Do Robot Vacuums Work for Pet Fur?

If you’re a pet owner who wants to keep a clean home, then robot vacuums are your new robotic best friends. These semi-autonomous cleaning devices will help take a huge load off your shoulder when cleaning up after your pet’s fur, sheddings, dander, and accidental messes with the least effort on your part.

However, cleaning up pet-related messes will require more work for robot vacuums compared to the usual dirt, debris, and even bug pickups that they do since pets can be more unpredictable and have high maintenance. With this, let’s break robot vacuums down further and see what we need to keep in mind when choosing one for cleaning pet fur and other pet-related messes.

How Can Robot Vacuums Clean Pet Fur and After Pets?

Looking at robot vacuums, one might think that they are not capable enough in taking on tough cleaning jobs such as cleaning up after pets and their fur. Don’t be fooled by their compact size though as these robot vacuums are designed strategically to be small yet powerful.

When it comes to their cleaning features, robot vacuums have a strong suction power that will allow them to suck up pet fur, whether they be thin or thick. Should dander be scattered all over the tiles or dust bunnies formed from accumulated pet fur get stuck on the carpet, some robot vacuums can suck all these up to keep your floors clean. All robot vacuums also come with brushes, which will help in loosening up some dirt on the floor so it can easily be sucked up.

Unlike most regular vacuum cleaners, robot vacuums come with smart features. Although these smart features will vary depending on the robot vacuum model, common ones are mapping, voice control, and self-emptying functions. You may opt to forego these smart features in exchange for a cheaper robot vacuum, but it’s recommended that you invest in these as they will come in handy when cleaning after pets.

Most robot vacuums have a compatible app made for them. This app will allow you to input scheduled cleanings, which is useful for when your pet is on the furry side and tends to shed a lot. With this feature, robot vacuums can make multiple cleaning rounds in a day to assure that your floors stay clean from any fur and dander.

Choosing Robot Vacuums for Cleaning Pet Fur and Pet-Related Messes

Before buying a robot vacuum, there are general factors you first need to consider so you can choose the best one that will meet your requirements. However, when it comes to choosing the best robot vacuum specifically for cleaning pet fur and pet-related messes, there are specific things and features that you should take note of.

Suction Power

While we love our furry best friends, having their fur, dander, and sheddings all over the home is not exactly a lovable trait of theirs. Luckily, robot vacuums can make this problem a thing of the past as they can effectively suck up pet fur on whatever type of flooring depending on their suction power.

Most robot vacuums nowadays have a suction power of 1500-2000 Pa, which is already strong enough to pick up pet fur. However, if your pet has thick fur and is prone to shedding, then it’s best that you choose a robot vacuum that has a suction power of at least 3000-4000 Pa.

The iRobot Roomba j7+ is one of the best robot vacuums out there when it comes to suction power with over 10x power-lifting suction. It even has a dual multi-surface rubber brush that will help in picking up pet fur and hair in different floor types without getting tangled.

Dustbin Size and Smart Feature

The dustbin size of your robot vacuum is extremely important to consider since it will be carrying all the pet fur and other dander it was able to pick up from the floor. As pet fur tends to get bigger when it’s being collected, a rather large dustbin for your robot vacuum is recommended so it can carry as much as it can.

If you have a small pet that doesn’t shed a lot, then you may opt for a robot vacuum that has a smaller dustbin. Otherwise, you may end up needing to regularly empty out the bin.

If you’re all for convenience, which is a major benefit of robot vacuums, then you may opt for the higher-end models that have a self-emptying smart feature. With this feature, you won’t need to manually remove and empty the dustbin as the robot vacuum will do it for you.

Consider looking into robot vacuums with this feature if your pet tends to shed a lot or if you have multiple pets at home as the pet fur can quickly accumulate. Some robot vacuums that have an ample dustbin size for collecting pet fur and even have a self-emptying smart feature are the iRobot Roomba i3 and Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI.

High-Efficiency Filters

Although most pet owners aren’t allergic to pet fur, the dander in them can still cause allergies and irritations now and then. Robot vacuums can be of help in this area as all models have built-in filters that can trap dirt and allergens. Higher-end robot vacuums even have HEPA-like filters and UV sterilization features that will go the extra mile in cleaning, sanitizing, and purifying areas.

The iRobot Roomba S9+ is an impressive robot vacuum that has a built-in anti-allergen HEPA filter that can trap 99% of allergens.

Object Detection Feature

Sometimes our furry best friends can’t help but get into messy accidents such as leaving an unpleasant surprise for you. If this is a normal occurrence for you and your furry companion, then you might want to invest in a robot vacuum that has an advanced object detection feature so they can avoid these specific pet messes and prevent any floor smears. Currently, only the iRobot Roomba j7+ and Roomba j7 are making confident claims in their ability to detect these pet messes.

An alternative to this feature is to program boundary zones and place boundary strips in areas where pet accidents usually occur inside the home. This way, your robot vacuum can entirely avoid this area unless supervised.

Bonus: Hybrid Robot Vacuums

Speaking of messy pet accidents, there are moments wherein even trained pets still end up peeing inside the house or spilling their water bowls. If you want these types of pet-related messes to also be cleaned by your robot vacuum, then consider looking into hybrid robot vacuums with vacuuming and mopping features. Such robot vacuums can switch from being a vacuum to a mop when you program them, but higher-end models can do simultaneous cleaning and even detect when to activate such capabilities.

This feature can come in handy when your pet also tends to sneak out of the house and come back home leaving a trail of muddy paw prints.

Although hybrid robot vacuums tend to be on the pricier side, one model that is more friendly to the wallet yet still capable is the ILIFE V8s. You will just have to manually switch out the vacuum cleaner with a water tank and mop cloth so it can be turned into a vacuum.

Final Note

One of the main responsibilities of pet ownership is the task of cleaning up after our furry best friends. While we love our pets dearly, cleaning up after them can sometimes be quite a chore and time-consuming. Luckily, robot vacuums are smart cleaning devices that can conveniently and efficiently help us with this task thanks to their smart features and technology.

If you’re ready to make your pet ownership cleaning responsibilities lighter, then here are some of the best robot vacuums for you to choose from. Be sure to check out our guide on how to keep your robot vacuum and pets living harmoniously after you make the purchase!