For anyone that has a dog or cat in their home, knows how frustrating it is to clean, think everything is spic and span only to see more hair coming out of somewhere. It is like you can't get rid of it! Petside.com brought us some great tips on this very subject. They asked Julia Szabo, author of Pretty Pet-Friendly: Easy Ways to Keep Spot's Digs Stylish and Spotless for the 10 most common pet hair hiding places and the best ways to keep them clean.
1. Couch Cushions
Sure, it's super fun to have Cody cuddle with you on the sofa. But the hair he leaves behind is far from fun to deal with. "Most chairs and couches are covered in types of fabric that allow pet hair to nestle right into the weave," says Szabo. "So pet hair doesn't just get caught underneath or between cushions, it can get trapped in the cushion itself."
Free up fur encampments by sucking them up. Bissell's Pet Hair Eraser Hand Vacuum has a dimpled rubber attachment that brushes hair up, much like a grooming tool. For a low-tech option, try like 3M's FUR Fighter hair-trapping hand tool. Then wipe the furniture down with a slightly damn cloth or sponge to grab any leftovers.
To prevent hair buildup, Szabo says to opt for a microfiber style fabric that won't become clogged with hair, or protect your existing couch with a slipcover, like the SureFit Pet Throw Cover, that can be removed and washed as needed.
2. Computer
No matter how many times you've shooed your cat off the keyboard, it's nearly impossible to prevent Fluffy's locks from flying up and onto your desktop.
Luckily, there are easy ways to snatch the hair before it infects your computer and it's parts. Pull hair out from the keyboard by running a length of double-sided tape between keys. (Or install a clear plastic keyboard cover to stop hair from clogging keys in the first place.)
For hair caught in the ball of your mouse, lay down a square out of double-sided tape and roll the mouse over it in multiple directions. Use an aerosol electronics cleaner to safely blow the hair out from the drives.
3. Corners of Stairs
It's easy to skip over the pet hair stuck in the corner of stairs (and even help jam it in) when vacuuming. Szabo recommends honing in on the corners of carpeted stairs with a long, narrow vacuum attachment, being sure to go over the area a few times in opposite directions.
If the hair is really stuck, use a toothbrush to loosen up the clot. Clean the corners of wooden stairs the same way, or polish them to get rid of and prevent pockets of pet hair. Applying a wood furniture polish to the corners of clean stairs makes wiping away hair quick and simple, says Szabo. Plus, keeping the corners lubricated may make hair less likely to hang out there in the future.
4. Media
DVDs, books, and CDs stored on open shelves in your living room are subject to hair invasion. Keep that Jimmy Buffet album in good enough condition to pass on to your grandkids by routinely wiping the outside of the case with a slightly damp cloth. Let dry completely before restacking.
Consider hiding your media in storage boxes on your shelves and you'll only have to dust the outside of the boxes, which will leave you and extra 20 minutes to spend playing outside with your canine kids.
5. Baseboard Heater
When you sweep and vacuum your floors you can accidentally push pet hair underneath the baseboard heater or radiator. (Something you might not notice until you're rolling around with Sammy on the bedroom floor.)
Szabo recommends using a telescoping feather duster, like the Swiffer 360 Duster, to snatch up invisible pet hair from the floor underneath the radiator and baseboard and bottoms of the coils so it won't make it's way back onto the floor or block your heating system.
6. Area Rugs
Area rugs might add cushy comfort to hardwood floors, but they're a magnet for pet hair! They slip around and can trap pet hair underneath or release a secret stash into the air. Flip up all the edges when you're vacuuming, or, even better, roll the area tug up and take it outside to shake out any pet hair and dust.
For a pet-friendlier style, Szabo recommends laying down Flor modular tiles, which have a slip-resistant bottom that keeps them in place so hair can't make its way underneath. Plus, they're easy to replace after heavy wear and tear.
7. Shoes
Ever wonder how pet hair snuck inside your shoe? You can blame to your dog but in reality your socks are the cunning culprit. Think about it: You walk around the house, picking up everything your pets have left behind, then you slip those little piggies into your clean sneakers and the vicious cycle has begun. The fix?
Wear a sandal or flop around the house instead. If the weather is chilly go for wooden clogs, says Szabo, which are less likely to harbor hair. If you're attached to your fuzzy slippers, insert a piece of Sticky Sheet to pull out the hidden hair and restore them to order.
8. Furniture Legs
Pet hair can cling to the legs of tables and chairs, plus get caught underneath. Factor in those protective furniture pads and hair all too often becomes a permanent tenant .
To get rid of hair that's stuck to the sides of legs after your cat used them as a backscratcher, Szabo recommends spritzing PawSafe Multi-purpose cleaner on a cloth and running it all along the leg. Grab the clumps on the bottom by turning the chair on its side or lifting the table. If the hair is stuck to the furniture pads, either break of the vacuum and narrow attachment or replace the pads every so often.
9. Under Stove and Fridge
It's not often that you need to move your stove or refrigerator, but when you do you'll most likely see a pile of pet hair. Add a few spills or grease that snuck its way underneath and you've got a recipe for a foul smell in the not-so-distant-future.
Day to day, Szabo advises using a Swiffer Sweeper to keep the area clean of pet hair. The ultra thin head can fit between appliances and the floor and the disposable pads attract both wet and dry hair.
10. Window Treatments
Pet hair that's kicked up around the house every day can settle in unexpected places like your blinds and curtains. Run the Fuzzy Wuzzy Blind Duster through your blinds.
It cleans both sides at once so it's takes less time, plus the microfiber head can be removed and washed. Get your curtains clean quickly and easily by running them through the wash so the dryer's lint box can collect the hair. If you're short on time or your curtains are dry-clean only, suck the hair off with a hand vac or upholstery attachment.
These are some great tips! I plan to start testing these out right away. I do own the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser and I think it is AWESOME! I was amazed at what a great job it did for a hand vac especially.
