Shedding is one of the few downsides to having a pet. Although all dogs shed to some degree, certain breeds – like Shih Tzus, Yorkshire Terriers, and Lhasa Apsos – lose a very minimal amount of hair compared to others.
Regular brushing and frequent vacuuming are the two best ways to manage excess dog hair in your home, car, and on your clothes, but what about those stubborn tumbleweeds?
Follow these 10 tips and tricks for a hair-free (or at least hair-minimal) life!
1. Change Air Filters Frequently
Air filters in an average pet-free home should be changed every 90 days. That recommendation jumps up to every 60 days with the addition of one pet, and every 20 – 45 days if you have multiple pets.
Related: Best Pet Hair Removers Of The Year
2. Choose Hardwood or Tile Floors
Hard flooring allows stray hairs to gather in corners and baseboards forming easy to sweep up furballs. Carpets, on the other hand, tend to trap hair leading to constant vacuuming and maintenance for dog parents.
3. Choose Non-Fabric Furniture
If you love to snuggle up on the sofa with your pup – and who doesn’t? – consider purchasing leather, faux leather or vinyl couches, love seats and chairs. Fabrics catch and trap hair while shedding on smooth, non-fabric surfaces can be easily brushed away.
4. Cover Fabric Furniture & Bedding
If faux leather just isn’t your style, try protecting your fabric furniture and bedding with throw blankets or covers. These can be easily tossed into the washer when they get too hairy.
5. Squeegee Carpets
They’re not just for high-rise window washing! A rubber squeegee is a fabulous tool for pulling embedded pet hairs out of furniture and carpets. The hair balls up into an easy to dispose of mass as you drag the rubber blade along soft surfaces.
6. Use Rubber Gloves
For spot-cleaning on sofas or fabric car seats, just slap on a pair of rubber kitchen gloves! The clingy material draws the hair so all you have to do is run your gloved hands over the area you are cleaning.
7. Give an Omega-3 Supplement
There are a myriad of reasons why our dogs need extra Omega-3 in their diet, but one big benefit is reduced shedding. Omega-3 fatty acids support skin and coat health and create a shine and luster in old damaged fur, making it less likely to fall out. (Learn more about the Omega-3 supplement we recommend here)
8. Hair Rollers
Lint rollers are an obvious choice for quick hair removal from clothing. These are another great item to keep in your car so you don’t find yourself heading out on the town with fur all over your best outfit!
9. Tape
Packing tape, duct tape, masking tape – any kind will do the trick! Wrap your tape of choice in a loop around your hand with the sticky side up and press away stray hairs. When the tape fills up, simply tear off a new piece and repeat. Packing tape is my favorite and a cheaper alternative to lint rollers.
10. Static Guard Your Clothes
The same anti-static spray that keeps your clothes from clinging can also protect against pet hair. Spray lightly over clothes, furniture, or bedding to break the charge that holds fur on fabrics.
RELATED: Tired of Excessive Shedding? Try Adding This One Ingredient To Your Dog’s Diet
Featured Image via Flickr | Reader of the Pack
Toledo, United States.
