar uses vibration to loosen dirt while a “brush” roll has bristles like a hair brush.
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