The best handheld vacuums for keeping up with pet hair

The mini motorized tool is arguably the most crucial member of a multi-pet home's cleaning arsenal. It combines concentrated suction without relying on sheer suction, using a spinning brush to lap up embedded pet hair. The thing is, it's typically not one of the attachments included with a handheld vacuum, and is often reserved for full-sized stick vacuums. Bissell happens to include one with its purple Pet Hair Eraser, singlehandedly boosting its ranking.

This Bissell's other pet hair-friendly features include a large dustbin and triple-level filtration.

All handheld vacuums are generally easy to grab because, well, they're handheld. But the Shark Wandvac is particularly convenient because of its lightweight and comfortable-to-hold shape. The cylinder gets slightly slimmer at the top for a comfy grip but stays uniform through the base to reach awkward spots without a separate extender nozzle.

Shark was able to squeeze a powerful high-speed brushless motor into the compact design. The suction, combined with targeted airflow from the included multi-surface pet tool, makes the WandVac ideal for tackling pet hair on furniture or stairs. To empty, just hold the vacuum over the trashcan and hit the one-touch empty button.

Your grandma's clunky canister vacuum was hardly the picture of portability, but one feature needs to be brought back: that hose. For the times that you've wished you had a long, flexible extender to position suction exactly where you need it, the Flex Vac gives you full control. Use the 4-foot hose to reach up to the ceiling and bend it to grab dust living on ceiling fan blades or atop kitchen cabinets.

Though it's cordless, the Flex Vac doesn't sport the most convenient design. Unless you have a flat surface in reach to set it on, operation requires two hands: one for directing the hose and nozzle and one for holding the base by the handle.

Sure the ChomChom isn't an actual vacuum, but it's a budget-friendly pet hair remover that actually works. Like a lint roller but better, the ChomChom tackles fur on surfaces like furniture and carpet without filling up the trash with tons of sticky strips. The simplistic design uses no power, battery, or adhesive whatsoever. Rather, the rough red fabric tracks hair as you roll the ChomChom back and forth (with some light force).

The collected pet hair collects in a compartment on the upside of the roller that pops open with the push of a button. It's such an easy tool to whip out that, for most jobs on flat surfaces, it's like a reflex for me to grab the ChomChom over my real vacuum.

A quick, easy addition to your collection of cleaners, Bissell's AeroSlim has just enough impact for light daily upkeep and can be stored inconspicuously on the counter. It comes with a 2-in-1 dusting brush and crevice tool to get into corners and even your laptop keyboard (for when your cat insists on laying across it to "help you work.")

Best of all, this handheld vacuum charges via USB so you can even juice it up in your vehicle, making this a great car vacuum for road trips, vet visits, and everyday car rides with your furry friends.

If you're in the market for a new full-sized vacuum, a cordless stick model will double as the most powerful handheld vacuum you'll be able to find. The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is one of our favorites for households with pets because of Dyson's iconic green laser, which illuminates tiny debris like pet hair and dander on hard floors for a more thorough sweep.

As the slimmest version of Dyson's laser models, the V12 Detect Slim is lightweight and compact enough for comfy use as a handheld. The mini motorized brush attachment is ideal for hardcore upkeep with shedding, especially on high-pile surfaces like fluffy blankets or rugs where the wimpier suction of a portable handheld can't compete. An anti-tangle screw tool inside works to keep long hair from wrapping and clogging.

Read our full review of the Dyson V12 Detect Slim.