5 Strategies for Tidying Up After Your Pet

Home Improvement

Our pets are like family to us, but they can leave quite a mess behind.
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If you have pets at home, you know how enjoyable, amusing, and endearing they can be to have around. Developing a close relationship with a cat or dog can also help you reduce your blood pressure and have a more optimistic outlook on life. But, with all that unwavering devotion and complete acceptance comes a lot of pet hair. Why does your favorite fur ball have to shed so much, anyway? Isn’t it difficult enough making sure they consume a well-balanced diet and get their vaccinations on schedule?

When the dust bunnies beneath your sofa start to resemble fur balls and call for an exterminator, we have some recommendations that will make it easier to manage pet hair and breathe a sigh of relief without the worry of coughing up a hairball.

5: Cover-Ups

Use blankets and area rugs to cover surfaces that your pet uses frequently. More hair on washing machine-friendly surfaces like slipcovers and mats will mean less hair on your carpeting and furniture, as well as less strain on your vacuum cleaner. Consider it a decorating opportunity. Interior designers are doing great things with washable slipcovers and accent rugs these days. You can add some seasonal style to your decor while setting up makeshift fur traps. Hey, this might be a reason to redecorate!

Here’s a washing tip: Before washing, throw hair-laden cover-ups in your clothes dryer with a fabric softener sheet for 10 minutes. The tumble cycle and softener will loosen a lot of hair that you can later empty from the lint trap. Adding liquid water softener to the wash cycle will also release more stubborn hairs into your wash water.

Training Your Cat

Do you want your cat to curl up on the area rug instead of the kitchen table? Try rubbing catnip on the spots you want your cat to frequent. Treat those areas every few days until your cat decides they’re appealing places to hang out.

4: Make Your Home Hair-Proof

See if they’ll sleep in their own bed instead of taking over yours.
iStockphoto/Thinkstock

If you want pets but are committed to keeping your home a pet hair-free zone, try furnishing your rooms with items that are naturally hair-resistant. This includes items made of slick or anti-static materials. Hair just slides off to be vacuumed up later. Here are a few examples:

• hardwood, laminate, tile, or vinyl floors – This is a hint that wall-to-wall carpeting can be difficult to maintain if you have a pet that sheds a lot.
• leather – Choose top grain leather or brushed leather if scratching is (or might be) an issue.
• canvas
• pleather
• heavy-duty cotton fabric
• ultrasuede

You may also try disguising pet hair until you can clean up. Consider furnishings in muted tones or prints that blend with your pet’s coloring. This may sound silly, but if you adore Fido (Max or Sasha), and are in the market for a new sofa, it’s something to think about.

3: Take a DIY Approach

Resourceful housekeepers have devised various methods to collect stray pet hair. However, some are more effective than others. Here are a few suggestions to consider:

• Lint rollers – These adhesive rollers, meant for removing lint from clothes, can also work wonders to remove pet hair from furniture and curtains. They are cost-effective, and replacement sticky rolls are easily accessible for standard-sized wands. You can even buy them in bulk.
• Scrub with rubber gloves – This hands-on technique involves using rubber gloves and water. Put on the gloves and moisten them with a spritz of water. Wipe the areas in your home where hair is present and watch the hair come off with ease. Rinse the gloves in a bucket of water as needed. A dense sponge can also be used instead of gloves.
• Dryer sheets – Applying these static clean sheets directly to furniture can help release hair from fabric. However, they may leave a shiny residue. Before using this method on furniture, carpets, or curtains, test an inconspicuous area. Instead of a softener sheet, you can use a little liquid fabric softener in a spray bottle filled with water. Spritz and wipe.
• The lazy sock method – If you find piles of pet hair on your kitchen floor, put on athletic socks and “skate” around your kitchen (or get your kids to do it). This trick does not stir up hair like vacuuming or sweeping and is a quick chore you can do before meal prep to keep pet hair from accidentally becoming an ingredient in your food.

No-Shed Dogs

If you want a dog that sheds very little or not at all, consider adopting a poodle, Maltese, Yorkshire terrier, schnauzer, or bichon frise.

2: Use a Vacuum

If you have pets, you know how valuable vacuum cleaning can be. However, some vacuums are better at removing pet hair and are more durable than others. Suction is crucial, but factors like ease of use, belt endurance, and brush agitator effectiveness also matter. Before buying a new vacuum, check out independent testing labs like Consumer Reports for their take on the latest vacuum cleaners on the market. Most vacuum cleaner rating summaries include effectiveness at picking up pet hair. Some manufacturers offer models specifically designed to tackle pet hair, but do your research before making a purchase.

To get the best performance from your current vacuum cleaner, replace the bag frequently. In most conventional vacuums, the bag serves as the onboard filter. The unit becomes less effective when the bag is full. Also, keep the wand or agitator brushes clean. Pet hair can get tangled in the cleaning brushes, especially if your pet has long hair.

The way you clean can also affect how well your vacuum removes pet hair. Some experts suggest going over each area of your carpet three times in alternating directions to loosen and remove embedded hair. Overlap your strokes slightly as you work.

1: Pet Hair Management

If you are tired of pet hair covering every inch of your house, then simply cleaning it up may not be enough to get rid of the problem. This is especially true when your pet is shedding its undercoat during seasonal changes. Your pet may be shedding hair at an alarming rate, and there’s a good chance that more hair will be shed soon.

“Dead coat” is the hair that is present in your pet’s soft undercoat but is not attached to its skin. This hair can easily fall on your floors and furniture every time your pet moves. The good news is that regular grooming can help you get rid of this problem.

Here are some tips that can help:

• The more you brush your pet, the more dead coat hair you’ll be able to trap and dispose of before it makes it into your carpet.
• You can vacuum your pet to remove pet hair. Some dogs actually enjoy being vacuumed, especially if they’re introduced to it when they are young.
• Giving your pet a bath regularly will help loosen dead coat and make it easier to brush out.
• Consider using a deshedding tool to remove hair that a brush or comb misses.

If you want to adopt a cat but want to keep shedding to a minimum, consider one of the following breeds: Siamese, Cornish rex, Devon rex, sphynx (hairless), or Burmese.

Additional Information

Related Articles

• Tips for Managing Pet Allergies
• Easy Solutions for Removing Pet Hair
• Benefits of Regular Grooming for Your Dog
• Fall Allergies: Prevention and Treatment
• Fun Activities to Enjoy with Your Pets
• Useful Tips for Grooming Your Cat or Dog

Sources

• Amazon: FURminator deShedding Tool
• Amazon: Pet Hair Magnet
• Beliefnet: Heloise Hints for Removing Pet Hair
• Clean Green Simple: Greener Every Week – Remove Pet Hair with a Microfiber
• Consumer Reports: Ratings and Reliability of Canister, Small, and Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Consumer Reports: Top Vacuums for Removing Pet Hair
• DIY Network: Pet Hair Removal
• Doctors Foster and Smith: Pet Hair Magnet
• Shelter Pop: Testing 7 Odd Ways to Get Rid of Pet Hair
• Good Housekeeping: Best Tips for Removing Pet Hair
• GardenWeb: Ways to Control Pet Hair in Your Home
• Light Green Stairs: Use Microfiber to Remove Pet Hair
• The Dollar Stretcher: Removing Pet Hair
• TipNut: Pet Hair Cleanup Tips and Tricks
• Canadian Living: 7 Products to Get Rid of Pet Hair
• VPI Pet Insurance: 5 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair
• What’s New at Home: Pet Hair Removal and Pet Hair-Resistant Furniture

FAQ

1. How can I prevent pet hair from accumulating in my home?

Pet hair can accumulate quickly, especially if you have a pet that sheds a lot. To prevent this, groom your pet regularly, vacuum carpets and furniture frequently, and use a lint roller or brush to remove hair from clothes and other surfaces. You can also use air purifiers and dehumidifiers to reduce the amount of pet hair in the air.

2. What is the best vacuum for pet hair?

The best vacuum for pet hair is one that has a powerful suction and a brush roll that can pick up hair from carpets and furniture. Look for a vacuum that has a HEPA filter to trap allergens and other particles. You can also consider a handheld vacuum for quick cleanups or a robot vacuum that can clean your floors automatically.

3. How can I remove pet hair from clothes?

To remove pet hair from clothes, you can use a lint roller, a damp cloth, or a rubber glove. You can also put your clothes in the dryer with a dryer sheet to loosen hair before washing them. Avoid washing pet hair-covered clothes with other clothes, as this can transfer hair to other items.

4. How can I remove pet hair from furniture?

To remove pet hair from furniture, use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment or a lint roller. You can also use a damp cloth or rubber glove to wipe hair off of furniture. For leather furniture, use a soft-bristled brush to remove hair and then wipe with a damp cloth.

5. What are some natural ways to clean up pet hair?

You can use a rubber squeegee or a damp sponge to remove pet hair from carpets and furniture. You can also mix water and fabric softener in a spray bottle and mist surfaces to loosen hair before vacuuming or wiping it away. Another natural solution is to use baking soda to absorb pet hair and odors before vacuuming.