Pets: Here in Your Arms, Hair in Your House

From Jennifer on May 4th, 2009 in General

There’s no doubt about it, pets have so much to offer. They are warm and loving, loyal and protective. They can calm or lift your mood, decrease stress, and add years to your life. They also, however, add pounds and pounds of hair all over your home – your floors, furniture, clothing, and every other nook and cranny.

Aside from booting your furry friend, there are other options you have for ridding your home of pet hair, dust, and lint. This is a good thing, because if your home is like mine you could literally sweep up enough fuzz to make a whole other pet….every single week.

Photo Credit: wsilver

Here are a few tips:

Setting up an air purifier can help reduce the amount of dust in your home.
Brush your pet at least weekly, daily is better, to reduce the amount of shedding.
Consider switching to a pet food designed for healthier coats and skin, which can
also reduce shedding.
Set up a home humidifier; hair is attracted to static, which is more prevalent in dry
conditions.
Sweep, vacuum, mop, or dust one room each day to keep hair, dust, and lint from
accumulating.

Photo Credit: ninahale
Throw clothing, blankets, and any other washable items into the dryer with a fabric
softener sheet - the hot air will collect the hair and lint while the sheet will help
keep those items from becoming static-y and attracting more hair and lint.
Keep a lint roller, brush, or special pet hair remover handy for pulling stubborn hairs
out of fabric – masking tape works, too,
Bathing your pet regularly with a skin conditioning shampoo can remove lots of hair,
but also, moisturized skin sheds less.
Consider only allowing your pet to enter a limited number of rooms in the house, this
will make cleaning easier.
Invest in special products like anti-shedding wipes or sticky sheets designed to remove
pet hair from furniture and the pets themselves.
Vacuum bare floors instead of sweeping – sweeping tends to rouse hair and dust into
the air where it will settle back onto your floor or furniture later.
Replace air and furnace filters often to keep them working properly, which will help
remove hair and dust from the air.

Add your Comment

About the Author:

Jennifer Heyns
I must admit that when my husband dragged me into the world of construction 15 years ago, I did not go quietly. The phrase "kicking and screaming" is probably what comes to his mind. But I’ve learned a lot through my experience with his company - from the planning and work required to design and build a house to the ideas and sweat equity that go into remodeling, expanding, and decorating a home. On my way to finding my passion for writing, I even enjoyed a short career as a kitchen and bathroom designer. I soon found house, home and construction-type publications seeking me out, thrilled at having found someone who knows about the topic matter from firsthand experience and who just so happens to be able to write a decent article. My life isn’t all about writing, though. I have two sons, 10 and 12, and those boys (husband and dog included) just don’t raise themselves. We spend a leisurely life in the countryside, enjoying the fresh air, growing gardens (mostly for the sake of the deer), and watching the wildlife who share our property (and not just deer - owls, foxes, groundhogs, chipmunks and hummingbirds, too). For several years I've been successfully finding new ways to acquire quality, affordable healthcare for my family without an HMO. My first book, Bargaining for Our Lives is available now - see more about it (and me) at www.JenniferHeyns.com. On a good day I find time to say hello to all my followers on twitter, or to post a blog (my way of thwarting therapy appointments) at www.JenniferHeyns.blogspot.com. On a great day, though, I also get to bake, knit or make crafts - after the boys are asleep and the laundry and dishes are done, of course.