Pet Hair Pet Peeve? Get Rid Of It Fast And Easy!
We all love our pets. They are actually enchanting and their company is always welcome. However, their dander and hair lying everywhere in the couch, clothes and carpet can easily turn to anyone’s pet peeve. Besides, don’t the hairs stick so hard that it’s difficult to get them out effectively?
The frustrating bit is that you cannot just ignore them. This is because pet hair is not only a nuisance but also a serious health hazard. In fact, you have to be keen with hairy pets if you have small kids in the house who are reactive to pet hair allergen. It is among the various causes of Allergic Rhinitis and can aggravate signs of asthma.
According to Allergy UK, a British Allergy Foundation, 50% of children in the UK who are asthmatic are sensitive to cat allergies, while 40% of them react to dog allergens. The foundation also reports that most household allergens are pet-related. This echoes a report by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology which lists pet hair and dander as among the leading allergens in the households. It also showed that between 20 to 30 percent of people with asthma react to pet allergens, with such reactions beginning since they were children.
Children do not know how to wash their hands after interacting with pet hair. This can explain why they are susceptible to allergic reactions resulting from exposure to pet hair. The hairs are accompanied by dander and carry the animal’s saliva. This is how germs are passed on to those around the animal. Other than contemplating about getting rid of your lovely companion, you can use the following ideas to control the amount of pet hair appearing on your carpets, clothes, car seats, and upholstered fittings.
Use a Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair
There are vacuum cleaners designed solely for removing pet fur. However, you can also boost its performance by dusting the carpet with some baking soda to loosen the hairs. Allow it to stay on the surface for a while before vacuuming. Baking soda will leave your carpet smelling fresh as well.
Wet Sponge Mop
If you have low-pile carpets, you may consider dampening a sponge mop and rubbing it across the rug after vacuuming. Usually, the pet fur rolls up into ball-like clumps which you can collect with your hand or dustpan. In a case of upholstered furniture, rub using a kitchen sponge. This should work magic.
Another idea is to wet your palms and wipe out the affected area. The water makes the fur heavy and thus detaches from the surface. It actually forms into balls as you wipe across with your wet palms. You can easily handpick these balls and throw them away.
Rubber Gloves
You could rubber glove your clothes and carpet to remove adamant cat hair. These could be latex gloves, cloth gardening gloves with rubber at the tip and palm or simply rubber gloves. Put your gloves on and rub the surface where pet hair appears. You will notice the fur sticking to your gloves. For more effective results, moisten the rubber part of the glove before wiping.
Sweep the Surface with a Rubber Brush
This is another handy tip you can use to dislodge notorious pet fur from any surface. Principally, brushing the bristles against the surface generates static electricity. The hairs will actually jump upon this brush effortlessly.
You can also create static electricity by inflating a balloon and rubbing it on the furry surface. The static charge will pick even the invisible hairs. Keep turning the balloon as you clean a new portion so that the nabbed hair doesn’t fall off.
Use Water and Fabric Softener
This is also another great idea of creating electrostatic attraction. Spray a mixture of water and fabric softener on the affected area. Let it settle for a few minutes before vacuuming. Make sure not soak the carpet with water. This mist will dry out leaving the hairs detached from the surface. Now you may vacuum or use any other method of choice and see how amazing the results will be.