Having a family pet makes life more interesting and fun. Unfortunately, the downside to pets to that they leave fur and hair everywhere they go. Even if your pets aren’t allowed on your bed or the living room furniture, pet hair from other surfaces can transfer to your clothes and hair on your clothing can be transferred to the furniture. One of the best ways to reduce the shedding inside of your home is to brush and groom your pets outdoors; this will help remove a lot of the loose fur, but not all of it. The good news is that the following tips are great for keeping the pet hair down to a minimum in your home.
Fur-Free Furniture
One of the most common problems among pet owners is pet hair/fur on the furniture. One solution is to keep a throw or furniture cover on the items that your pet typically lies on. These can be easily removed in and thrown in the washer every couple of days. A few other ways to keep your furniture fur-free include:
- Use a damp rubber glove to rub your hand over upholstered furniture to remove the hair and simply rinse and repeat until the furniture is hair free.
- Sticky tape works great for removing pet hair from upholstered cushions.
- Using a mixture of fabric softener and water, lightly spray upholstered furniture then wipe off.
- To remove pet hair from your wooden furniture, use furniture polish and a clean, soft cloth. Or wipe the furniture with a dryer sheet to remove the hair and leave a fresh scent.
Removing Hair From Floors
One of the quickest ways to avoid transferring pet hair from you to your furniture is by keeping the floors free from hair. It may seem impossible to keep the floors totally hair free, but the following tips will help keep them as clean as possible:
- For tile, laminate and hardwood flooring use a Swiffer or similar type of water-free floor mop to remove hair. The static in the pads draw the hair onto the pad and away from your floors.
- To help loosen stubborn hairs from carpeting, before vacuuming use a spray bottle to spray liquid fabric softener on the carpet, wait a few minutes and then vacuum.
Groom Pets
The best way to prevent hair and fur from taking over your home is to go directly to the source — your pets. It is generally recommended that pets be brushed every other day to remove loose hair that would otherwise end up on your furniture. A trick that may work for your dog is to place a thin sock over the vacuum hose and then vacuum your dog to remove all of the loose hair. Another great trick is to rub a fabric softener sheet over your pet to help grab loose hairs before brushing.
The best way to keep the hair problem to a minimum is to stay on top of the situation. It is important to vacuum carpets at least every other day. It is also important to keep pets clean and well-groomed to reduce the risk of their hair matting, which will cause excessive amounts of hair loss when they shake. It is also important to take pets to the vet if you suspect they have parasites or other medical problems which may cause their hair to fall out in clumps.
Chet’s Cleaning Inc. is available to help keep your home clean and pet hair free. Contact us today to learn more information.