Best Hoover for dog hair/fur (merged threads)

[N9eav]

My HENRY, trusted for many years can no longer cut the mustard. Our new dog is shedding fur (rather than hair) everywhere. It's like lambswool and so just wants to stick to the carpet. I generally keep the dog out of the carpet area, but......... anyway Any suggestion for a new vaccum which can beat the carpet clean of fur?

[trace-j]

Have a look on these threads for some recommendations.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...ighlight=dyson

[grumbler]

I quote which?extra as usually:

Vacuum cleaners: Best Buy guide

To make the grade as a Best Buy, a vacuum cleaner must come up with the goods in our rigorous tests. Here’s what we look for in each Best Buy.
First and foremost, excellent cleaning ability on at least one floor surface. Carpet is the hardest surface to clean, so any model that rates highly there is a strong contender.

Second, dust that’s sucked in should stay in. Some models have poor filtration systems, which allow dust to escape back into the room through the exhaust, so our cleaning ratings take account of this, too.

Finally, we look at the brand’s reliability record. Each year we survey 30,000 Which? readers to find out which brands’ vacuum cleaners are least likely to require repair. We don’t make a product a Best Buy if its manufacturer has below-average reliability.

Cylinder vacuum cleaners

Cylinder machines now outsell uprights and are leaving uprights for dead in our tests.

In recent years, our Best Buys have been dominated by two relatively modest-selling brands, Bosch and Miele. Both brands’ cleaners excel in our tests and have a good record in our reliability survey.

The Bosch BSG 71810 GB Formula is a real star on wooden floors – laminates and floorboards alike – where it leaves virtually no dust behind. It’s pretty good on carpets, too, though the Ergomaxx just has the edge. It retains dust well and, for a cylinder, it deals effectively with errant pet hair. It’s fairly lightweight and is one of the quietest vacs we’ve tested. And, with a long power cable and good-sized hose, you can cover lots of floor before you have to change sockets. It’s not the best bet for allergy sufferers but, otherwise, this is a good choice. It’s great value at just £90 from Argos Extra or £100 in Miller Brothers.

The jazzy green Bosch BSG 82000GB Ergomaxx has impressive carpet and floorboard cleaning. It’s great at getting rid of dust and allergens, too. It has a quiet motor and is pretty easy to use; changing the bag and filters, for example, is much easier than with many other models. But there are two areas where it’s less successful: if you have laminate floors or moulting pets this is not the vac for you. Unfortunately, this vac is becoming increasingly scarce. You should expect to pay around £115 online.

Like its predecessor, this updated version of the Miele S571– boasting new bags and higher power – is an excellent cleaner, on any surface. In a stylish black design, it’s a great all-rounder. It’s also pleasingly quiet and easy to use and – most importantly – not too pricey at just £120 in John Lewis.

Like other Miele models we’ve tested, the Miele Xtra Power 2300 is an excellent cleaner. Its macho ‘Xtra Power’ name is a reference to the 2,300-watt motor, which is far stronger than most vacs. Several manufacturers are increasing motor power, but it doesn’t always result in better cleaning and can often be noisier. Happily, Miele machines are constructed superbly, with good brushes and filtration. The Xtra Power cleans brilliantly well and keeps the noise down too. Costing £275 in Comet, it’s far from being a budget buy but Miele has a solid reputation in our reliability survey, so you should have many years’ happy cleaning with this model.

Finally, the Miele S4210 gives Miele a third Best Buy slot. This pale yellow model is lighter and slightly smaller than the other Mieles, so a good choice for small flats. And it’s reasonably priced at just £120 in Miller Brothers. Miele is introducing a modified nozzle, which it claims will bring even better results for this model.

Upright vacuum cleaners

Plenty of people prefer uprights but few are as good at cleaning as the best cylinders.

In recent times, the only uprights we’ve found that clean as well as the Best Buy cylinders have been Dysons. The Dyson DC07 Animal , Dyson DC14 All Floors and its newest model, the Dyson DC15 (also known as The Ball) did outstandingly well in our tests. The problem is that Dyson’s reliability is consistently below average, so they all miss out on being a Best Buy. If you decide to plump for them anyway, you can find the DC07 Animal online for about £250 and the DC14 All Floors for £240 in Argos. The Ball is currently £260 in Miller Brothers.

The Bosch BUC11700GB Extraxx 17 has been discontinued so you might have trouble finding one anywhere but online, where you’ll pay about £140. It’s worth seeking out as cleaning is excellent on hard floors and, as long as you empty it before it gets too full, it’s good on carpets, too. However, it is the noisiest of our Best Buys and allergen retention is poor.

Updated August 2005

[Stink Pod]

I've got the Dyson Animal, and although I agree that they lack reliability, this particular one is used every other day, still going strong 2+ years after buying it.
It copes beautifully with the clumps of fluff left by my two long haired mogs. Like your dog, they shed it tufts that stick to the carpet, not fine hair like you would get from a shorthaired cat or dog.

[N9eav]

Thanks for quoting Which. unless you buy their mag you can't look at their website.


The Dyson is a consideration. My Mother has had 2 catch fire, but the latest one seems to be working. I may have to borrow it and see.

keep me posted if anyone has had good results with theirs on hairy fluff

[stressedoutmum]

I'm still using my Dyson 01 for over 10 years now and its brilliant and getting rid of dog hair. Cant comment on the new models though.

[gk172]

3 long haired dogs and 2 kids and i bought a hoover pure power for £60 ish well over a year ago and its still picking everything up just fine, i also have the dc07 for animals 3 years old now and had to replace many things including the brush bar which again is on its way out .

[larmy16]

I am a cleaner. My eyes light up when a client has a Miele Cat and Dog cylinder. I love love love them. I find them the best vacuam cleaner. I like Henry too, but Dyson **** I hate with a passion. Clumsy and unwieldy, all of them, cylinders and uprights alike.

They dont last long either.

Hope this helps

[abwsco]

Another vote for a Miele from me. Fantastic machine.

[N9eav]

Originally Posted by larmy16

I am a cleaner. My eyes light up when a client has a Miele Cat and Dog cylinder. I love love love them. I find them the best vacuam cleaner. I like Henry too, but Dyson **** I hate with a passion. Clumsy and unwieldy, all of them, cylinders and uprights alike.

They dont last long either.

Hope this helps

Can you tell me the model? Is this a specific pet hoover?

[N9eav]

ALSO I am being plagued with a WHICH? pop up for this thread..... Any ideas how to get rid of it?

[grumbler]

Originally Posted by N9eav

ALSO I am being plagued with a WHICH? pop up for this thread..... Any ideas how to get rid of it?

I think it was my fault with thoughtless 'cut&paste'. I killed all pictures an links in my post. HTH.

[Sheel]

When we had mainly carpets at our last house we had a Miele Cat & Dog which was excellent , so another vote for Miele from me

[N9eav]

seems like the cat and dog hoover is well recommended. Now can I justify £160....ouch

[abwsco]

Originally Posted by N9eav

seems like the cat and dog hoover is well recommended. Now can I justify £160....ouch

They're currently doing a free 2 year cover on the hoovers. We have an independant stockist nearby and I was able to buy mine in 3 installments with no extra charge. May be worth seeing if you can find the same. My Miele is 10 years old and still as good as new.

[raeble]

Have a look in argos - looking in the new catalogue there are various cleaners in there that claim they are ideal for bet hair - starting at a lot less than £160 (the miele one is in argos for £38 more). I think anything with a high wattage 1700+ should be good at shifting pet hair. The Miele is 2000 watts.

[Eels100]

Hi folks, hope you can help.

We've just bought our first home so money is tight, and I decided on the cheapest hoover I could find because there just hasn't been cash for anything better (£40 teeny cylinder).

But it's rubbish, it doesn't pick up anything, the only way it lifts hair is if you use the head to scrub the carpet then pick the hairs out of that every minute or two! So, more fool me - you obviously get what you (don't!) pay for when it comes to hoovers! OH is threatening to go and buy a Dyson which will probably be a couple of hundred quid and that's really more than I think we ought to spend. SO I thought I'd come and ask here for any recommendations.

I'd rather pay the extra money and have something that works than fall into the false economy trap for a second time, but I would like to know if there are any moneysaving equivalents to the pricey Dyson? I have a cylinder in my head because our house is only small and uprights seem so heavy and awkward when cleaning stairs, BUT I'm open to any suggestions. With 2 dogs and 2 cats we're living in a furry wonderland!

[Dora the Explorer]

Having owned Jack Russell's that had polar bears as ancestors you have my heartfelt sympathy. My solution was the most powerful upright Hoover I could find and a handheld Dirt Devil for upholstery and stairs. If money's tight, you might be able to source a recon Hoover which will be just as good as a brand new one, but the case will look pre-loved. Dyson? Some people love 'em, I wouldn't give one house room !
The real moneysaving tip is grooming all the pets twice a day. Good luck.

[jessicamb]

Cant beat the Dyson IMHO for pet hair - if money is the issue they have got £50 off both the cylinder and the upright in the Argos sale.

Not sure about anything else though (all the others I've tried are rubbish, sorry)

[---lee---]

Originally Posted by jessicamb

Cant beat the Dyson IMHO for pet hair - if money is the issue they have got £50 off both the cylinder and the upright in the Argos sale.

Not sure about anything else though (all the others I've tried are rubbish, sorry)

I second that. My hairy golden animal is my avatar. He creates a massive amount of hair every day. We've had a Dyson DC07 Animal for about 3 years and it picks up all hair from carpets and wooden floors on the 1st pass. It's an upright and it does not blow hair around on hard floors like most do - just picks it up. It seemed expensive when we got it, but boy can you see the difference. The only downside is that they are VERY heavy and so difficult to lug up and down stairs.