Living with pets means you will find large amounts of hair pretty much everywhere in the house. Deep cleaning it is not a favourite activity for most people and sometimes, even thorough vacuuming is not enough to remove all the hair from your carpets and upholstery. We would like to share some tips on how to control the pet hair, especially on soft surfaces, blankets and beds.
In order to make it easier to clean hairs, you should prevent them from going everywhere. There are a few simple things you can start doing regularly in order to do that.
1. Groom your pets
Use a pet grooming glove or brush to groom your pets. Even though cats may not enjoy this activity as much as dogs, you should also brush them regularly. A thorough brushing will remove excessive pet hair and give them the attention they love.
2. Give your indoor cats a brushing door
If you allow your cat in your bedroom, for example, this little door will be your best friend. Not only will you not have to wake up in the middle of the night to let them in or out, but with each passing they will be brushed and less hair will get into your room. After all, no one likes hair floating around in the air.
3. Keep your heating/cooling system clean
Your HVAC system circulates air around. If it is dirty, it will circulate dirty air as well. When you have pets, all the hairs pass through it and may cause that. Use a HEPA filter to keep them at bay and prevent them from spreading around your whole house. This filter will not only rid you of pet hair but also reduce the amount of allergens in the air. Make sure you clean your air ducts seasonally so that the clean air is flowing through a clean register.
4. Remove pet hair from furniture
Sofas, couches and armchairs seem to collect a lot of hair that gets stuck in their fibres. If you let your pets on your upholstery, it is probably as furious as them. Include hair removal in your weekly routine, That way you will prevent hair build up.
• Use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment
• Remove the cushions and vacuum behind and underneath them. Make sure you thoroughly vacuum them as well.
• Work slowly, in overlapping motion and press hard as you go. Hairs seem to get stuck deep in the fibres of your upholstered furniture. Moving slowly will allow the vacuum to get rid of all of them.
• Go over it again. When you are done vacuuming your sofas up and down, do it again but this time move side to side. Hairs may get stuck in all directions and by doing this you will ensure proper removal.
• Maintain your vacuum. If your vacuum is dirty, it will not be able to clean so well. Make sure you clean your appliance at least once a week. It will work better and you will be able to clean faster.
Remove pet hair without a vacuum cleaner
If your pet is shedding or you are having guests over and you want to quickly get rid of the fur covering your furniture, try those methods that do not include a vacuum cleaner.
• Drag a squeegee across your upholstery in order to get rid of pet hair. It is best to use a soft one with rubber teeth. Make sure to rinse it after every use.
• Run a lint roller all over your soft fabrics. That will ensure pet hair removal without causing any damage. It is one of the fastest ways to get rid of fur.
• Use a rubber glove. Whether it is wet or dry, a rubber dishwashing glove will collect a large amount of the hairs found on your furniture. It will work almost like a squeegee.
More tips for removing pet hair from other areas in your house
• Dust your bedding and rugs outside before washing them. Shaking off most of the hair before throwing things in the laundry will ensure that they don’t get stuck back on the fabric or in your washing machine.
• Clean your washing machine regularly. If you wash a lot of furry clothes in your laundry machine, it is likely that they get stuck in it. Make sure to remove them from the gasket after every use and deep clean your appliance at least once a month.
• Do not overcrowd your machine when washing big duvets and blankets. If they are king-sized, wash them separately. That will ensure there is enough space for them to spin and for the water to reach all areas and remove hairs.
• Use a second rinse. That works especially well if you have long haired pets. Set your machine for a second rinse or simply wash the clothes twice in a row. Youdon’t have to add detergent the second time. The hair that was not removed the first time wll be removed the second time.
• Tumble dry even if you line dry. Even if you prefer to air/sun dry your blankets and bedding, give them a few minutes in the dryer first. The tumbling will collect any leftover pet hairs that your dryer’s lint trap will catch.