Easy Pet Hair Cleaning Hacks
Easy Pet Hair Cleaning Hacks
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but if any other friend was as difficult to clean up after, we’d probably get a new BFF. Fortunately for dogs, their fawning, slobbering, unconditional love seals the deal with our hearts. We just sigh, scratch behind their ears, and then spend the time it takes trying to rid the house of their pet hair as best we can.
Cats can also shed and leave little fluffy drifts of fur balls floating around the house. And for a home with both a dog and cat—well, the struggle is very real.
What’s With the Shedding?
Dogs and cats only sweat from the parts of their bodies that aren’t covered with fur, like their paws and noses. This means it can be more difficult for them to regulate body temperature. Part of their natural coping method for seasonal changes means they will grow fluffier winter coats when the weather cools, and then shed the extra fluffy hairs in the spring. Besides this seasonal shedding, dogs and cats shed some hair year round. Just as in humans, an animal’s hair falls out when it’s at the end of its life cycle. But for pets, the life cycle of each hair is shorter. They also have much more hair on their bodies than humans, resulting in a great deal of shedding. Some dog breeds shed more than others, so if you are extremely bothered by shedding, look for a dog breed that sheds less.
If the dog you chose—or the one that chose you—is an excessive shedder, getting rid of all the dog hair in your home can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are some great pet hair hacks, that can make this less of a chore.
Vacuum Away Pet Hair
It may seem like a no-brainer, but it has to be said. Frequent vacuuming can help keep pet hair from accumulating in your home. If your vacuum doesn’t seem effective against pet hair, you may be using the wrong vacuum. Look instead for one of the best vacuums for pet hair. There are many new vacuums on the market that are labeled as specially engineered for pet hair removal. Many of these come with attachments that make getting pet hair out of carpets and furniture easier.
Having a carpet can be a challenge when you have pets. If your pets are serious shedders, it might be worthwhile to have a good carpet cleaner in the house. Carpets should be thoroughly cleaned every six months to remove pet hair, stains, and odors.
Give Barney a Blanket
While it’s easy to say that you should not let your dog on the couch, we all know that in most cases this isn’t realistic. Dogs love couches, and we love to snuggle up with our best buddy at the end of the day.
One way to keep dog hair on your sofa at a minimum is to keep a dedicated dog blanket in your dog’s preferred spot. If you choose a fluffy blanket that matches your decor, this actually won’t look bad at all. When it starts to get furry, take it outside and give it a few shakes. Birds love weaving soft, fluffy dog hair into their nests, so you know there’s a chance that your pup’s fur will be put to good use.
Dry Sheets Do it All
Dryer sheets can do a lot more than make your clothes soft and static-free. Try Googling cleaning with dryer sheets, and you will discover that these versatile little white sheets can do anything from remove soap scum to get rid of dead bugs from your bumper and windshield. And on top of all of that—these sweetly-scented little sheets are fantastic fur removers! Rub down your couch cushions and dog beds with a couple of dryer sheets and you will not only remove fur, but you will also freshen your furnishings! This can actually help to make your cushions repel dust and pet hair in the future. Dryer sheets are also great for removing pet hair from baseboards and corners.
Tape it Away
If Fido’s fur is particularly stubborn, you can try using duct tape or packing tape to remove fur from furnishings, carpets, and clothing. This works better than a lint brush, is less expensive, and lasts longer. You can tear off a lengthy strip of tape and wrap it around your palms. Then simply use your hands to swipe away pet fur from any surface.
Another duct tape tip is to wrap it around a paint roller to make a giant lint roller. Then you can roll it across surfaces to collect massive amounts of pet fur in each roll.
A Window Squeegee Works Wonders
Window squeegees do more than clean windows. These are also handy tools for removing pet hair from carpets. Brush the squeegee back and forth in both directions against your carpet nap and you will see a nice pile of pet fur come to the surface for you to scoop up. Try doing this after running your vacuum and you will be surprised at how much fur your vacuum missed.
If your pet rides in the car with you often, a squeegee also works to remove pet hair from carpets and upholstery inside your car.
Beloved Balloons
If you’ve ever tried to sweep pet hair off of a tile or hardwood floor, you’ve probably spent time trying to chase down the fluffy drifts that fly away from your broom. This is especially true of lightweight car fur. Try inflating a balloon and rubbing it along your hard floor surface. You can harness the power of static electricity to collect all of that fly-away fur. If you have kids, this is a fun activity for them, and they might not even notice that they are helping you with a chore!
The Hairspray Hack for Hounds
A great quick tip for removing your favorite hound’s hair from your clothes before you head off to work is to spray a washcloth or hand towel with hairspray and use it to quickly brush fur off of your clothes. The hairspray attracts pet hair and quickly removes it from clothing, jackets, and shoes.
All of these pet hair hacks will help to minimize the loose fur floating around your home and on your clothing, but you can also help to reduce the amount of pet fur in your home by grooming your dog once or twice a week with a good brush or a de-shedding tool to remove the loose fur on your own terms. Doing this outdoors or on a porch can help keep the fur out of your home.
Grooming your dog is also a great bonding time and most dogs really enjoy it. Cats too!
