Top 10 Vacuums for Removing Pet Hair in Your Car
Who doesn’t love riding with their pets?
Regardless of whether you use a crate or a leash and harness, one thing you’ll have to deal with is pet hair.
While there are plenty of car vacuums, not all of them are as suitable for this type of mess. For this reason, we’ve reviewed some of the most popular models and included a buyer’s guide with information that can help in your search.
| Product | Capacity | Weight | Cord Length/Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.78 l | 4.2 lbs | 16 ft | |
| Unknown | 1.3 kg | 25 min | |
| 550 ml | 1.5 lbs | 25 min | |
| 0.7 l | 4.24 lbs | 17 min | |
| 0.7 l | 3 lbs | less than 10 min | |
| Unknown | 2.11 kg | 30 min | |
| 0.56 qt | 4.25 lbs | Unknown | |
| 0.43 qt | 2.48 lbs | less than 15 min | |
| Unknown | 2.44 lbs | 30 min | |
| 2.5 GAL | 7 lbs | 10 ft |
Best Rated Car Vacuums for Pet Hair
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, Corded, 33A1
This Bissell is one of the best handheld vacuum cleaners. It’s a small and compact car vacuum, designed specifically to tackle hair and dander. While you can use it to clean your vehicle, it’s also suitable for domestic use in tight, hard-to-reach areas.
It uses the Cyclonic Cleaning System that provides plenty of suction power while helping its overall longevity. The multi-level filtration ensures that all the vacuumed debris and particles are trapped within the vacuum cleaner.
It comes with a small 0.78L dirt cup that’s easy to empty and wash. It also includes two specialized nozzles that attract the hairs while pulling out dirt from upholstery and mats.
This Bissell car vacuum cleaner comes with a 16′ long cord, which makes it a bit limited when it comes to car cleaning.
Pros
- Powerful suction
- Comes with two specialized nozzles
- Multi-level filtration
Cons
- Short cable
HOKEKI 6KPA Vacuum Cleaner
Hokeki cordless handheld is compact and easy to use, which makes it among the most suitable choices for traveling. It comes with a stainless steel filter and a high-efficiency 100W motor, producing powerful suction to pick up dust, hair, food crumbs, paper scraps, and more.
It’s battery-operated, featuring a 2200mAh lithium-ion battery that takes about three to four hours to recharge. You get approximately 25 minutes of run time on a single charge, which should be enough to clean your vehicle. Its battery indicator shows when it’s time to charge the car vacuum.
This car vacuum cleaner weighs 2.42 pounds, so it’s pretty easy to use. On top of that, it features an LED light that makes it easier to clean all the nooks and crannies in low-light conditions. It comes with a hose, brush, and a slot-pointed nozzle.
Pros
- Battery indicator
- Washable and reusable filter
- Carrying bag included
Cons
- Very loud at times
ZesGood 7000PA Portable Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
ZesGood is a highly powerful wet-dry vacuum cleaner with a built-in 120W cyclonic motor. It features noise-reducing technology, so it’s not as loud as most handhelds of its size.
It features three 2200mAh li-ion batteries, requiring two to three hours to recharge. It offers some 25 minutes of continuous use. Another thing worth noting is the protection chip that helps avoid damage to the battery.
This car vacuum cleaner features a large 550ML dust cup that’s detachable and simple to empty. It also comes with a HEPA filter, so it’s ideal for pet owners who are also prone to allergies.
Keep in mind that ZesGood car vacuum cleaner is meant for wet and dry messes. It has plenty of suction power to pick up hair, dust, food crumbs, liquid, and kitty litter. It comes with a long crevice tool and two brushes.
Pros
- Lightweight (1.5 pounds)
- LCD
- Powerful suction
Cons
- Not for car carpets
BISSELL Eraser Lithium-Ion Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Bissell is often recommended for picking up pet hair from your vehicle and house. If you thought you liked the original Pet Hair Eraser we mentioned earlier, you’d love this cordless handheld vacuum cleaner.
It has plenty of suction power to pick up and remove embedded hairs and dander using a motorized tool. It’s ideal for carpets and upholstery in your car, even if you’re dealing with long hairs.
The 14V lithium-ion battery provides up to 17 minutes of run time, which should be enough to remove most messes. This battery-operated cordless vacuum features triple-level filtration that you can wash at any time.
Its dirt bin fits plenty of debris and is simple to remove and clean. It’s see-through so that you can see when it’s time to empty it. Also, this best car vacuum comes with a motorized tool, crevice tool, and upholstery tool.
Pros
- Triple-level filtration
- Motorized accessory included
- Easy-to-clean dust bin
Cons
- It takes six hours to charge
Bissell, 1782 Eraser Car Vacuum Cleaner
Bissell 1782 is another excellent battery-powered cordless handheld car vacuum from the popular brand. It’s ideal if you’re looking for the best car vacuum with strong suction power that picks up everything from hair to food crumbs.
It comes with a motorized foot that’s ideal for cleaning hairs from upholstery and car carpets. It’s also suitable for at-home use, delivering powerful suction to pick up hairs and dander from furniture and stairs. On top of that, the package includes a telescoping extension wand, allowing you to clean above-floor areas.
This best car vacuum for pet fur also comes with a long crevice tool that’s ideal to use in hard-to-reach places. It includes an upholstery tool as well. Its dual-action filtration system ensures that none of the captured debris and particles return to your breathing space.
Pros
- Effortless emptying
- Powerful suction
- Motorized tool included
Cons
- It lasts less than ten minutes
Dibea Vacuum Cleaner BX350
Dibea vacuum cleaner comes with a 120W high-performance motor, providing 5KPA cyclonic suction power. It features a multi-layer HEPA and cyclonic filtration that makes this car vacuum ideal for allergy-prone people.
Cyclonic filtration is meant to reduce allergens, while HEPA traps even the tiniest particles. Together, they ensure none of the vacuumed debris and allergens return to your breathing space. You should replace the HEPA at least every three months.
It’s a cordless vacuum cleaner, so you probably won’t struggle with maneuverability in your car. It comes with a rechargeable 2200mAh lithium-ion battery that takes some five hours to recharge. It offers approximately 30 minutes of run time.
This best car vacuum cleaner comes with long and short crevice tools, a bristle tool, and a charging base.
Pros
- Easy-to-clean 0.3L dust bin
- HEPA + cyclonic filter
- Versatile and simple use
Cons
- The filters are a bit tricky to clean
Shark Pet-Perfect II SV780 Car Vacuum Cleaner
Shark is a big name in the industry, so you can hardly go wrong with its vacuums. When it comes to cleaning your car, Shark recommends the Pet-Perfect II SV780 car vacuum as it’s one of its most efficient handhelds with powerful suction.
It features a 0.56-quarts dust bin that’s easy to empty and clean. It holds enough debris so that you don’t have to empty it until the job is done. You’ll most likely have to do that after each use.
It comes with a motorized tool, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush. It also features a removable and washable filter. You don’t have to wash it as often, but when you notice a loss of suction power.
One thing to keep in mind is that this vacuum cleaner weighs nearly five pounds. It’s a bit heavier than most handheld vacuum cleaners, especially when it comes to prolonged use.
Pros
- Wall-mount charging base
- Washable filtration
- Strong suction
Cons
- It’s heavy
Looking for more Shark vacuum cleaners? See our full selection of their best models.
Shark Cordless Pet Perfect Lithium-Ion (LV801) Car Vacuum Cleaner
Shark LV801 is a cordless vacuum cleaner with a li-ion battery and powerful performance. It’s designed specifically to remove animal fur from different surfaces in your car as well as home.
The car vacuum for pet fur features Twister Suction technology, allowing you to pick up even the most persistent and embedded dirt and fur.
It comes with a removable motorized pet tool that’s ideal for seats and mats, as well as carpets and stairs in your house. Also, it comes with a crevice tool to use in hard-to-reach areas.
Its dirt bin holds 0.43 quarts, featuring a Max Fill line. It makes it easier to track when it’s time to empty the vacuum cleaner. Also, this car vacuum weighs some 2.48 pounds, which isn’t the lightest, but it’s still not too heavy for most car-cleaning tasks.
Pros
- Detachable motorized tool
- Versatile use
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Less than 15 minutes of runtime
HOTOR Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner DC 12V
If you’re looking for a corded car vacuum with unlimited run time, you should check this Hotor vacuum cleaner. It’s one of the most convenient vacuums for pet fur as you can use it for as long as it takes you to clean the vehicle.
One of its most important features is the LED light meant to make it easier to clean in low-light conditions. When used with its many accessories, LED light makes it easier to get to all the nooks and crannies.
The car vacuum for pet hairs comes with a dusting brush, a long hose, and a crevice tool. It also features a washable stainless steel HEPA filter that’s durable and doesn’t require replacing.
Its detachable dust cup is easy to empty and clean when needed. It’s not the biggest bin, so you’ll probably have to empty it after each use.
Pros
- A carry bag included
- 12V adapter included
- LED light
Cons
- Tends to lose suction power over time
Armor All, AA255, 2.5 Gallon 2 Peak HP Wet/Dry Utility Shop Vacuum
If you need something more powerful, you might want to look into this Armor All shop vacuum cleaner. It’s designed to clean wet and dry debris, featuring a 2.5-gallon canister.
It’s a large vacuum cleaner, so you probably won’t be able to fit it inside your car. However, it comes with a 6′ long extension hose that allows you to reach inside. Its 10 foot power cord might not be enough, so make sure that you have an available socket near your car.
Since this is a shop vacuum cleaner, it features a blower function. You might not find much use for this feature, but it’s a useful addition to such a versatile vacuum cleaner.
It comes with a crevice accessory, utility nozzle, car nozzle, detail brush, and a blower nozzle. The package also includes a reusable cloth filter and foam sleeve.
Pros
- Durable polypropylene tank
- Powerful 2 peak HP motor
- On-board accessory storage
Cons
- Large and heavy
Buying Considerations
Finding the best car vacuum for pet hair isn’t always as simple. For this reason, we’ve prepared a little buyer’s guide to help you find the best handheld that suits your needs. Consider the factors below before making your final decision.
Design
The best car vacuum for pet fur should be easy to use in tight spaces. Regardless of how big your vehicle is, it probably has a lot of nooks and crannies that hair hides in. For this reason, having a compact and small car vacuum cleaner makes it easier to get rid of the mess.
Consider how portable and versatile your vacuum cleaner is when it comes to its design. If you’re looking to travel with it, you should look for a cordless car vacuum cleaner since those are more portable.
Also, consider an ergonomically-designed car vacuum cleaner that’s lightweight and comfortable. This is even more important if you’re riding with your pet quite frequently.
Capacity
Best handheld car vacuums are usually small and compact. Most of them come with a similarly sized dust cup that you should empty after each use. Although some bins are bigger than others, you probably don’t need much capacity for cleaning your car.
Functions
Handheld car vacuums don’t usually have many functions, although some vacuum cleaners are more versatile than others. Except for the powerful suction, best car vacuums for pet fur can have adjustable suction power, battery indicators, a blower function, and a filter indicator.
These aren’t essential but can be useful at times, depending on how frequently you’re looking to use your car vacuum cleaner.
Power Source
The power source is usually the most significant problem when it comes to car vacuum cleaners. For this reason, most people choose cordless vacuum models that are battery-operated and don’t require a socket. However, this convenience comes at a price since cordless vacuums have limited run time.
On the other hand, most corded handheld cleaners come with rather short cords. This makes it tricky to clean your car since you’d have to use extension cables.
Another option is to get a car vacuum cleaner that comes with a 12V cigarette lighter socket. These car vacuum cleaners plug into your car, making it easier to reach all the areas of your vehicle.
Versatility
As you noticed, most car vacuum cleaners are handheld and can also be used at home. Their strong suction power and tools they come with make them suitable for spot-cleaning and above-floor cleaning. On top of that, you can also use a handheld car vacuum cleaner to clean your boat interior.
Price Point
In most cases, car vacuum cleaners aren’t as expensive as full-size cleaners. This is mostly due to the difference in size, but also capacity.
Still, make sure to consider all the features and specifications along with the price of a vacuum cleaner. More expensive car vacuum cleaners aren’t necessarily better, but try not to put the price above, for example, strong suction power.
Cord / Cordless
Choosing between the two is entirely up to you, but make sure to consider maneuverability as well as convenience. In most cases, cordless vacuums are a bit more suitable for car use because they’re more maneuverable and portable.
Still, some corded vacuums can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket in your car. This provides enough maneuverability as well as unlimited run time.
Bag / Bagless
Handheld vacuums are almost always bagless, featuring a dust cup that requires emptying and washing. It’s an eco-friendly and cost-efficient choice when compared to bagged vacuums.
Still, if you’re often dealing with a lot of hair, you might want to consider a larger car vacuum cleaner that comes with a bag. These can pick up more fur and are also more suitable for allergy-prone people.
Filtration
Since you’re cleaning hair, you should pay special attention to filtration featured in your car vacuum for pet fur. Luckily, best car vacuums for pet fur come with double- or triple-level filtration, ensuring that all the vacuumed particles stay within the machine.
Some also come with a reusable stainless steel HEPA filter that’s easy to wash. It’s a great choice if you’re prone to allergies and sensitive to the tiny hairs.
Warranty
You should always take the time to read the warranty details carefully. Most brands cover for damage caused by faulty materials and manufacturing. However, they usually don’t cover damage caused by misuse, neglect, and normal wear and tear.
Some warranties last longer than others, which is another thing you should pay attention to before buying a car vacuum cleaner.
Accessories
As you noticed, these vacuums don’t come with many accessories. In most cases, you won’t need anything more than a rubber nozzle, crevice attachment, and a dust brush.
You might want to consider a car vacuum cleaner with a motorized tool if your pet leaves a lot of fur behind. Motorized tools are usually ideal for cleaning pet hairs.
Maintenance & Ease of Use
Best car vacuums for pet fur are generally simple to maintain. However, this is something you should double-check before buying any particular vacuum cleaner. You want to make sure that your vacuum cleaner of choice is easy to clean since cleaning pet hairs can be a bit tricky as it tends to tangle everywhere.
Nearly every handheld vacuum for pet hairs comes with plastic dust bins that you can wash with water and soap. When it comes to filters, stainless steel is typically the easiest to wash and dry.
Choosing the Right Car Vacuum for Pet Hair
People often find choosing the best pet fur vacuum cleaner rather challenging due to as many options on the market. However, some vacuums are better than others when it comes to cleaning car interiors.
Take a moment to read our guide below as the information can help when choosing a car vacuum cleaner.
Why do you need one?
Have you ever tried to get rid of the hair from your car with a full-size vacuum cleaner you use at home? These vacuums are often too large and bulky to use in a tight space such as car interior. This is exactly why you need a car vacuum cleaner.
Cleaning your vehicle with a full-size vacuum cleaner might be a good one-time solution. However, if your pet spends a lot of time riding with you, using such a vacuum cleaner as frequently would be rather inconvenient.
Car vacuums for pet owners are smaller and lighter, which makes them more suitable for cleaning tight and hard-to-reach areas of your vehicle. They’re more versatile and convenient to use and maintain even with daily use. Plus, a cordless vacuum cleaner is an ideal option if you often travel with your pet long-distance.
Which vacuum for pet hair is suitable for your car?
The first thing you should consider is how often your pet rides with you. If you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the hairs every day, then you should look for one with a motorized brush and long-lasting battery.
Your vacuum for pet fur should be powerful but lightweight and simple to maintain. You should look for a powerful car vacuum cleaner that can tackle pretty much any mess, hair included.
Think about other messes that you often find in the vehicle. Do you have children that leave food crumbs? Does the vehicle get muddy and wet? In this case, look for a versatile car vacuum cleaner that can pick up everything from food crumbs, hair, dander, dirt, and debris.
Also, think about the nooks and crannies of your vehicle as well as the material of the seats. This is important because you don’t want to use a motorized brush on leather seats, for example.
How to vacuum a car properly?
The first thing you should do is remove all the large debris with your hands. Candy wrappers, pieces of leaves, cans, paper bags, and other similar debris are typically too large to clean with a vacuum cleaner. Check all the nooks and crannies as well as holders and door pockets.
Remove the floor mats before you vacuum and wash them. Even if you’re not washing them, you should vacuum the outside your car because it’s usually more comfortable to do it that way.
Open all the doors and windows to have enough airflow and space to move around. Vacuum the floors, seats, and all other areas that are within your reach. Remember to push the seats back and forth so that you can remove all the hair hiding under there.
Change between the accessories to achieve the desired results, focusing on a motorized brush if your vacuum for pet hairs has one.
Read more: How to Get Rid of Pet Fur in Car Altogether
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What is the best 12V car vacuum for pet hair?
A: HOTOR Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner DC 12V is one of the very few that come with a 12V adapter. It’s a powerful and compact car vacuum cleaner that comes with a 16.4′ long cord that’s enough to cover your entire vehicle give that you can plug it into the cigarette lighter socket.
Q:
What is the best shop vac for pet hair?
A: Armor All AA255 is one of the most popular shop vac options when it comes to getting all the hair from your car interior. However, as we mentioned, it’s a rather large vacuum cleaner that might not be the best car vacuum for pet fur.
Read more: Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Reviews
Q:
What is the best rechargeable vacuum for dog hair?
A: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is among the most convenient choices if you’re looking for a rechargeable vacuum cleaner for dog hair. Dog fur isn’t as persistent as cat fur, but you still need strong suction power to remove it from seats and floor mats.
Conclusion
At this point, you probably found the best car vacuum for pet hair that suits your needs and preferences. Having this many models to choose from tends to be overwhelming, but hopefully, the information in our buyer’s guide helped you decide.
Take a second glance at the guide if you still haven’t decided on a car vacuum cleaner to remove pet fur from your vehicle. Each of these vacuums is suitable for the job; it’s just a matter of finding the one that’s the most convenient for you.
Think about battery life as one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a cordless vac. If you’re going for a corded vacuum cleaner, make sure to consider its cord length.
Either way, think about what you want in a car vacuum cleaner so that you can make the best decision, especially if you enjoy riding with your pet frequently.
Sources and Resources
- Recent Understandings of Pet Allergies
– https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4755411/
- Top 10 Cleaning Tips for the Inside of Your Car
– https://www.familyhandyman.com/cleaning/top-10-cleaning-tips-for-the-inside-of-your-car/
