Pets provide value to our lives, bring us immeasurable delight, and are always ready for a snuggle. It makes no difference whether your pet is short-haired or long-haired because those annoying strands have an uncanny ability to find their way into every nook and crevice of our homes. We adore our pets, but not so much their fur.
We have done our research and compiled ten tried-and-tested methods to keep your house clean, fresh, and fur-free.
1. Regular grooming (your pet will thank you too).
The best place to start tackling your pet hair problem? Your pet! Regular grooming will help you keep ahead of the game.
2. The humble rubber glove acts as a pet hair magnet.
Forget wasting rolls of sticky tape. Simply wipe a slightly wet rubber glove over any surface, rinse, and repeat as needed.
3. Furniture polish is your fur-free friend.
Top tip: remove pet hair from wooden furniture with a soft cloth and furniture polish (the spray makes the surface slippery, causing the hair to just slide right off).
4. Work your vacuum technique.
Work your vacuum technique for maximum effect! Make sure you alternate directions in a criss-cross fashion to loosen hairs that have become entrenched in the carpet fibers.
5. Enlist the kids and make it fun.
Make like Pippi Longstocking and skate around the kitchen in microfiber socks to remove pet hair from the floor before dinnertime.
6. Become a mixologist for amazing results.
Mix up this all-natural, all-purpose spray for quick and easy surface cleaning: 3/4 cup lemon juice, 3 teaspoons baking soda, and a splash of tea tree oil topped up with water.
7. Furnish your home wisely.
Choose naturally hair-resistant hardwood, laminate, or vinyl flooring where possible, and favor leather or canvas over fabric upholstery.
8. Pumice stones: not just for the feet.
Make use of a bathroom pumice stone by running it gently over your rugs and smaller carpeted areas – it’s amazing how well it collects the hair.
9. Regular washing to stay on top.
Change your pet’s bedding as often as you would your own to prevent a buildup that then scatters throughout the house.
10. Have a ‘Front Door Fix’ ready at all times.
Keep a cheap lint roller handy by the front door for last-minute clothing crises – pets have a habit of sitting on your Very Important Meeting Jacket at exactly the wrong time.