Don't Let Pet Hair Get You Down

Pets make wonderful companions, but in the summer most cats and dogs will bring something more than love and affection into your home. They'll shed, and bring drifting clouds of hair inside instead. If you're tired of finding a fine coating of fur on your clothes, drapes, and furniture, or if you're spooked into action by the pet hair tumbleweed that just drifted by, there are ways to prevent pet hair from taking over your home.

Prevent Pet Hair Problems

Grooming: One of the easiest ways to keep pet hair in check is through regular grooming of your pet. This can be problematic, especially if your cat or dog can't stand being groomed, but brushing your pet every two weeks (or every week in the warmer months) goes a long way towards containing pet hair problems.

When grooming your pet, make sure you brush on a hard surface, so that loosened hair can be easily brushed up and disposed of. If you're going to bathe your pet, choose products recommended by your vet, and gather all the things you need (towel, shampoo, tub, treats) before starting. Washing your pet before brushing may help loosen matted fur in the undercoat. If your pet has long fur, however, wait until he or she has dried before taking a brush or comb to it-nothing is worse than a pet howling in pain because you've snagged a knot in his wet fur.

Vacuuming: If you have furry pets, invest in a good vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. This filter is specifically designed to handle small particles like pet dander as well as pet fur. Some appliance makers will build extra oomph into their vacuum motors specifically for pet owners-ask at the appliance store, or send an e-mail to the manufacturer's help desk if you want specifics.

When you vacuum, make sure you cover the hard surfaces in your home as well as the carpets. Don't forget drapes and upholstery, either. For maximum effectiveness, your vacuum's dust trap and filters should be cleaned after every four or five uses. A drop-off in the vacuum's suction power tells you that a clean-out is in order.

Laundry Management: Keep pet hair off your clothing by keeping your clothing away from pets. Use laundry baskets with lids for dirty laundry, and discipline yourself (and the other members of the household) to put laundry away as soon as it's dried. Make sure cats aren't curling up in your closets, and store bathroom towels behind closed doors instead of out in the open. A basket full of rolled towels may look attractive to you, but it's also attractive to your dog or cat as a place to nap.

Training Your Pet: It's tempting to give a pet the run of the house, but you will cut down on pet hair considerably if you restrict your dog or cat to certain areas and certain items of furniture. In other words, if you don't want cat hair in your bed, don't let the cat sleep there. Train your pet to sleep in a bed or a specific room. Be firm, be consistent, and reward the behavior you want with treats and praise.

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