Testing vacuum cleaners in a cat and dog shelter has been an enlightening experience. Turns out that not that many vacuums are up to the task, and the ones that are tend to cost more than the average person would like to spend on a vacuum.
So, I was delighted to see the excellent Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog discounted by $400 for Amazon Prime Day. When I tested this model, I found its performance to be almost flawless, but its high price stopped me from recommending it more often.
Now, it's at its lowest price ever. This is one of the best vacuums for pet hair that we've tested, and as it's completely bagless with Miele's iconic durability, you won't need to buy replacement filters, bags or repairs for up to 10 years, maybe more.
Why the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog is a gamechanger for pet owners
Vacuuming pet hair is one of the biggest challenges for vacuum brands to overcome, but Miele has nailed it with the Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog. When I tested it at a cat and dog shelter, this ultra-powerful vacuum performed better than almost all others I've tested – even rivaling the best Dyson vacuums.
I've spent more than 250 hours testing vacuum cleaners, and the Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog is simply one of the best Miele vacuums you can buy.
Hard floors, area rugs, entrance mats, and thick carpets were no match for its strong suction and specialized floorheads. You can choose between suction levels from light to heavy cleaning, and when you equip the Electrobrush head, the vacuum will dig into carpets and remove dust and pet hair you didn't even know was there.
Its suction is so strong that it pulls in debris from inches away:
Miele vacuums are priced so highly because of their meticulously high-quality builds. I've spoken with Miele owners who often state proudly that they've made theirs last for more than a decade – with no loss in performance.
Other than the $999 price point, its only other drawback was its weak performance when handling large solids – but this was quickly resolved by removing the floorhead and letting the strong suction take care of it through the nozzle.
Buy the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog for $599.40 at Amazon.
What to shop
On the hunt for a discounted pet hair vacuum? There are plenty more I can confidently recommend after testing 75 in our test center and a local pet shelter:
If you'd prefer a vacuum that takes up less space and is easier to grab and go, the Dyson V15 Detect is our best cordless vacuum on pet hair. It's almost hard to believe, but its suction is as strong as a big corded vacuum – but packed into a light, convenient stick. It also has a green laser that reveals hair and dust that your naked eye can't pick up. It's on offer for Prime Day with almost $200 off.
Read more in my full Dyson V15 Detect review.
Not ready to invest in a full-sized pet hair vacuum? Worry not – this Black+Decker handheld vacuum performed brilliantly at the pet shelter when vacuuming pet hair from upholstery, rugs and even carpets. It won't replace your normal vacuum, but keeping this nearby helps to avoid pet hair building up – one of the many reasons why pet hair is so hard to vacuum.
Read more in my full Black+Decker dustbuster furbuster AdvanceClean+ Pet review.
Cleaning up after your pets is, sadly, not always about the hair. Pets can track muddy paw prints (or worse) through the house, which can be a nightmare for your carpets and furniture. Instead of scrubbing the stains away, getting yourself a nifty spot cleaner is the answer – and this excellent model from Shark can even handle pet messes directly.
Read more in our full Shark CarpetXpert with StainStriker review. This carpet cleaner has the StainStriker built in – and it proved highly effective on test.
Next, learn the tips and tricks I've learned from testing vacuums at a pet shelter.
