Keeping pet hair under control

It’s hard to beat the unconditional love pets provide. That is why millions of people the world over come home to a cat, dog, or other animal. But as much as these furry friends are loved, the fur that they leave behind is not so coveted.

Sharing a home with a pet often means finding pet hair on the sofa, imbedded in the carpet, and blowing around the house like pet hair dust bowls. Pet fur inevitably ends up on clothing and is tracked into cars and other places pet owners travel.

While pet hair can be a nuisance from an aesthetic standpoint, it can also be hazardous to your health. Those who suffer from allergies may be affected by large quantities of pet hair, which can harbor dust mites. So how does one live peacefully with pets and maintain a fur-free zone? Having some handy products on hand can help.

•1. Sticky rollers: Adhesive rollers come in all sizes and are very good at picking up pet fur from furniture and clothing — provided the roller is pretty tacky. Rollers are convenient to use because of their handle and easy rolling action. They can be a tad pricey. So using a large roll of masking tape or other adhesive tape can help those who are on a budget.

•2. Heavy-duty vacuum: A vacuum with a good deal of suction power will be needed to tame the fur on upholstery and carpets. Look for a vacuum with a series of attachments so that you can run the vacuum over hardwood floors or tile as well as high-pile carpeting. An angled attachment will get into those crevices of the couch and in the corners of room where pet hair tends to gravitate.

•3. Sweeper cloths: Those static-charged sweeper cloths that attach to a broom-like handle are good for catching errant fur from under furniture and on floors. The cloths can also be used to “dust” off furniture and run along blinds to gather even more fur.

•4. Specialty detergent: Pet hair can become imbedded in fabrics. There are laundry detergents designed to release the hair from blankets, clothing and other laundered items. Check your supermarket to see if they have one available in the laundry aisle. Otherwise, consult with a pet supply shop.

•5. Vacuuming enhancers: Stores offer static sprays and pet hair release powders that can be applied before vacuuming to help the vacuum trap even more pet fur.

•6. Shedding brush: Many dogs and cats have a soft undercoat beneath the more wiry top coat. The undercoat may be shed two or more times a year. Regular brushing may not extract the loose fur, but a brush designed to get at the undercoat can help remove it. Brush your dog or cat outdoors because a good deal of fur will be removed.

Apart from these products, regular grooming and brushing can help keep pet fur manageable. If you find pet hair is infiltrating every room of the house, consider confining your pet to one or two rooms. Keeping them out of the bedroom could help those who suffer from allergies because the fur won’t be transferred to pillows and bedding.