There’s no doubt that owning a pet is a wonderful experience, but pet hair can also be one of the hardest messes to get under control. While vacuuming is a great way to get rid of this issue, if you don’t love it or don’t have time to do it, a robot vacuum cleaner is a great alternative to get a cleaner and healthier home without lifting your finger.
But, the biggest question is which robot vacuum is best for pet hair? Pet hair vacuums, unlike standard vacuums, are designed specifically to pick up pet hair, so they’re the best choice for cleaning up after your furry family members.
They come with special features that make them an ideal choice for picking up pet hair. We have compiled here those smart features that you must keep in mind while choosing the right robot vacuum for pet hair.
Best Robot Vacuum for Pet Hair Key Factors to Consider
1. Suction Power
The suction power of the vacuum determines how efficient it is in catching dirt, debris, and pet hair from floors and carpets. The stronger the suction, the more effectively it will clean the smallest dirt and debris as well as pet hair.
A robot vacuum with strong suction is very important for picking pet hair, especially long hair. And if your home has large carpeted areas, choosing the one with strong suction is of utmost importance since carpets require more potent suction than that on hardwood floors.
Some units come with adjustable suction strength that detects the surface and then automatically adjusts the suction strength based on the surface it is cleaning.
2. Large Intake Port
Dogs and cat hair can easily clog the internal components of your vacuum cleaner. Therefore, choosing a robot vacuum with a wide intake port is a good idea here. It creates an easier path for pet hair to travel to the dust cup without getting stuck.
3. Tangle-Free Brush Roll
It is likely very common for the pet hair and fur to get stuck in the brushes of a vacuum; therefore, cleaning and maintaining it regularly is very important to ensure better cleaning efficiency. But cleaning the brush roll often is quite very irritating. In such a case, you may opt for a vacuum that has a tangle-free brush roll.
The tangle-free brush roll prevents the pet fur, especially long hair, from wrapping around the roller; therefore, you will not struggle with the vacuum’s suction. Some advanced robot vacuum cleaners also come with a Self-cleaning brush roll that automatically cuts the long tangled hair before they become a problem. As a bonus, you don’t have to spend more time and effort maintaining your vacuum cleaner.
4. Size and Profile
The size and profile of the robot vacuum matter a lot if you have more tight spots and underneath furniture to clean. It is best to opt for a sleek and compact unit since it will easily glide under the furniture and clean the space thoroughly.
5. Dust Bin Capacity
Having a pet at your home means a lot of hair and mess that obviously requires a lot of cleaning. It means the dustbin fills up very quickly, and your robot will not be able to clean everything in one go. That’s why it is very important to choose a robot vacuum cleaner with a large dust cup capacity, so you don’t have to empty it so often.
Most of the models come with a dust cup capacity ranging from 0.3 L to 0.7 L; better to choose the one on the higher end of that scale. The large bins are also very useful for cleaning large floor plans without any need for frequent emptying.
6. Self-Emptying Feature
It is the most beneficial feature of a robot vacuum for two reasons. First, it eliminates the hassle of emptying the dirt compartment repeatedly. It automatically detects the level of dirt in the container and empties the dirt compartment on its own to its self-emptying base if it is full. You only need to empty the base every 60 cleaning cycles or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Second, a self-emptying robot vacuum prevents dust from being released into the air; therefore, it is an excellent option for someone who struggles with allergies.
7. HEPA Filter
A household with pets is likely to have a high level of dust particles and allergens, causing serious allergies to you and your family members. So, it is better to choose a robot vacuum with advanced filters, especially HEPA filters, that ensure no dust particles or allergens are released back into the air.
Check for the Best Vacuum Cleaners with HEPA Filter
8. Battery Life and Run Time
Surely, you don’t want to invest in a robot vacuum that stops working in the middle of the cleaning session. Therefore, it is very important to look at the battery run time when buying a robot vacuum cleaner for pet hair.
Cleaning pet hair requires more suction strength that quickly drains the battery. And, if you are using the one that offers less run time, the cleaning session will be interrupted until it gets fully charged. Though, almost all robot vacuum cleaners charge themselves by returning to their charging dock when they sense their battery is low. But charging is a time-taking process. Therefore, it is best to opt for the one that offers a run time of up to 150-200 minutes in a full recharge, so it doesn’t waste time recharging itself in the middle of the cleaning session.
9. Smart Features and Budget
How smart is your robot vacuum depends on how much you have spent. The more you spend, the more intelligent features you will get. With a low-priced robot vacuum ranging from Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000, you will get some basic features only like random navigation, basic vacuuming, etc.
Spending a few more bucks to get a mid-range vacuum cleaner(Rs 15,000-Rs 35,000) will offer features like home layout mapping, advanced sensors to detect edge and drop in your house, automatic dirt detection, vacuuming and mopping, scheduling feature, and longer run time, etc.
However, the hi-tech models are higher on the price side, but they offer many more advanced functionalities. They can pair with smartphone apps that allow you to create cleaning schedules and switch between different cleaning modes. They even have more advanced sensors (Lidar) that map your house in a logical pattern and store your floor plans for the most efficient cleaning. Plus, they are also compatible with smart home assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
Read Next: Best Regular Vacuum Cleaners for Pet Hair