Consumer Reports Rates Best Vacuums For Picking Up Pet Hair

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Keeping floors and carpets clean is a job in and of itself; but if you've got a pet that sheds a lot, you have a bigger challenge.

Consumer Reports' latest tests show that some vacuums do a great job of picking up pet hair while others, not so much.

Samantha Boege wouldn't trade her dog, Rugby, for anything.

But his shedding hair - that she could live without.

"Dog hair is everywhere, but it's just something that we have… we put up with," said Boege.

But you don't have to, say the experts at Consumer Reports. Testers recently evaluated more than 100 vacuums, including uprights and canisters, bagged and bagless.

"Pet owners want to know two things about a vacuum - how well it sucks up hair and how much of that hair goes clear into the vacuum, rather than getting stuck on the brush," said Bob Markovich, of Consumer Reports.

To size up performance, testers go to great lengths.

First, they measure exactly five grams of pet hair and spread it over a piece of carpet. Then, they use a weighted roller. Next, testers weigh the vacuum, and then vacuum for 14 strokes.

Now the vacuum gets weighed again, so testers know exactly how much hair it picked up. They also check the carpet for any hair left behind.

"We also measure how much hair gets stuck to the brush," said Markovich. "Constantly having to manually clean out your brushes isn't much fun."

In the end, one of your best deals is the $130 Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind. This bagless upright offers impressive cleaning and superb pet-hair pickup.

If you prefer a vacuum with a bag, Consumer Reports recommends the $200 Kenmore Progressive upright, model number 31069.

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