You can love your pet, but
hate having their hair all over, well, everything.
(Created by Good Housekeeping for
Miele. Written by Brigitt Earley)
If you have a pet that sheds, you know that cleaning up all of that hair can feel like a never-ending task. But there are plenty of strategies to help you get things under control.
It’s all about having the right tools. “Removing pet hair is one of the toughest challenges for vacuum cleaners, because static electricity can make dog and cat hair cling tightly to fabrics like carpeting and upholstery,” says Carolyn Forte, Cleaning and Home Care Lab Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Make sure you have a pet-specific vacuum on hand, like the Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog Cordless Vacuum. An anti-static spray and a lint brush are also good tools to have in your arsenal.
Ready to shed the fur? Here’s how to use those all-important tools on some of the most common hot spots in your home.
THE SOFA
Whether your pooch perches on the furniture or not, chances are his hair will settle there anyway. To banish pet hair from your couch or armchair, spritz the area first with an anti-static spray. This not only helps loosen pet hair from the fabric, but even helps repel it in the first place, says Forte.
Then, use your vacuum’s upholstery brush or pet tool attachment on cushions and crevices for easier removal. For any stubborn spots, put on a rubber glove, moisten it with a touch of water, then swipe your hand over the affected area.
CARPET
Even if you’re using a pet-specific vacuum, Forte suggests giving fur-covered carpets a spritz of an anti-static spray before vacuuming to help lift strands in a flash.
PET BED
If there’s any place that’s sure to be riddled with pet hair, it’s the spot where your furry friend lays their head. To clean a pet bed, take it outside and shake it out. Then, remove as much pet hair as you can by hand with your vacuum, lint roller or brush. Then, wash it by itself on a warm or hot setting, if safe for the fabric. Before putting it in the dryer, do a second rinse cycle. Finally, put it in the dryer to fluff and remove any remnants. (Don’t forget to clear out the lint filter pronto—that’s where all that pet hair will end up.)
CLOTHING
To get pet hair off of your duds—stat!—try a used dryer sheet. This household item helps reduce static, and loosens pet hair clinging to fabrics, says Forte.
Alternatively, you can send washable clothing or bedding for a spin in the dryer for a couple minutes on the low or air-only setting. The action of the drum will help loosen pet hair and pull it into the filter. Once the cycle is complete, clear out the lint screen.
HARDWOOD FLOORS
In general, hardwood floors should be vacuumed at least once per week and wet cleaned every one to two months, depending on the amount of traffic in your home. For the deepest clean days, use a pet-specific vacuum like Miele’s to suck up the majority of Fluffy’s fur.
Then, wet-clean with a hardwood floor cleaner. Simply spray a small 3-foot by 3-foot area with the cleaner and wipe the area with a microfiber mop, working your way around the entire room.
YOUR CAR
Because cordless handheld vacuums are easy to maneuver and don’t require a plug, they make cleaning your car interior a lot easier. Miele’s runs on a removable battery that has approximately 60-minutes of run time, and you can use the handheld unit and all the attachments to clean the seats, carpeting, trunk and get into all of those tiny crevices.
For stubborn blind spots—like the folds in car seats—try a specially-designed double-sided lint remover brush.