Your questions about pet vacuums answeredWhat is the best pet vacuum? My overall best pet vacuum was the Shark powerdetect speed clean and empty pet pro, which thoroughly impressed me with its excellent anti-hair wrap head, superior suction and useful docking station. If you’re on a tighter budget, the Hoover HL2 pet turbo style is more reasonably priced (although still not cheap) and, thanks to its corded design, has an impressive bin capacity, fantastic suction and another super anti-hair wrap head to prevent any tangles. What sort of vacuum is best for pet hair?“I'd always recommend looking for a vacuum with a motorised brush roll or dedicated pet-hair attachment,” says Georgina Shepherd. “These are much better at lifting hair from carpets, rugs and upholstery than standard vacuum heads. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is also a must if you have pets. Pet hair often comes with dander, dust and allergens, so a good filtration system helps stop those particles being blown back into the room. If you have hard floors as well as carpets, it's worth choosing a vacuum that can easily switch between floor types, as pet hair tends to gather in corners, along skirting boards and under furniture.”Graeme Shelley, Managing Director at Factory Direct Flooring, also explains: “Headlights are a must-have feature on a vacuum cleaner if you have pets. If your pet's hair is a similar colour to your floor, it can blend in, but the headlights do a great job of making it obvious to see where you've missed. Powerful suction is also important, particularly if you have carpets where pet hair can easily get deep-rooted into the fibres. Plug-in models tend to have stronger suction than cordless ones. Some higher-end models have purpose-built rollers with rubberised blades that prevent hair from tangling inside them, saving you from having to deal with jams."Are bagged or bagless vacuums better for pet hair?“Bagged vacuums tend to be better if anyone in the household suffers from allergies,” explains Georgina Shepherd. “When you empty them, the hair, dust and dander stay contained inside the bag, so there's less chance of it escaping back into the air.”Graeme Shelley agrees and adds, “If your pet is especially prone to shedding, a bagged vacuum is worth considering. These tend to have a larger capacity than bagless models, so you won't have to empty them as often, and they're less likely to kick dust back into the air when you do. That said, bagless vacs tend to be more lightweight and easier to store, which counts for a lot when you're cleaning up after your pet several times a week." What are the best techniques for vacuuming up pet hair?“For upholstery, a dedicated pet-hair attachment or motorised tool usually works much better than a standard nozzle,” says Georgina Shepherd. “Remember to slow down and make multiple passes from different directions, which helps lift hair that's embedded in carpet fibres. If you're tackling a particularly hairy carpet, vacuuming in a criss-cross pattern can help lift hair that a single pass might miss. And a handy trick before vacuuming is to lightly dampen a rubber glove and run it over sofas, cushions or pet beds. The hair clumps together and becomes much easier to remove. Clean the brush roll after every use. Pet hair can wrap around the roller over time, which reduces performance.”Graeme Shelley adds, “Try to keep on top of maintenance too, like emptying the container or the bag regularly (ideally before it's completely full), and wash or replace your filters often, as both affect suction over time. Using the right attachments for the job can really help. A stick or crevice attachment is ideal for the skirting boards and edges, and a brush attachment works wonders on upholstery. Vacuuming little-and-often is much easier than letting the hair build up into 'mega clean' territory. If your pet sheds, aim to vacuum about 4 times a week to stay on top of it, especially in rooms where your pet often hangs out."How I tested pet vacuumsI tested each vacuum cleaner in my home, which helpfully has a combination of both hard and carpeted floors. I used the vacuum to deal with daily cat hair build up but also added some clumps of hair around the home to give each model a little bit more of a challenge. With two foster cats currently in residence who seem to have made a competitive sport out of shedding hair, there was plenty to challenge the vacuums. The entries on the list are the very best of those I tested. Here’s what I considered:Hair wrapping: The main criteria of an effective pet vacuum is its ability to dispose of hair without it wrapping around the main floorhead. I examined each head after vacuuming and noted how efficient it was in disposing of hair. Manoeuvrability: I looked at how easy each vacuum was to move around, paying particular attention to how it got into and around tight corners. Dust bin size and ease of emptying: Big isn’t always better, depending on the size of your home, but I made sure the vacuums could store pet hair effectively and dispose of it fairly easily. Versatility: I tested the vacuums on laminate, hard wood, carpet, rugs, upholstery and stairs to see how well they performed in different cleaning scenarios. Value for money: I wasn’t looking for the cheapest vacuum cleaner on the market, but I ensured that all my inclusions are worth the money you’ll pay for them. Performance: The main aim of testing, of course, was to see how well each vacuum cleaner performed on pet hair but I also looked at overall performance and what areas of the house the vacuum was best suited for. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Jo Plumridge is an expert product tester with more than 20 years of experience. Her expertise lies in home and tech products – Jo has previously reviewed the best steam cleaners for IndyBest – so she’s well placed to bring our readers a round-up of the best pet vacuum cleaners. To get to her verdict, Jo used each of these vacuums in and around her home that she shares with four legged feline friends, when she could see how they fared. Read more: Best Dyson vacuum cleaners, tried and tested by a home appliance expert