Dealing with Pet Hair in the Home

It’s the dreaded problem many families with pets face – how do you deal with the pet hair? Whether you allow your pets onto furniture or the problem is relegated to floors and pet beds, dealing with pet hair is part of having pets. During the warm months especially, cats and dogs tend to shed – especially if they have long hair. And we all know that certain combinations (a white cat and a green slipcover, for example) can pose extra problems.

If you love animals but are really concerned about pet hair, you can take certain steps before even adopting your pet. Consider shorthaired animals rather than longhaired pets, and ask shelter staff if the animal you’re considering adopting tends to shed. It can be difficult to predict shedding behavior, however, because some animals shed more under stressful situations (such as when they are living in a shelter or during visits to the veterinarian). Of course, we encourage you to adopt a pet you’ve fallen in love with even if shedding might be a concern because there are many ways you can deal with pet hair at home in order to maintain a healthy, clean environment for your pet and your family. But be sure you are prepared to deal with the shedding and not to blame your pet for natural behavior.

HOW TO REMOVE PET HAIR FROM YOUR FURNITURE AND EVERYWHERE ELSE

Once you have your pet, place clothing in an area isolated from your animals, and protect furniture with coverings you can later remove and wash. Brushing and grooming pets regularly will help reduce shedding. It’s now more important than ever to vacuum carpets and furniture on a regular basis to prevent the build-up of pet hair, and to wash throw rugs, linens, and pet beds or blankets that come in contact with pets. You can call 1-800-FOR-COIT to schedule regular professional carpet cleanings, upholstery cleanings, and area rug cleanings so that we can help you maintain your pet-friendly home.

WikiHow.com offers a number of suggestions for removing pet hair from various your furniture and various other surfaces. Contributed by WikiHow readers, some of these ideas are listed below:

1. Weigh pet hair down with water.

Dampen the palm of your hand, and then wipe the pet hair off of the surface in a downward motion. The hair will ball up and stick to your hand.

2. Use a latex glove.

Put on the glove, and then use it to rub the surface that is covered with pet hair. The hair should stick to the glove. This tactic can also work with rubber gloves or cloth gardening gloves that have a rubber coating on the palm. Dampening the gloves might increase the effectiveness of this method.

3. Use a rubber bristle push broom

Us the rubber bristle push broom on floors, and try this with the broom slightly dampened if necessary.

4. Dampen a clean kitchen sponge 

Dampen a clean kitchen sponge and rub it over the area. The fur should roll up into clumps, which you can then remove by hand.

5. Use a sponge mop

Use a sponge mop to remove pet hair from a low-pile carpet (vacuum first).

6. Inflate a balloon

Inflate a balloon and rub it across the surface that has pet hair on it.

7. Use a fabric softener sheet

Use a fabric softener sheet to pick up pet hair. Or, lightly spray the affected surface with a mixture of fabric softener and water to "prep" the area before removing pet hair using other methods.

Martha Stewart offers a few more suggestions:

1. Vacuum carpets several times a week

Do this with a vacuum cleaner that has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

2. Use an electrostatic mop

Use an electrostatic mop on hardwood and other hard floors. This type of mop will be more efficient than a vacuum cleaner when removing pet hairs from your hard floor because it won’t blow excess hair around.

3. Use a tape roller on clothing.

Tape rollers are available in many stores, including pet stores.

4. Removing pet hair from upholstery

To clean pet hair from upholstery, use the upholstery tool that came with your vacuum cleaner, or try a hand vacuum with a motorized beater-bar attachment.

5. Also, try a lint brush.

By staying on top of pet hair and shedding, you can happily share your home with your cat, dog, or other pet. Our furry friends are well worth the effort, and COIT is always here to help.