How to deal with shedding pet hair

This article is written by Pet Circle's qualified veterinarian, Dr Gillian Hill, BVSc

When it comes to shedding pet hair, Malamutes and Golden Retrievers aren't the only culprits. Small to medium breeds like Chihuahuas, Shelties and Pomeranians are more than capable of coating the entire house in a fur blanket during summer. It covers the furniture, floors, clothes, and more often than not ends up an unwelcome garnish at dinner time. To help you out, we've out together a guide to the best ways to deal with shedding pet hair.

If you are in the hunt for a fur-baby to join your family and you prefer to limit the amount of shedding pet hair, look into low-shedding breeds like the Poodle, Scottie Terrier, Devox Rex or the hairless Xoloitzcuintli or Sphynx.

Content:
Grooming
Keeping your floors tidy
Maintaining furniture and car seats
De-hairing your closet

Grooming

Brushing

If you're vacuuming your floors twice daily but never brushing Fluffy you're shooting yourself in the foot. Daily brushing is required during shedding seasons, particularly for dogs or cats with a double coat. Before you start, make sure you have the right brush or comb for your dog depending on their coat type, length and size; noting that some dogs will require more than one type of brush.

Deshedding Brushes

Many pet owners find that an undercoat-thinning brush such as the Furminator is a big help. These brushes have a special mechanism that thins and trims the under coat, to get rid of excess potentially-shedding fur!

For dogs and cats that aren't a fan of brushes or combs, you could also try a grooming glove, which allows you to get rid of excess fur while 'petting' your pet.

For more information, find out Which Dog Brush You Need and What are the Best Cat Brushes?.

Bathing

Bathing your pet more frequently can help but make sure you are using the right shampoo for your pet. Oatmeal based shampoos like Aloveen help keep your pet's skin and coat healthy. Aloveen conditioner moisturises the skin which can reduce shedding severity. Use a Kong Zoomgroom during bathtime to loosen undercoat hairs.

Be careful with post-bath brushing as tangles are harder to disperse when wet which can cause unnecessary pain or discomfort to your pet. Once their coat is completely dry you can use a deshedding tool such as Shedeze or Furminator.

Want to know more? Check out our Cat Grooming Guide and How to Groom a Dog.

How to Get Pet Hair Out of Carpet

Removing pet hair from carpets can be a formidable task which even the best vacuum cleaners can struggle with. A electrostatic rubber broom can be used to rake hairs into doggy tumbleweaves that are easily vacuumed up. Alternatively sprinkle baking powder over your carpet and leave for a few minutes before vacuuming. Baking powder helps release the hairs with bonus deodorising benefits.

Unlike carpet, hardwood and tiled floors don't have much of a grab on hairs. Vacuuming or sweeping can cause hairs to fly in every other direction but forward. Use a damp mop to catch the hairs, or a rubber brush like the Beldray Pet Plus Rubber Head to grip the hair with it's soft rubber bristles.

Shop All Household Cleaning Tools

How to Remove Pet Hair from the Car and Furniture

Washable throw blankets on the couch and seat covers for the car will protect from the fur. If your couch looks like Chewbacca hosted a family reunion, use an rubber upholstery brush or put on a rubber glove, dampen it slightly and wipe the sofa in one direction. The fur will collect in manageable clumps. A lint roller will get rid of the remaining hairs.

For your car, pumice stones can be used to snag excess hair but be very gentle with the fabric as not to cause damage. A final roll with a lint brush will catch the rest.

How to Get Pet Hair Off Clothes

Any pet owner knows that clothes can come out of the washing machine with more hairs than in the beginning. An accessory of dog hair at home may be acceptable but you probably don't want to be flaking fur all over your cute date.

Lint rollers are your clothes' best friend and a quick wipe over with one of these will remove pesky hairs. Keep one near the front door and in the car for easy last minute access.

Before washing clothes you can place them in the dryer on a cool cycle for 10 minutes to help release hairs that have woven themselves into the fabric. Just be sure to clean the lint filter immediately after. When washing, add some fabric softener to help catch more of the hairs. Smaller loads allow greater movement and increase your chances of getting rid of the hair!

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Tips to remember