Pet Vacuum Review with a double shot of honesty
Let’s talk about pet vacuums and which one is best for pet hair. I’ve got three top contenders for you today: the Riccar R40 Pet, Dyson’s Ball Animal Plus, and Sebo’s X7 Pet. These machines are all from well-established platforms, each with a long history of development.
Key Points to Consider:
- Marketing vs. Functionality: Just because a vacuum is marketed as a “pet vacuum” doesn’t mean it’s the best for pet hair. The real performance depends on design features and how well it handles hair.
- Brush Rollers: Metal brush rollers generally perform better and require less maintenance compared to plastic ones.
- Odor Management: Look for vacuums with charcoal filtration if you want to manage pet odors effectively.
Riccar R40 Pet:
Riccar’s R40 Pet is part of a platform that’s been around for 20 years. Its mature design has undergone only minor modifications over the years. One standout feature of the Riccar is its metal brush roller, which tends to handle pet hair better and requires less maintenance compared to plastic or wooden rollers. It also comes with a service plan that includes reconditioning, making it a solid long-term investment.
Dyson Ball Animal Plus:
Dyson’s Ball Animal Plus has been on the market for over a decade. Despite its popularity, it has a design flaw: a central strip that doesn’t pick up dirt, which can lead to uneven cleaning. This design issue also contributes to a high failure rate in the brush roller. Dyson’s approach to marketing pet vacuums is also worth noting; often, they simply rebrand existing models with minor tweaks and color changes to target specific markets.
Sebo X7 Pet:
Sebo’s X7 Pet is another strong contender. It has a unique brush roller design that minimizes hair wrap and is easy to maintain. The brush roll is metal and robust, making it less prone to wear and tear compared to others. Sebo also incorporates charcoal filtration in their pre-filters, which helps manage pet odors effectively.
When choosing a pet vacuum, it’s important to test out the models yourself if possible. Each vacuum has its strengths and weaknesses, so finding one that suits your specific needs is crucial. Whether you go for the Riccar R40 Pet, Dyson Ball Animal Plus, or Sebo X7 Pet, make sure to consider these factors to get the best vacuum for your pet hair challenges.