11 Tips For Vacuuming Pet Hair The Best Way

Scientific studies have found that bonding with animals can lower blood pressure and cortisol levels, a hormone linked to stress. We love them so much that, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, Americans households had on average about one and a half dogs and nearly two cats last year¹.

While we all enjoy the company of pets, keeping them as part of our family also means battling with pet hair. Fur makes them oh so fluffy to cuddle, but shedding can quickly become overwhelming without proper cleaning. Having vacuum cleaners nowadays is useful, and learning how to vacuum pet hair effectively helps us maintain a healthy home.

Why Is Vacuuming Pet Hair Important?

Vacuuming pet hair keeps your home cleaner, healthier, and more pleasant to live in. Even with regular grooming, fur carries bacteria, pollen, dust mites, and skin flakes that can spread around the house. Without consistent cleaning, these particles can trigger allergies, lower indoor air quality, leave hair everywhere, and create dust, making your home look and feel dirty.


 

Pet hair can carry more than just fur, it can trap substances that affect your home’s cleanliness and your health:

• Bacteria: Pet hair can carry germs from saliva, outdoor walks, litter boxes, or dirty paws, risking infection.
• Dander: Microscopic skin flakes trigger cat allergies and may cause respiratory issues.
• Pollen: Outdoor pollen clings to fur and spreads indoors, causing seasonal symptoms.
• Dust mites: Thrive in carpets and pet beds, worsening asthma and congestion.
• Fleas and ticks: Hide in fur, causing bites or spreading disease.
• Mold spores: From damp ground, aggravating allergies and lung irritation.
• Saliva and urine residue: Contribute to odors and allergen spread.
• Chemical residues: Fur can pick up pesticides, cleaners, or exhaust, risking rashes or toxic exposure.

1 – Groom Pets Regularly to Reduce Hair Buildup

To relieve the stress of vacuuming pet hair, you can start with the “root cause” and groom your pets on a regular basis. Whether it is to use a deshedding tool, give your dog a bath, or even vacuum your pet with a special model, less loose hair means less work for your vacuum cleaner and fewer allergens floating around your home.

2 – Set a Regular Cleaning Routine

No tip will be helpful unless you maintain a consistent vacuuming routine. Pet hair builds up quickly, so sticking to a schedule is the best way to manage it. Start by vacuuming two to three times a week and adjust it down the road; you can also vacuum high-traffic areas daily, like the living room, pet beds, and feeding areas. Those who choose a robot vacuum for allergies can easily schedule cleanings through the companion app.

3 – Use a Robot Vacuum to Sweep and Mop Daily

Keeping up with pet hair manually can be a daily chore, especially during shedding seasons or in households with multiple pets. Whether sweeping or using a traditional vacuum, this task takes time and effort, yet the fur quickly returns. A robot vacuum for pet hair helps manage this constant buildup without eating into your day.

Premium models such as the DEEBOT X9 PRO OMNI feature Boosted Large-Airflow Suction Technology (BLAST), which achieves a 100% pickup rate for large debris, like pet hair piles, while also excelling at extracting fine dust. Controlled remotely via the ECOVACS HOME app, you can easily schedule cleanings and send the vacuum to spot clean areas your dogs or cats frequent, while you go about your day.

4 – Adjust to Strong Suction for Pet Hair

The stronger the suction, the more effectively the vacuum gets rid of dog hair and other animal fur, which tends to cling to fabric fibers. Set a good suction power when cleaning high-traffic pet areas, upholstered furniture, and rugs.

A robot vacuum for carpet can automatically detect carpeted floors and activate optimal modes; for example, the DEEBOT X9 PRO OMNI features a “Carpet First” function that removes pet hair trapped between carpet fibers before mopping to avoid cross-contamination, and its BLAST technology boosts a 137.6% increase in carpet dust removal rates.

5 – Use Advanced Filters to Trap Pet Allergens

Pet hair often carries microscopic allergens like pollen, dander, and dust mites, which can aggravate allergies. Standard filters may allow these particles to pass back into the air; instead, choose a vacuum with a high-grade filter. Other than HEPA filters, other advanced filtration systems can also trap these allergens effectively, helping keep your home cleaner and reducing allergy symptoms.

6 – Clean or Replace Filters for Optimal Suction

When you vacuum, the filtration system traps allergens and tiny particles. When clogged, it can block airflow and result in suction loss, or worse, spitting dust out into the air. For example, if you vacuum cat litter, you might risk clogging filters.

To improve the air quality, clean the vacuum’s filter frequently and replace it as signs show.

Smart models like DEEBOT send alerts to your smartphone when it’s time to change the filters. Users can also check the filter usage status at any time through the ECOVACS HOME app.

7 – Empty the Dustbin Often to Manage Pet Hair

If you live with Huskies, Golden Retrievers, or Maine Coons and Persian cats, you know how fast pet hair can fill the dustbin. To lower the risk of clogging, change the vacuum bag before it gets too full.

Smart vacuums with auto-empty stations provide extra convenience by storing debris in a large dust bag, extending the time between manual emptying.

For the DEEBOT X9 PRO OMNI, which comes with a 3L dust bag capacity, you can empty the dustbin every 90 days.

8 – Remove Hair from Brushes to Maintain Performance

Hair can wrap around the brushes and limit their capability to pick up new fur. Removing hair from the brush roll regularly can keep it spinning freely. Alternatively, many ECOVACS robot vacuums feature an anti-tangle design in their brushes, for instance, a spiral design and inward-curved bristles, to prevent pet hair from tangling.

9 – Vacuum Upholstery First to Avoid Spreading Pet Hair

If your four-legged friend loves to watch TV from the sofa, you should know that soft surfaces like carpets, sofas, and curtains naturally trap more fur than hard floors. Start with these areas first using an upholstery tool or a vacuum with the appropriate attachments. The DEEBOT T30S Combo, for example, provides a dedicated mini power brush for removing dust and hair from pet beds, while the crevice tool reaches into tight spaces like sofa gaps for a thorough clean.

10 – Vacuum Pet Bedding and Play Areas

Where do your furry friends spend most of their time? Pet beds, blankets, and play areas tend to collect hair, dander, and lingering odors faster than other spots in your home.

Hence, it is best to vacuum these areas more frequently than others, using an upholstery or mini power brush attachment. The goal is to remove embedded fur and allergens before they spread to other surfaces and keep your pet’s favorite places fresh.

11 – Tackle Pet Hair on Stairs and Corners

Pet hair is light, and as your whiskered pal runs around the house, it can be lifted into the air and settle into the edges of stairs or hide in tight corners where standard vacuum heads struggle to reach. Use a crevice tool to target these tricky spots.

Advanced robot vacuums with edge-cleaning technology, like TruEdge 2.0 with a 3D Edge Sensor in the DEEBOT X9 PRO OMNI, can adapt to different types of edges while the side brush is constantly extended to reach blind spots and achieve 100% coverage².

FAQ

Reference(s):

1. U.S. pet ownership statistics - https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/reports-statistics/us-pet-ownership-statistics
2. 100% Cleaning Coverage: It refers to that the sweeping function of ECOVACS DEEBOT X9 PRO OMNI products can achieve 99% sweeping coverage at outer corners and inner corners in the experimental scenario. The data is from the ECOVACS laboratory. Specific results are subject to actual home use.