You can embrace hands-free cleaning with the Shark 2-in-1 Vacuum and Mop Robot. While it is fairly expensive, this robotic vacuum is extremely effective — it creates a map of your home, allowing you to label each specific room and create no-go zones, as well. In testing, the vacuum was able to pick up all sorts of dirt, dust, grass, and other debris with no problems, and its convenient self-empty base means that there’s very little maintenance needed on your part. Otherwise, this is still one of the best robot vacuums for pet hair that will get the job done.
This allows you to clean under furniture more easily and also provides for more compact storage. Stick vacuums are arguably the most popular models from Shark and Dyson, with both companies offering many different styles, features, and price points. The following sections break apart the collection of Dyson and Shark vacuums by type, calling out the most popular models from each manufacturer and any special features. Not only can it turn on a dime, but it can also lean nearly 180 degrees back without the cleaning head lifting off the floor, if you need to squeeze under furniture or beds. The best vacuum for pets may be different for each person, depending on your pet and lifestyle, but there are some features that all great pet vacuums have in common. Both Shark and Dyson offer many models designed specifically for pets.
The Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum, our Best Upright pick, is a great choice, too. Nevertheless, once this vacuum was performing well, we found it excelled at picking up all types of debris and no hair was caught in the brush roller. The swivel head makes it easy shark canister vacuum to maneuver under lower pieces of furniture and it’s lightweight enough to easily transcend a flight of steps. Because of the small dust bin size, we think this vacuum is more suited for apartments or townhomes, but it could also serve as a quick mess-cleaning tool in busy households.
In addition, there are thoughtful design changes like a button for power, and great accessories included like the Laser Fluffy cleaner head for optimal hard surface cleaning. Since the V10 launched in March of 2018, Dyson released a new upright, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 in 2022. They have continued to release several cordless vacuums including the Dyson V12 Detect Slim (launched 2022), Dyson V15 Detect (launched 2021), V11 Torque Drive (launched 2019) and V11 Outsize (launched 2020).
For temporary obstacles, the robotic cleaner can be deployed for a touch-up run once the objects have been cleared. The power cord extends 26 feet and self-retracts back into the vacuum with the push of a button. With four suction levels to choose from and a brush roller, this vacuum is effective across a variety of flooring types. Pet hair takes up more space than dirt and dust so a vacuum designed to combat pet hair typically has a larger bin along with rubber fins or spiraled bristles on the roller brush to prevent tangling.
While we recognize that an over $500 price tag definitely places this robot vacuum in a splurge category, we think it’s well worth the investment. For busy families and homes with lots of hard flooring, it can be a time saver and offer peace of mind by removing one chore from your weekly shark dustbuster routine. If you have high-pile carpeting, you may prefer a Miele model with an electrified cleaning head, such as the Miele Complete C3 Kona. The vacuums in this line clean similarly, but the filtration isn’t quite as excellent, they run a little louder, and the hoses aren’t crushproof.
Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums. Robot vacuums are ideal for people who want a truly hands-free cleaning experience, and this Shark model is a great pick. It acts as both a vacuum and a mop, picking up debris and leaving floors shiny, and it comes with a helpful app that you can use to set up cleaning schedules, activate different modes, and more.
Praised by nearly everyone as excellent, this nimble canister vacuum works on any kind of flooring, runs quiet, and should last for decades. This model is great for those with asthma and allergies, but it requires bags. Any other models in the Shark NV350, NV360, or NV370 series are essentially the same vacuums as the NV352. Performance is nearly identical, and the only differences are minor—their tool sets, bin sizes, colors, and button placements.
When shopping for a vacuum, the decision between a corded and cordless model depends on your specific needs and priorities. A corded vacuum offers an unlimited runtime and is a good choice for whole-house cleaning. Pay attention to the length of the cord to minimize how often you’ll need to stop and switch outlets, though. For context, our Best Upright pick, the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum, has a 25-foot cord.
This vacuum also has wifi-connectivity, allowing you to schedule or control the robot, as well as check out data from previous cleaning cycles. Unique to the 360 Eye, is the full-width Dyson brush bar, eliminating the need for spinning side brushes. The Shark Rotator, Shark APEX, Shark Vertex, Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2, Dyson Ball Animal 3, and Dyson Ball Animal 2 use traditional swivel shark dustbuster steering as an upright vacuum. As a trade-off, the dust bin capacity of the Shark Rotator is about half that of the Shark Navigator series and the overall unit is about 2 pounds heavier. It’s equipped with a DuoClean brushroll in addition to Shark’s new “Power Fins”. These are rubberized paddles on the primary brushroll that are designed to help agitate and remove additional debris.