How to Get Out of a Hairy Situation

So...lets talk hair. We've all got it. It clings to everything and can be tricky to easily and effectively contain, much less get out of carpets, upolstry, couches, and clothes! 

After some research, some testing, and much trial and error, I have come up with my favorite ways to drag those pesky hairs to the garbage.

If you have allergies, want to reduce the likleyhood of inviting miniture pests, or simply have too much unsightly hair in your enviornment, don't fret! There are a variety of effective solutions for cleaning up after your furry family, no matter your situation. 

The first line of defense starts with your hair habits. For human hair, cleaning out brushes, making sure loose hair makes it into the trash, and regularly washing (or just drying) hairy clothes will help you with overall house cleaning. When it comes to your pets, taking bedding outside before shaking them off, and regular baths and/or brushings will keep the majority of pet hair off your walls, clothes, furniture, and carpets. 

After the hair gets through that first line of defense, most articles on the subject seem to agree that hair problems start with static caused by dry, low-humidity enviornments, so the next thing I recommend is to get a humidifyer for the spaces you tend to have the most trouble with. Start the humidifyer at least 30 minutes prior to any planned cleaning to help speed up the process.  

To begin: ​

My favorite way to remove hair from a home is to clean top to bottom using a vacuum cleaner wherever possible, stopping to visit any curtains or drapes. Vacuum attachments, a broom, or a duster are good solutions for high up or rough surfaces such as ceilings or unfinished wooden rafters. In some cases, curtains, drapes, and rugs (furry clothes too!) can be thrown into the dryer for 10-20 minutes while cleaning the rest of the house. The overall idea is to knock everything you cannot remove with the vacuum onto the floor for easier pickup. 

Next, clean the furniture:

If your vacuum, lint roller, or tape dosn't do the job, here are three other methods that I think work very well.

1. Glove Method: Remove pet hair from upholstery and fabric with dampened rubber gloves by running your hand over the surface to attract hair. The gloves do not have to be special, though the thicker ones do last longer. Simply rinse off the glove when it’s covered with hair and repeat as needed.
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2. Squeegee Method: Simply use the rubber blade to 'rake' up the pet hair. Gather and throw away. This works well for larger surfaces, though may take more effort for curved or small areas. 

3. Comb Method: Gently comb your furniture to loosen imbedded hairs. Gather the clumps as you go and then throw it away. For tough cases, consider lightly misting your cloth furniture with a mixture of water and fabric softener to get rid of static, making it easier for the hair to come up. 

To remove hair from wooden furniture: Use a soft cloth and furniture polish (or plain water in a pinch) to wipe up hair. This reduces static cling, making hair removal easier and lessening the likelihood that the hair will re-stick.

A similar method is used for leather/pleather furniture: Use a soft cloth and appropriate spray for the material being cleaned and just wipe it up! 

Note: Cleaning instructions can be found on furniture tags (usually hidden under a cushion or under the unit) and will give you guidelines for how to properly maintain the material and prevent damages by cleaning solvents. 

Lastly, to the floor. ​

Once at the floor level, sweep or vacuum all edges and corners, using a finger (beware of painful carpet staples!), toothbrush, or vacuum attachment to drag hairs out of cracks and corners. After that is done, simply vacuum the remaining floor (for carpets) or sweep/vacuum and mop hard floors. ​

If for whatever reason you do not have a vacuum, you can use a pummice stone, FURminator, or the glove method to get by. 

Note: Be gentile with the pummice stone and Furminator options as these may wear down delecate, aged, or distressed carpet.

Useful vacuum techniques for carpet:

1. Pick the right vacuum: A vacuum built to handle pet hair is highly recommended. Pet vacuums generally have higher suction, specialized attachments, and stronger filters to catch allergy causing dander-and other particulates- brought in by our furry housemates. We feel the Shark Navigatior (NV360) and the Hoover Windtunnel Pet Preformance (UH72630PC) are great for everyday use in pet friendly homes (each with their own pros and cons, of course). 

2. Vacuum Slowly: In my experience, most people do not seem to realize that making passes slowly with the vacuum is more effecient at cleaning up hair than saving time by moving quickly. Moving quickly does save time, but only picks up the surface layer of hairs and other particulates. Moving slowly allows the agitatiors (brushes) to loosen hair and for the suction to pick up the hair. 

3. Switch directions: Go over areas at least twice and alternate directions to loosen stubborn hairs. For high pile carpets, you may need three or more directions to get all the hairs pulled up to your satisfaction. 

4. Use the correct brush height: Most vacuums have the option to raise or lower the 'foot'. Listen to the vacuum: If it sounds like it is having a hard time (deeper tones) or is difficult to push, raise the foot. If it is too easy to push or seems to be leaving particulates behind, lower the foot until you get the results you are looking for. 

On bare floor, lower the foot as needed and turn off the agetatiors, if that is an option. This prevents particulates from being thrown out behind the vacuum, which can be very annoying to say the least! Beware of any hard particulates, pebbles, small rocks, or parts of childrens toys that may scratch your bare floors as you try to vacuum over them. I recommend you pick up those tiny hazards by hand (or with a broom) beforehand. 

Your Turn!

We all have our favorite-or at least preferred-ways of cleaning those pesky hairs.
​Please feel welcome to share your successful (or not so successful) experiences!