Keeping Pet Hair Under Control

In our house, we have three dogs and two cats. I used to foster animals before having our first baby (who is already almost 8 months old), so we had a transient menagerie for several years. At one point we had five dogs, three cats,  two sugar gliders, two rabbits, and a chinchilla all living under one roof. So believe me when I say I understand what it means to be continually battling pet hair.

For this post, I am going to focus on dealing with dog and cat hair but feel free to apply these tips to any furry creature you may have.

The first thing you’ll want to do is to make sure your pet is shedding the least amount of hair possible for their breed. To reduce the amount your dog or cat is shedding, make sure they are eating a biologically appropriate diet. Ensuring your pet’s food includes at least some real whole foods (aka not solely heat processed kibble) will drastically reduce the amount of hair they lose. If you are not already doing so, I would also strongly recommend adding Omega-3s into their meals by way of phytoplankton, whole fish, or green lipped mussel.

Next, you’ll need to commit to a daily vacuuming routine. If you are not a cleaning freak like me, this may not sound like a fun way to spend your time. However, staying on top of the hair daily is what will make all the difference. To do so, I highly recommend investing in a robot vacuum like a Roomba. We bought ours from Costco a year and a half ago, and it has been a game-changer. This is what allows our vacuuming to get done multiple times per day. I like to run the vacuum once in the evening right before bed, and then once mid-afternoon just in case any unexpected visitors stop by. Realistically, a robot vacuum does not erase the need for a weekly in-depth vacuuming session to do things like the stairs, under the couches, and behind furniture but it greatly cuts down on the time it takes.

Regular grooming is another key to keeping the shed under control. Brush long-haired or double-coated pet’s often (Tip: Do it outside if possible to prevent the hair from ruining your freshly vacuumed floors). Bathing once a month in a de-shedding shampoo & conditioner like the Furminator brand will also help drastically reduce the day to day fall out.

To help deal with dander, I recommend changing your air filters frequently. Once they are clogged with hair, they become much less efficient. It is also a good idea to have a smaller stand-alone air purification unit in key places like the living room or your bedroom.

The next tool in your arsenal should be lint rollers. Have them stashed everywhere, so you don’t get stuck walking around the supermarket covered in dog hair. I recommend buying them in bulk at Costco.

Lastly, embrace the hair. No matter how much effort you put into trying to eliminate it, it is not going away entirely. There will come a day when your little furball isn’t around anymore, and you’ll miss them and their hair dearly.

Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links.