Many households prefer hardwood for flooring as they are not only durable but also easy to clean. However, this may not be the case if you have a dog running around the house.
As much as we love having these fluffy friends around, dealing with the hair they shed here and there is always an annoyance. We gathered a list of tips on the best way to pick up dog hair on hardwood floors and the tools you’ll need to do it.
Getting all the dog hair off your hardwood floor can be a challenging job, especially if you own a high-shedding breed. The good news is that you can use a variety of tools to make your job easier, if not effortless.
Rubber Broom and Dustpan
Nothing picks up dog hair from hardwood floors like a nice rubber broom. You can use a rubber broom to gather dog hair in one place and then collect and remove the pile with a dustpan.
A rubber broom has an inbuilt squeegee with bristles that smoothly move along the rear length of its head. Though its head is made of rubber, it remains rigid enough to push dog hair across your floor. This tool is especially useful to pick up stubborn hair clung to the hardwood floor.
You’ll also need a dustpan because the broom bristles merely gather hair without collecting them. They push the hair along into a pile which can be transferred to a dustpan and removed into the trash.
After every sweeping session, you’ll have to remove some lint and hair stuck to the bristles. As it is made of rubber, you can quickly rinse it.
MicroFiber Dust Mop
Using a microfiber dust mop uses static electricity to attract dog hair and dirt particles. Not only is a microfiber-covered mop super effective for picking up dog hair but is also easy to clean.
All you have to do is pop it into the washer and your mop will be as good as new. Though you can wash it as many times as you want, using standard laundry soap and hot water can damage its glue membrane.
It’s also a good option to use a small amount of cleaning solution or wet the pad with water before mopping the floors. If this makes the mop pad super dirty after mopping, you can also use it dry.
Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Polish
Most people prefer mopping with plain water. Though that can work well for regular debris, you’ll need a more effective combination of tools to collect stubborn dog hair. To protect and condition your floor, you may also want to use floor polish or hardwood floor cleaner with a mop.
Use a non-toxic hardwood cleaner that does not contain harmful chemicals and is gentle enough to use regularly. After thoroughly cleaning your floor, use a floor polisher to condition it.
This will not restore the wood’s shine but also reduce the need to mop the floor. However, you’ll need to vacuum or sweep your floor regularly to pick up any excess dog hair.
Dryer Sheets
One of the quickest and easiest ways to clean hardwood floors of dog fur is to use dryer sheets. Like a microfiber mop, dryer sheets also create an electrostatic force to pick up dog hair from the floor.
Dryer sheets are coated with a well-balanced mixture of lubricants, liquid softeners, and fragrances. When you rub it along the floor, the dog fur will stick to the dryer sheet.
You can then remove the hair and reuse dryer sheets. They can be used at least a few times before losing their effectiveness.
Pet Hair Vacuum Cleaner
It’s not safe to use chemical-containing formulas found in dryer sheets and floor polishers daily, as the chemicals can cause a degrading action on hardwood if used frequently. At the same time, if you don’t clean regularly, you will end up with a lot of dog hair on the floor that will be arduous to remove.
Unlike chemical cleaners, vacuuming won’t damage your hardwood floor even if you do it daily. A pet vacuum cleaner works well for drawing dog hair from the floor.
While you can also use a traditional vacuum cleaner with a hardwood floor attachment, cleaning hair and clogs from the vacuum may be a tad difficult. A pet vacuum, on the other hand, is lightweight, easy to use, and manufactured for this specific occasion.
Minimize Dog Hair on Hardwood Floors
Regardless of what cleaning method you are using, it’s never easy to capture every trace of dog fur from the floor. The best thing you can do to keep your hardwood floor clean is to keep dog hair from falling on it. Here are some tips to minimize dog hair on hardwood floors:
Air Filter
Installing air filters at home is one of the best remedies against dog hair on hardwood floors. Air filters not only improve air quality and ventilation but also catch dog hair scattered around the house.
These devices also purify the air by trapping harmful bacteria and pet dander that may cause allergies. Some air filters use ultraviolet germicidal rays to purify the air, while some use other cutting-edge technology to remove contaminants from the air.
HEPA filters that are made of plastic fibers are considered to be most efficient when it comes to removing pollen, dander, and airborne particles from the air.
Clean Regularly
The best way to minimize pet hair is to clean regularly. Having a consistent cleaning schedule around the house will stop loose fur from building up and make it easier to maintain the sanitation and freshness of your surrounding environment.
Use the steps and tools above to keep your hardwood floors clean on a weekly basis. This prevents people and your pets from tracking unwanted hair around the house and into rooms that have already been cleaned.
Pet Grooming Regularly
Most breeds do not require weekly bathing. However, almost all breeds should be groomed once or twice a week. Breeds with a high-maintenance coat, such as Akita, poodle, and Afghan Hound, need daily grooming as their coats are prone to matting.
When you don’t groom your dog regularly, its coat ends up with a lot of knots and tangles which will be scattered all over the place when brushed away. Regular brushing removes loose hair from your pooch’s fur before any untreated, hard-to-detangle mats form.
Moreover, regular grooming helps maintain a lustrous and beautiful coat and fosters positive behavior. In addition to grooming your dog at home, you must take it to a professional groomer every three to four months, depending on the breed of your pet.
Professional groomers are familiar with the unique needs of each breed and groom them accordingly. You should also consider having your pooch clipped if you live in a tropical climate, especially during hot summers.
Healthy Diet
A balanced diet that incorporates fats, vitamins, minerals, and protein, plays an important role in the appearance and strength of your dog’s coat. Make sure your dog consumes fresh fruit, vegetables, and lean meats.
As your dog’s coat and fur are primarily made of protein, a protein-rich diet helps keep its coat healthy and reduces shedding. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids should also be incorporated into your dog’s diet for skin nourishment and coat protection.
See to it that your dog drinks a lot of water to prevent dehydration-related shedding. While most dog breeds and sizes can consume the same diet, a daily value of nutrients needs to be tailored to each dog’s lifestyle and metabolism.
Similarly, the caloric requirement of each breed also varies. Before you make a diet plan for your dog, consult a vet or a pet nutritionist for breed-specific nutrition requirements.
Keep Roller and Pet Remover Tool Handy
Cleaning pet hair can be so overwhelming that many people wait until their floor is visibly dirty. However, this may not be the right approach as large piles of dog hair are harder to clean.
By keeping a pet hair remover handy, you can ensure that your hardwood floor does not get to the point where you have to spend hours cleaning it.
While various types of pet hair removers are available, a lint roller works best to remove pet hair from hardwood floors.
All you have to do is run it over the floor along the direction of the wood fibers. Keep doing it until all the hair clings to the adhesive side of the roller. Once you are done, remove and dispose of the hairy mess.
As uplifting as it is to have a dog around at all times, having a dog has its downside of having to live in a house full of dog hair. Shedding is inevitable in all types of dogs, even the so-called ‘hairless’ breeds like the Chinese Crested Dog.
Contrary to what most people may think, a hair-free home is possible even if you have the highest shedding breed. Removing pet hair from your hardwood floors and throughout the home can be easy to maintain when you take the right preventative measures and clean regularly.
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