Tip 1: Brush pets daily or weekly. I brush my cats weekly because they are short-haired cats and less maintenance than some other breeds. Another important piece to this trick is to brush your pets before you do house cleaning. This is so that you don't brush your pets in a clean and freshly dusted house only to get pet hair clinging to every nook and cranny!
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| Basil |
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| Lilly |
Tip 2: Use a good quality brush. I use the FURminator. This is an amazing invention. Basically what it does is pull out the loose undercoat of your pet's fur and reduces shedding dramatically.
Here, Basil shows how well the the FURminator works:
Gross, huh? What I do after "FURminating" my cats is smooth out their fur with a flea comb to get any of the loose hairs off.
Tip 3: Lint roll, lint roll, lint roll. I keep a lint roller in the entry way so I don't have any pet hair clinging to me as I walk out the door. Lint rollers are also great for removing loose hair on furniture, beds, curtains, and pillows in between house cleanings. If the hair is really embedded, move to Tip 4.
Tip 4: Use a small Shop-Vac to suck up pet hair. After months of hopelessly using a lint roller on my furniture, I decided to get something stronger. So I purchased a Shop-Vac and use it on my furniture, pet bedding, around the cat litter box, and along base boards. It works pretty well in sucking up nasty pet hair that I wouldn't be able to get with a regular vacuum or lint roller.
Tip 5: Vacuum with baking soda. Baking soda will help to eliminate odors and loosen up pet hair in the carpet before you vacuum. I use the Arm and Hammer Carpet and Room powder. I sprinkle it all over the carpet, paying attention to where the cats spend most of their time. I leave it on for about 15 minutes then vacuum it all up. Your place will smell amazing! Just make sure to follow the directions carefully so you don't harm pets or kiddos.
Tip 6: Brush your pet's teeth. It keeps your pets healthy and have fresh breath. I try and brush my cats' teeth once a week and their teeth are extremely white and healthy looking. Basil and Lilly love their toothpaste because it has a chicken flavor made especially for cats.
Tip 7: Lastly, I lint roll and/or vacuum cat toys and their scratcher regularly because even those get pretty hairy and dirty. If the toy is plastic, I usually just wash it in the sink. Doing this will help to reduce the number of areas where pet hair is likely to collect and stick to.
There you have it! My tips for an "almost" fur-free house with fresh-breath pets! I would love to know your tricks to removing stubborn pet hair or any pet care tips for that matter!
Disclaimer: These tips have worked for me and are not considered professional advice. Please use your best judgement in regards to you and your pet's needs if you decide to try any of my tips.
I'm linking up here:
Oh my goodness, this is me! :) We have a long haired cat and a dog who sheds like crazy! I have so many techniques I use to keep my house looking like we don't have pets. :) Your tips are awesome!
ReplyDeleteJenny - too funny... my goal is to make my place look like we don't have pets, too lol
DeleteAn almost pet fur free house, that's my dream come true. Thanks for sharing your tips!
ReplyDeleteHi Amy! You made me realize I had a typo in my post when I wrote "pet free" house instead of fur-free lol. Thanks for the sweet comment!
DeleteWe use the Furminator to get our Jack Russell's wiry fur out of the rug too. Works even better than the shop vac since the fur gets really embedded in the rugs.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Furminator is definitely my favorite tool to use!
Deletethanks for sharing your tips. we bought a small hand vac so that our girls can vac the furniture as part of their chore during the week...and then I tackle with the dyson on the weekend. they think it is fun and it helps cut it down. We have two shelties... so the spring shed is the worse but helped out by regular brushing and using the furminator!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking into getting a new vacuum and the dyson has good reviews. Shelties certainly have a TON of fur! I've also noticed my cats shedding like crazy during the spring months as well. Thanks for the comment!
DeleteWow - I need the furminator!! I am on my way to get one right now...Thanks for linking up and sharing these great tips.
ReplyDeleteHi Tisha! That's too funny. So glad I inspired you to get one! They can get pretty pricey at stores, however. I ordered mine off of Amazon for about half the price!
DeleteHi Jami! Thanks for following! I'm on my way to check out your blog : )
ReplyDeleteThese are such great tips! I have two dogs and I love them to pieces but their hair drives me insane. And they are "non-shedders" but I've learned with animals there's really no such thing. I have got to get a furminator!!
ReplyDeleteHi Brooke! You're right... even with non-shedders you'll find random hairs around the house! FYI... Amazon seems to have the best price for the furminator!
DeleteI am also a HUGE fan of the lint roller and buy them in bulk at Costco since we have a dog that seems to shed a small yorkie every week. Found you via The Girl Creative.
ReplyDeleteHmmm.... I should try to buy mine in bulk (I use Sam's Club). They are so expensive individually. Just checked out your blog and your dog is a CUTIE! Newest follower here!
DeleteWonderful advice! I agree brushing does stop a lot of extra hair! Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteblessings,
karianne
Hi Karianne! Sometimes brushing is easy to forget to do every day/week (for me anyways) but it makes a huge difference!
DeleteHi Kelly! Thanks for such a sweet comment. Just clicked over to your blog and looooove it! It's so unique and fun to read! Newest follower right here : )
ReplyDeleteAwesome advice, thank you! We have two cats who shed EVERYWHERE, and I'm slightly allergic (didn't realize 'til after we adopted them :-p) so this will be super helpful!
ReplyDeleteJessi @ http://practicallyfunctional.blogspot.com/
Hi Jessi! Thank so much for the comment! It's so annoying how cat hair literally gets everywhere! I know a few people who use a special spray for cats that helps to reduce dander on their fur.
DeleteI sooo need to get one of those furminator things! My neighbor is our vet & she has one & says it's the only thing that really works & is amazing. Must. Purchase.
ReplyDeleteThe furminator is a dream come true!
DeleteDid you know that adding a humidifier to your house can also help decrease the amount of your cat's shedding?
ReplyDeleteMore information: http://www.mymove.com/tips-advice/lifestyle/pets/how-cat-and-dog-owners-can-keep-their-homes-clean
Interesting! I've never heard that tip before. I also heard adding some kind of oil to cat's food helps as well. Not sure what kind of oil it was though. I may need a humidifier!
DeleteThanks for the tips, ladies. To clean my long and short haired cats fur from our furniture and their beds, I've found using the bottom of a rubber sole shoe works perfectly! It gathers the hair into little rolls and is easy to dispose of. Just another way to be frugal.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I tried using rubber gloves on my couch, but I think the odd fabric my couch is made of didn't allow the rubber to pull the hairs out. Maybe I need to try the shoe!
DeleteYou can buy a rubber sponge-type thing from a pet store, and I'm sure from many other places. I think I found mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond. It works a charm to remove super-fine cat hair from furniture, and mine has lasted nine years so far! I think I got it for a couple bucks, so it's a good investment. Here's a link I found to order through Amazon:
Deletehttp://www.amazon.com/Gonzo-PHL12D-Pet-Hair-Lifter/dp/B000209Z2C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330191388&sr=8-1
Try it...it's pretty brilliant!
Hi Heather! I never even heard of these rubber sponges... seems to have good reviews. Looks like I need to try this out. Thanks for the tip!
DeleteWe have a horse...I mean lab :)...yellow, huge(in case you didn't read horse statement) He sheds like crazy. He is an inside dog and I have blonde hair everywhere. I have a dyson and it has helped tremendously, however, my hardest place is my bedding...he rubs against the side of it and it just threads right in:(. It is a beautiful brown with intricate embrodering of flowers...not fur, although could be tough to tell these days? :)
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if you have any ideas for getting it out of there. I've tried the pet brushes, mits and lint rollers. I haven't had it laundered...not sure it would help? Thoughts or suggestions??
Thanks! I found you through The Frugral Girls...love reading all the ideas out there. Thank you for posting!
Ps...Have furmenator...need to use more often :)
DeleteHi Kelly! GOOD question. I would try duct tape, unless you think it will be too harsh on your bedding. I've heard a couple cat owners use duct tape in the same way they use a lint roller and they say it pulls out hair in furniture. OR try the Pledge Pet Hair Fabric Sweeper, which might be gentler on your bedding. I would have added this gadget to the tips in my blog post, but didn't because it can get pricey. You have to keep buying it because the rollers wear out after a few uses, BUT it does work pretty well! Here is the link: http://www.pledge.com/en-US/Products/Pages/fabric-sweeper-for-pet-hair.aspx
DeleteWord to the Furminator. We have Furmination Fridays in my house, and then I usually vacuum later that evening or on Saturday- gives the loose fur time to settle.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of Furmination Fridays! That's hilarious! Good idea to let the hair settle, too!
DeleteIt was fun reading this post because I have four who contribute plenty to the vacuum canister - on a daily basis. My long-haired German Shepherd alone sheds about a small dog worth of hair. I could brush him daily and still fill a grocery bag. I enjoyed reading all your tips. I might look into the shop vac. What I hate is the 'windrow' of dog hair that ends up against the wall or under the furniture and makes it hard to get to.
ReplyDeleteLove your kitty pics!! Stop in sometime and see Bridger, Misty, Lionel, and Tuppence. :-)
Hi Judy! Thanks for taking the time to comment! Wow! German Sheperds are shedders! Good for you for keeping up with it! I totally agree that fur along the wall is so hard to get to. I use my shop vac for those tough to reach areas and it works great. I try to move as much furniture as I can while I vacuum, but not as often with the big pieces like beds or dressers.
DeleteJust checked out your blog and love it! Your fur babies are ADORABLE! Newest follower!
Does anyone have any tips for getting rid of fleas?? We recently sold our home and am renting in another part of town and the place has hard wood floors. The cats picked up fleas from somewhere. We have given them baths, used all the flea products such as advantage, and flea comb them but they continue to have fleas! HELP!
ReplyDeletethose spongy things break apart and leave a mess behind. I use rubber gloves to go over my stairs. Worked good to pool the fur on our retriever so I could vacuum it. We have a Pointer now and will try the furminator to brush him.
ReplyDeleteThe FURminator is really a great invention! This is a brilliant idea for dog and cat owners who want to get rid of too much shedding from their pets. Thank you also for all these tips in having a very friendly house for both pets and pet lovers.
ReplyDeleteLovely very useful tips thanks for sharing http://bit.ly/9RbNta
ReplyDeleteHey! The Schticky tool is another great way to clean up pet hair as well as lots of other kinds of messes. Check out the Schticky, an amazing next-generation renewable brush, here: www.secretkidcleanup.com
ReplyDeleteWhy spend all that money on throw-away lint roller?! Why not get a fun new tool made specifically for this problem?? Curious? : ) yes, take 10 seconds to see what you are missing at www.SecretKidCleanup.com
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Been reading a lot about how to deal with animal hair. Thanks for the info here!
ReplyDeletewow, nice work you have done so far, i really appreciate your way of working Adopt a dog
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteI've tried almost all of those tools and they really work pretty well. I'd like to recommend you to check this useful reference for more ideas on removing dog's hair. For animal lovers, pet hair and pet hair removal are just a fact of life. It’s one of those small inconveniences we accept as part of the doggy deal, don't you think so?
ReplyDeleteOut of the much benefits of owning a dog, there are also quite a few drawbacks. Picking out their shed fur around the house is a nightmare, but you can’t stop the shedding and you can’t leave your house dirty.Therefore the only thing you can do is pick up that vacuum and make your home shine, at least for a day.
ReplyDeleteClick here for more information best vacuum for dog hair
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