Approximately 60 million households in the U.S. own a dog and 47.1 million own a cat.
Are you part of either of these groups? If so, then you’re probably well acquainted with pet shedding.
You’re probably also desperate to find a solution and eliminate the need to carry a lint roller with you wherever you go.
You might not be able to totally throw away your lint rollers, but there are still lots of things you can do to address shedding.
Read on for some helpful tips that will make it easier for you to get animal hair off your furniture and clothing.
Causes of Excess Shedding
Before we get into tips for combating shedding, it’s important to figure out why your pet is shedding so much.
Some shedding is normal, but according to this vet, if your pet has recently started shedding more than usual, it might be a symptom of a more serious issue.
Listed below are some common causes of excess shedding in dogs and cats:
- An unbalanced diet that is low in protein or other essential nutrients
- Using a shampoo not designed specifically for pets
- High levels of stress (changes in the home, being left alone more than usual, etc.)
- Skin conditions like flees or ticks
- Hormonal imbalances
- Underlying diseases like leukemia or cancer
If your pet has recently started shedding more than they used to, take a look at their diet and lifestyle to see if you can make any changes there.
If that doesn’t seem to be the issue, you should take them to the vet to make sure they aren’t suffering from a health condition that’s causing their shedding.
Preventing Excess Shedding
In addition to addressing your pet’s health and lifestyle, there are plenty of other approaches you can use to reduce their shedding. The following are some helpful tips that will keep excessive shedding at bay:
- Brush them regularly (at least twice per week)
- Bathe them regularly (once a month or every other month is a good starting point)
- Wash their bedding separately from your other laundry
- Cover furniture to protect it from loose hair
You may also want to invest in furniture upholstered with pet-friendly fabrics like leather.
How to Get Rid of Animal Hair
There are lots of steps you can take to minimize your cats’ and dogs’ shedding. What are you supposed to do about the animal hair that’s already present on your furniture, though?
Here are some tips that will help you get rid of animal hair easily and keep it away:
1. Loosen Up with Baking Soda
Regular vacuuming can work wonders for keeping pet hair at bay.
In order to be really effective when vacuuming your house, though, it’s best to start by loosening up the hair in your carpet with baking soda.
Sprinkling baking soda on the carpet prior to vacuuming helps you to pick up more hair. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes before you start to vacuum.
In addition to helping you pick up the hair more easily, this also helps to eliminate odors your pets might leave behind.
2. Invest in a New Vacuum
If it’s been a while since you’ve bought a new vacuum, that could be your problem.
An old vacuum won’t do as good of a job as a newer model at picking up hair. This, in turn, can cause hair to build up in your carpets or on your furniture.
Look for a vacuum that is specifically designed to pick up pet hair. You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make.
3. Buy a Rubber Broom
Are you tired of seeing little (or not-so-little) tumbleweeds of animal hair rolling across your hardwood or tile floors? Do you have a hard time catching all this hair with a regular broom? If so, invest in a rubber broom instead.
Rubber brooms do a great job of catching and holding onto pet hair (and other debris that collects on your floor). They’re easier to clean than regular brooms, too.
4. Clean with Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths do a great job of getting rid of pet hair.
They actually have a unique electrostatic charge that helps to attract pet hair that you might not catch using other cleaning methods.
Remember to get your microfiber cloth slightly damp before you try to clean your furniture with it. If you like this approach, you might want to purchase a microfiber mop for the hard floors in your home, too.
5. Use Damp Rubber Gloves on Furniture
The only downside to microfiber cloths is that you have to replace them often when using them for pet hair. A more cost-effective solution is a damp rubber glove.
Similar to a rubber broom, a damp rubber glove will do a great job of picking up hair and removing it from your furniture.
6. Use a Spiky Dryer Ball
If your pet is shedding more than usual — either because of a skin problem or some other issue — you’ll likely find yourself washing and drying their bedding or your clothing more often.
Instead of using regular dryer sheets when drying these items, toss a spiky dryer ball in with them. It’ll pick up more hair and send to the lint trap instead of leaving it caked on the items you’re trying to clean.
7. Make Your Own Anti-Static Spray
Finally, try making your own anti-static spray and spraying it on your clothes before interacting with your pets. Simply mix water with a bit of fabric softener.
This will help your clothes to attract less fur and will make it easier for you to brush fur off. You can spray your furniture with this spray, too.
Learn More About Pet Care Today
As you can see, just because you’re a pet owner, that doesn’t mean you have to walk around covered in animal hair 24 hours a day.
If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll have a much easier time getting rid of animal hair and keeping it away.
Do you want to learn other tips on how to maintain your home while also taking good care of your pets? If so, we’ve got lots of helpful articles available on our blog.
Start by checking out this one to learn more about how to eliminate cat odors.