In a dog-eat-dog world, no vacuum is safe. I know—I have three of them (dogs, not vacuums). Don’t let those sweet faces fool you, our family dogs have inadvertently demolished multiple vacuums. Not even the top-of-the-line vacuum stood up to these (adorable) beasts and their constant, insidious shedding.
I went through four vacuums before I realized how important routine vacuum maintenance is for pet owners. Pet hair gets tangled around rollers and wheels, causing belts to snap. Pet dander clogs filters and hoses. So just like our furry friends, our vacuums need love, too!
Here are a few things I’ve learned about protecting your vacuum from pet hair. And some guides to rescue your vacuum if it gets choked up on Fluffy’s fur.
Groom thyself and thy animal
The more hair that’s brushed out, the less that lands on the floor, saving your vacuum from a perilous death.
Vacuum Regularly
Don’t wait too long to vacuum. Dirty floors with lots of pet hair make your vacuum work harder.
Use the Correct Tools
If you just brushed your fur baby, don’t try to mow over the tufts of fur with the vacuum. Use the hose on the large tufts to prevent clogs and tangles on the roller.
Routine Maintenance
Regular maintenance is key to a long vacuum life. Here are some things to look out for and ways to inspect and clean your vacuum’s vital components:
- Rollers/Brushes: Hair gets caught around the rollers and embedded in the brushes, making it hard for your vacuum to move around. Once a month or so, flip your vacuum over and inspect the brushes. Pick fur out of brushes and cut tangles free from the roller. It’s a little tedious, but worth it to keep your floors fur free (and your vacuum working.)
- Filter: Filters get dirty quick when you’re cleaning up after pets. If the filter is clogged, it can cause the vacuum to smell like wet dog and the vent may not be able to cool the motor. Pet dander can cause allergy problems too, so be sure to replace or clean your filter regularly.
- Belt: The belt is what pushes the rollers. When hair is tangled on the rollers, the belt can snap! If your vacuum is hard to push, stop, unplug it, flip it over and inspect the belt. If your belt is broken, it’s usually a quick fix and a cheap part to replace.
- Hose: Loss of suction could be caused by holes in the hose or hair and toy parts caught in the curve. Stretch the hose out to release clogs or—if possible—detach the hose and use a long tool to remove the obstruction. If you see any kinks or tears in the hose, try wrapping duct tape around the weak spot for a temporary fix.
- Waste Bucket: Many waste buckets have tight spots where dirt can accumulate. Take a pipe cleaner or other long object to pull dirt out of tight corners and fully clean your waste bucket.
If your vacuum is still having trouble, check out these vacuum repair and maintenance guides to help you get your vacuum going again. If you’re beyond the point of maintenance, you might need to replace some parts. Luckily, companies like Hoover, Bissell, Dirt Devil, and Dyson make it easy to order replacement parts—and you can also search for parts on Amazon. More vacuum repair guides are available at info-vacuum-cleaner.com. But if you don’t know what needs to be repaired, try troubleshooting your vacuum cleaner at repairclinic.com or searspartsdirect.com.
댓글 6개
You have explained very simply but helpfully how to retain good vacuum cleaner from pet hair. That’s really nice and helpful.
Thanks.
Md Dalour Faruque Thalukdar - 답글
Hmm, pet hair vacuums like this are designed with fur removal in mind so I don’t think issues should arise with those. Been using that for years and never had a problem with it myself :D
Jessie Kyle - 답글
@Jessie Kyle. You are right. Vacuum for pet hair is designed for pet hair such as dog hair, cat hair removal. I bought one at $399, and currently, it performs very well. It only takes me 20 - 30 mins to get rid of all pet hair.
Thomas Delange - 답글
We have Dyson V10 vacuums. Made the mistake of using it to suck people hair after our hair cuts (bless my wife). The Dyson got clogged up inside the metal filter. I had to take it apart and pull out the clog. Guess it is made for pet hair and not people hair.
Jon - 답글
I got a new AC powered Stick vacuum made by Shark because the hi prices of the other brands are a total rip considering the lack of power plus short lived battery and eventual battery replacement expense. For $119 on sale at Costco, could not be happier. Additionally, Shark uses a new technology to capture hair separately from the other debris! Don't know how the suction does this but in the debris box is something that looks like a large mesh sewing spindle and all the hair neatly wraps around it. All the other stuff falls to the bottom of a divided separate chamber. Seems to work, very little to zero string or hair wraps around the power head brushes and i have been using for 5-6 months now. I also own from the first to the last Dyson's made and very happy to find an inexpensive alternative to their costly products. Since I owned my own cleaning biz while getting my EE degree, I have a small following of folks for my cleaning equip. and technique expertise!
Ross Elkins - 답글
Will pet hairs also damage a shop vac? Would an ash vacuum live longer perhaps? I broke them all with the circus that ismy household but not an ash one so might try that now 🙂
Sarah van Oorsouw - 답글