I have a question for anyone who deals with pet hair stuck to the furniture/carpets. How do you pick it up? I have tried the sticky rollers with no luck, I have tried a brush on the carpet and no matter how much I pick up, there are still a lot of hair... EVERYWHERE. I have a 6 month old who will be crawling shortly and I am afraid that she will get hair in her mouth. Not to mention, it's embarrassing when you have company and they get up to leave and all you can see is your dogs hair all over the back of their clothes. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Angela from Michigan
Several points... (1) Ensure you groom the pets regularly as this will reduce the amount of loose hair that falls out. (2) Have loose covers or throws on your chairs and sofas - these can be whipped off when visitors arrive, and can be laundered frequently too. (3) A powerful vacuum cleaner for the carpets. (4) A playpen for your toddler! (5) Try wrapping some wide parcel tape around your hand, sticky side outwards, for spot hair removal. (11/30/2004)
By Pat
I tell all visitors not to wear black! Try putting on a latex glove and just wipe your hand across a surface. The hair should stick to it and you can throw it away. (11/30/2004)
By Linda
You can dampen a sponge and wipe that over the areas and that should pull the hair right off. (11/30/2004)
By Eve
I too have a hairy mutt and a little one who is 9 months currently. What I find works wonders is a combo of a few things. I spritz a blend of fabric softener and water on the rug an hour before I vacuum, this helps release the fur and keeps the room smelling great (I do this daily). The other is a 'shedding comb' available at most pet stores (or places like Walmart). It's in the shape of a loop and has teeth on both sides (similar to a currie comb). This comb takes out the dead and the loose hairs. I brush the dog weekly with it outside. That way the hair floats away and doesn't end up in the house! (12/08/2004)
By Natasha
I have 3 terriers that shed year round. Be choosy about the type of upholstery on your furniture. My couch is covered with a polished cotton cover that the hair will not stick to. This makes vacuuming easier. I don't have carpeting in my house, but do have a large area rug in my living room. I vacuum well, and then I have an old rolling pin that I roll shipping tape around with the sticky side out. Roll this over any stubborn hairy areas, and it will pick up the strays. Lots of work, and I don't do it every time, but it makes a big difference. (12/17/2004)
By Harlean
When cleaning up pet hair on carpet use a rubber glove and it will pick it right up. (01/18/2005)
By Paula
I have a white persian cat, who leaves his white hair all over my dark couches. So, I just vacuum the couches weekly with a dirt-devil hand vacuum. It picks up everything. (01/30/2005)
By Brynn
Our German Shepherd sheds even though his hair is short. To keep shedding to a minimum, groom your pets on a regular basis if they let you. My dog loves to be brushed and combed and will actually drop his favorite ball when he sees me getting the brush! Grooming loosens and removes excess hair and dirt, cuts down on shedding and creates a 'bond' between you and your dog. The hair on a dog is very sensitive and when you brush or comb gently, (even stroking your dog's hair), it sends a signal to the dog's brain that it feels good and he is being comforted. That's why many dogs don't like the hair to be brushed or pushed backward even though many groomers will tell you to do it to either fluff up the hair or to remove excess hair.
My dog hates the vacuum so I can't use it on his hair so I just vacuum the floors and the furniture. I haven't used the rubber glove idea but I will now! We have mostly leather furniture so hair isn't an issue but the futon in the den has a micro-suede cover and grabs the hair like a magnet. I love my dog so I don't complain about the shedding or drooling or making a puddle on the floor when he drinks water. It's just part of being a pet owner. (01/11/2006)
Bed Bath and Beyond makes a sponge that picks up hair when you rub it on carpet. Look in the cleaning section. It is not a gimmick and if you don't like it, they will refund your money. The sponge method is time consuming but it really really works. My problem is my own hair which is long.. worse than any dog or cat! It winds around the vacuum cleaner roller brush and takes hours to pick it out so I use an attachment without a roller so it doesn't get stuck. (02/12/2006)
By Lisa
First of all... please don't shave your pet down! Every dog's coat is designed to keep them cool in summer and warm in winter - if you take that specialized insulation away they can actually overheat much faster! Not to mention they are at greater risk of sunburn.
Control pet hair on the animal by brushing regularly and feed a premium-quality diet.
As far as removing pet hair from carpet, I have a rubber-bristle brush that works wonderfully! You can get one in the form of a push-broom to use on greater surface areas of carpet, or you can use a hand-held one for furniture, cars or in cracks and corners. I love it! I also spritz my carpet with diluted fabric softener shortly before I vacuum (I use an air-pressure garden sprayer). My vacuum is the Hoover V2 (Now sold as the "Savvy") and I absolutely LOVE it! The bag-less ones are the way to go if you have more than one dog, otherwise you are spending tons of money in bags (I would have to go through one bag every time I sweep!). I have heard great things about the Dyson - one thing to note, though, is if you have very short carpet or hardwood the power of the suction is so great it "sticks" to the floor and is difficult to push. (03/11/2006)
By Vet Student
The best thing to use for pet hair on carpets is a rubber broom. They will remove hair that even the vacuum leaves behind. I use my rubber broom all over the house and love how well it works and how easy it is to use. (06/25/2006)
By Malia
I have 11 basset hounds and the best thing for me is to get a spray bottle, fill it half full with downey fabric softener, and then fill to the top with water. Spray a light mist, vacuum, and poof. Works like a charm. I gave this fix to the guy that details our car, and now his whole company uses it. (11/05/2006)
By Melanie
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