A recent study showed 68 percent of American households have at least one pet, with dogs and cats being among the most popular. Idaho ranked among the top ten states in terms of pet ownership. Only 30 percent of Idaho households don’t have at least one pet.
While pets bring a lot of love, joy, and laughter into our homes, they also bring a lot of hair and pet dander. When it comes to pet hair removal, it can sometimes feel overwhelming.
The good news? We’ve assembled our best cleaning tips and tricks for pet owners. Continue reading to find out what they are.
Use Covers or Blankets on Furniture
Pet hair easily sticks to furniture, especially if they’re made of any type of fabric. You can use covers or blankets over the furniture to keep pet hair off. When you see a little hair building up on the couch cover, just take it off and throw it in the washer.
Get Out the Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets help with pet hair removal in two ways. When you run these sheets over furniture or baseboards, pet hair (and dirt particles) are attracted to them.
Even better? A dryer sheet will help charge an area with static electricity. This charge deters most pet hair from sticking to that area for at least a few days.
Keep a Lint Roller on Hand
Lint rollers are a pet owner’s best friend to remove pet hair on clothes. Keep one in your vehicle and at least one in your home so you can always roll the pet hair off your clothes. Lint rollers also work well on furniture, area rugs, and curtains in a pinch.
No Lint Roller? Try Duct Tape
If you find yourself covered in hair but don’t have a lint roller on hand, reach for the duct tape. The sticky side of the tape will help pull the hair off your clothing and home surfaces.
Damp Mop Hardwood Floors
Attract cat and dog hair off hardwood floors by using a damp mop. Spritz a microfiber mop with a little water and wipe over hardwood floors. The water will help pet hair stick to the surface of the mop for more thorough cleaning.
Alternate Directions When Vacuuming
Does it seem like pet hair gets left behind, no matter how much you vacuum? Remember to alternate directions to get the most pet hair up. This helps move the carpet or rug fibers, so you get more of those embedded pet hairs.
Use a Window Squeegee on Carpets and Rugs
It may sound crazy, but a window squeegee works wonders on pet hair stuck in carpets and rugs. We wouldn’t recommend doing this to your furniture, but it works great on floor coverings. Simply use the squeegee to scrape over the rug and discard any hair it pulls up.
Invest in a Humidifier
A humidifier is generally an excellent investment for your home. In terms of pet hair, this simple machine helps make it more difficult for pet hair to stick to surfaces. This means you’ll get more hair up when you vacuum or sweep because it isn’t clinging to anything.
Brush Your Pets Regularly
A great preventative measure is to brush your pets regularly. How often depends on the length of the pet’s hair and how much they shed. Long-haired pets prone to shedding can be brushed every other day or even daily.
When you do this, your pet’s hair is trapped in the bristles of the brush before it has a chance to get on your furniture. It also helps your cat or dog have the healthiest possible coat, so it’s a win-win.
Use a Rubber Broom
Brooms made of straw and synthetic plastics tend to push hair around. It flies in the air before settling again elsewhere.
With a rubber broom, however, pet hair is attracted to the bristles. Those rubber bristles will also get deeper into your area rugs for a more thorough pet hair removal.
Change Air Filters Frequently
A lot of pet hair is shed into the environment, where your air intake or filtering system can pick it up. If your air filter is dirty, however, that hair will be pushed back into the environment.
If you notice more pet hair or dust accumulating on the surfaces of your home than usual, it’s likely time to change the air filter. In fact, most people don’t change their filters nearly often enough. Every three months is usually sufficient, but there are circumstances where you’ll want to change filters more often.
One of those circumstances is when you have pets. Pet owners should change their air filters every one to two months to improve home air quality. The more pets you have, or the more those pets shed, the more often you’ll want to change that filter.
Hire Professionals for Regular Deep Cleans
Sometimes pet hair seems out of control because it’s had a chance to buildup. Life can get hectic sometimes, and specific cleaning tasks get pushed on a back burner. It happens to everyone.
Hiring a professional cleaning company can help ensure you stay on top of pet hair even during the busiest times. Many find that quarterly deep cleanings (or every three months) are sufficient for them to keep up on pet hair. Others prefer to have weekly professional cleanings.
How often you choose to have a professional help clean your home is up to you. If you’re unsure how often you should schedule deep cleanings of your pet-friendly home, a cleaning company can help you figure that out.
Do You Have More Questions About Pet Hair Removal?
Pet hair tends to stick to all the surfaces in your home, but cleaning it up doesn’t have to be a hassle. The useful tips above can help you keep the hair from getting everywhere in the first place or clean it up once it’s stuck to your couch.
Do you have more questions about pet hair removal? Or would you like to speak with our cleaning company about professional cleanings for your pet-friendly home?
Contact us today. One of our associates would be happy to answer any questions you still have. They can also set you up a consultation for our professional services if you’d like.
