Pets are wonderful friends and a delight in the home, but they can be painful to clean up after. There’s always dog hair in the most unexpected places. It spreads across the floor, covers the furniture, clings to your clothes, and even covers your car’s leather seats.
Cleaning up pet fur is not just about keeping things looking nice; it’s also about keeping things safe and healthy for you and your family. Pet fur can cause allergies, collect dust, and serve as a breeding ground for pests.
The good news is that you can employ it to keep your house fur-free without upsetting your dog. This article will provide you with foolproof tips to win the battle. This list covers everything from basic maintenance to in-depth cleaning that will leave your home spotless and happy.
Reasons Why Dogs Shed a Lot
Knowing why your dog sheds before we get to the tips will be helpful. This could happen for a few reasons, and those are:
Normal Shedding
There are different kinds of coats on dogs, and the type of coat your dog has greatly impacts how much hair it sheds. People often think that hypoallergenic dogs don’t shed at all, but they shed less than other types.
It’s important to know what’s normal for your dog regarding shedding. Dogs with many furs, long hair, and thick undercoats shed the most. Some breeds, like German Shepherds, lose hair because their coats are replaced. Old hair falls off as new fur grows.
The weather affects shedding. When it’s cold, dogs naturally grow thicker coats to keep warm. When it gets warmer, they shed extra fur. This part of shedding is called “blowing coat.”
On the other hand, some dogs shed much less than most. For example, breeds like Bichon Frise, Poodle, and Shih Tzu, have hair that always grows instead of shedding at set times. These dogs need regular haircuts and cleaning so they don’t look dirty.
Abnormal Shedding
It may be a sign of illness if your dog is shedding more than usual. Also, look for redness, rashes, or bald patches on your dog’s skin. Also, watch for any signs of excessive licking or scratching from your dog. If you see any of these signs, visiting a veterinarian as soon as possible is best.
However, if there are no symptoms of sickness or skin issues, it is possible to stress or have an unhealthy diet. In addition, stress in dogs can lead to more frequent shedding. And you can lower your dog’s stress level if you give it lots of love, attention, and a stress-free environment.
In addition, the health of your dog’s coat can be improved, and excessive shedding reduced by feeding it a balanced and nutritious diet.
Tips to Make Your Home Fur-Free Without Making Your Dog Upset
Here we will talk about how to make your home fur-free. By following these easy tips, you can make your home free from fur.
1. Keep a Healthy Diet
One important thing to do is ensure that your furry friend gets the best dog food for shedding, a healthy and nutritious diet that fits their needs. Talk to your vet to determine what your pet should eat based on their breed and health needs.
Your pet should eat protein like chicken, beef, or eggs. These foods give your pet’s coat the ingredients it needs to stay healthy. It’s also important to include a range of vitamins, with vitamin A being the most important, and enough vitamins C and E. Fatty acids, like omega-3s and omega-6s, are very important for a good coat.
2. Clean Regularly
The best way to deal with pet fur is to clean it often. Unfortunately, the longer you go between cleanings, the more fur will build up, making it harder to clean thoroughly.
To keep your home free of fur, you need to clean it often, and there’s no option for deep cleaning. So at least once every 15 days, you should do a deep clean.
Also, keep an eye out for places that need immediate care and clean them as soon as you see them. Even though not everyone can hoover or mop daily, a few minutes a day spent cleaning can make a big difference in how much pet fur builds up and keep those pesky dust bunnies away.
3. Brush Your Pet
The most important thing you can do to keep loose fur from getting all over your house is to brush your pet every day. The fur gets caught in the brush as you gently brush your pet’s coat. This makes getting rid of the fur easily and reduces the amount of fur that builds up.
You must use the right brush to clean the dog for the best results. A pin brush is great for removing hair clumps and thoroughly cleaning.
On the other hand, a bristle brush is perfect for daily cleaning because it glides easily through the fur, leaving it smooth and free of hairballs. Or you can use a natural fiber bristle brush to remove the loose hair that builds up on your pet’s top coat.
4. Wash your Bed
Keeping the sheets and blankets clean is necessary if your pet sleeps in your bed. Unfortunately, sheets, pillowcases, and blankets can quickly become covered in pet fur. To avoid this problem, wash your bed every week.
But before you throw everything into the washer, take a few minutes to reduce the quantity of pet fur that gets in there. If there is any visible fur on the sheets, a lint roller is a quick and easy way to remove it.
5. Cover Your Bed
Slipcovers are a smart purchase if your pet enjoys sitting with you on the couch. It will save you a lot of time and energy if you keep your furniture covered most of the time.
Choose a machine-washable cover for ease of cleaning and maintenance. Slipcovers are a great way to protect your couch from pet fur, dander, and other dirt while extending its life and improving its aesthetic value. In addition, it saves money and furniture.
6. Buy a Vacuum Cleaner
Even though it may not be the most fun thing to do, vacuuming regularly is the best way to deal with pet fur. Vacuuming your house a few times a week can reduce the amount of pet fur that builds up. Not only it cleans the floor, but it also cleans the furniture and curtains by collecting fur.
When choosing a vacuum cleaner, choose one with a strong pulling power to get rid of hair that is stuck. Also, look for a vacuum that is easy to empty and has a brush attachment to help remove loose fur.
Some people think robot vacuums are useful because they can be set to clean every day. But you should consider whether a robot vacuum is right for your floor type and house layout, as they may need more maintenance.
7. Good Air Filter
An air filter is a great way to stop dust, dirt, allergens, and pet fur from floating around and settling in your home. These things are made to catch and screen out particles, making the air cleaner and healthier. Choosing an air cleaner with a HEPA filter is best because it can catch over 99 percent of particles, including pet fur.
When choosing an air purifier, consider how big a room can be cleaned. You will get the best performance from a filter if you pick the right size.
But buying the right air cleaner is only one part of the problem. It’s just as important to keep the device in good shape by changing the filter often. To simplify this job, you can choose an air cleaner with a light or sensor that tells you when to change the filter. So, you won’t have to remember one more thing, and your air filter will continue to work well and give you cleaner air throughout your home.
8. Use Anti-static Spray
The anti-static spray is a simple and effective way to remove pet hair from fabrics. These sprays are made to stop static from building up. They do this by making it harder for pet fur to stick to different surfaces. Anti-static sprays can be used on various fabrics, such as clothes, drapes, and furniture.
Once you put it on, the pet hair will stick less to the surface, making removing it easier with a lint roller, brush, or even a piece of tape. This is helpful for pet owners who know how frustrating it is to leave the house wearing clothes full of pet fur. In addition, with anti-static spray, you can reduce the amount of pet hair on your fabrics and keep them looking better.
Bottom Line
While it’s impossible to have a completely fur-free home when you have a dog, using the tips in this article, you can greatly reduce dog fur and maintain a comfortable and clean environment.
