Having a fur-baby, much like a human baby requires love, a responsible caregiver and lots, (I do mean LOTS) of cleaning!
Unless you live in a glass house, and not Ron Burgundy’s metaphorical glass house of emotions, or in some utopian universe, where everything is perfect and pets have evolved to no longer shed. As a pet owner, you’ll most certainly deal with pet hair. Pet hair seems to be more worrisome in the winter because both we and our pets are spending more time indoors as a result of the cooler temperatures. Which mean that now is a perfect time to talk about some strategies to remove pet hair from virtually any surface!
Let’s start with your furniture. An easy, inexpensive method is to use a wet rubber glove and with your gloved hand, go over the surface of your upholstered furniture. The electrostatic energy generated between the glove and the surface will create a force that literally sucks up the pet hair. The water keeps the hair on the glove. When the glove has collected a sufficient amount of hair, simply rinse and repeat! If rubber gloves are in short supply, you can use a damp sponge, although it is a little less effective.
To remove pet hair from wood or other non-fabric, surfaces you can use a soft cloth and dusting spray, or you can use a few items you’ve probably got in your laundry closet. Spray on fabric softener and use a dryer sheet to simply wipe off the surface. Much like the static electricity you created with the rubber glove trick, the fabric softener sheet creates the same type of electrostatic force to attract and collect pet hairs from not just wooded surfaces but this hack also works nicely on upholstered fabric as well.
Removing pet hair from floors can at first seem challenging, but these hacks will help make this process less agonizing. For hardwood floors use an electrostatic dry mop or a microfiber dry mop. For rugs and carpets be sure to vacuum regularly (like daily) and do so in multiple directions. By vacuuming in several directions you’re more likely to capture all of the pet hair. Another nifty hack for rugs is to use a FURminator de-shedding tool. Go over your carpet with this handy little device and watch the fur fly off of your rugs!
What’s even more fantastic, each of these hacks can be modified to remove pet hair from your clothes too. Keep a mini-stash of supplies link dyer sheets, a de-shedding tool, a lint roller and a rubber glove, near your door to give yourself a once over before you leave for the day. Now you can tell your fur-baby goodbye and wish them an awesome day!
Just because you live with a pet doesn’t mean you have to live under mountains of pet hair or with a rug that looks like it may begin to actually bark!
About the author:
Kelli Roberts is an imaginative freelancer on a mission to create, teach and heal. She aspires to expand lives through writing and her understanding of neuroscience and positive psychology. Kelli is fulfilling her purpose in Southern Illinois, just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Connect with her on Instagram @Wildflower_Curls.
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