Monday, November 2, 2015

What I Use To Deal With Pet Hair

Yesterday's post about our new sofa cover led to comments and an email discussion about cleaning up pet hair.  With three cats and two dogs in our house, pet hair on stuff is a fact of life.  (Two of our cats have long hair, and Ruby sheds like it's her full time job.)  Brushing and grooming help some, but there is still fur to be dealt with on rugs and furniture.  Years ago, a friend showed me what she used to clean up fur in her house ... and now I'm going to show it to you!



This simple rubber sponge takes pet hair off of surfaces better than anything else I have ever used.  

The instructions really ARE this easy ... but I will admit that I have never bothered to wash one.


The sponge is kinda big, about three inches by six inches, so I cut it in half using my bread knife.  Then I have two smaller, easier to handle sponges for the price of one big one!





The target of this demonstration is the little Oriental rug that I keep underneath the dog dishes in our dining room.  For a while, Maggie was using the corner of this rug as a napping spot ... and it only took a few naps to create a coating of white fur where she had been sleeping.



To clean this, all I do is rub the sponge over the fur-covered area of the rug with long strokes (like it says in the instructions), working WITH the nap of the rug or diagonally.  I usually go over the area a couple of times ... once to get the majority of the fur, and another time to get whatever little bit might be left.  When the fur balls up on the sponge, and I pick it off and set it aside to keep the sponge clean while I work.



Lickity split ... no more furry rug!





This sponge is great on upholstery and other fabrics, too, but don't expect it to get up every last hair.  For this reason, it's not the best choice to use on clothing ... unless, for example, you were to find a mat of fur on something that a cat has been sleeping on, like a cashmere sweater (true story).  In this case, I used the sponge then finished up with a lint roller.

These sponges last a long time ... I think I bought my last one two years ago, or so.  I get mine at Petco, for about $10, and I know that it's also available to order online.  It's definitely worth its weight in gold to help keep the fur in this house under control!

23 comments:

  1. Thank you for the info on this hair remover and the demonstration. We have a dog and three cats so you don't have to tell me how valuable this is in your home. :) Deb

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    1. This is such a simple solution to a huge problem in so many homes … I am thrilled that you think it will be helpful in yours!

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  2. I need one of these...I only have one cat but he sheds like it's his FULL time job also!
    hugs,
    Linda

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    1. Maggie is our worst offender among the shedding cats, so I totally understand the 'contribution' that one cat can make. Get it at Petco. I haven't seen it at PetsMart or other stores.

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  3. Hmmm. interesting.
    With my herd of critters I think I'm need a case of these. LOL!
    I usually take a wet rag that's rung out really well and wipe in circles. But to be honest, I don't have upholstery or rugs.
    Nope, just faux leather and bare floors. (Sadly my old dogs have a hard time telling the difference between rugs and potty pads, so none in this house.)
    I've seen so many rugs that I love but I have to pass on them. :(
    I do use a stick dirt devil for the hairballs that blow across the floor, and on my clothes I use packing tape if needed.
    But I will tell my sister about this! She has an Oriental rug and TWO huskies! LOL!
    Great post! xo - Cindi

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    1. Wet rag was my method of choice, or damp fingers, before I was told about this.

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  4. THANKS for the tip! I'm always interested in something new to deal with the hair that there's no shortage of around my house either. I wonder if they sell in bulk? ;-)

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    1. I cannot imagine the amount of hair that you have to deal with!

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  5. THANK YOU, looks like the perfect gizmo for my house with one shepherd & one collie ;>))

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  6. That is a nifty trick to get rid of all that pet hair.

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    1. No shortage of pet hair here, so it's good that I have a quick way to deal with it.

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  7. I bought one like this years and years ago. Have no idea where it went and the dogs have been gone for years now. I do remember it worked pretty darn good.

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    1. These have been around forever, I understand, I have used them since, probably, the late 90s. It's not new and trendy, so I guess the manufacturer, and stores, don't make a big deal about them. I will, though, 'cause it works great!

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  8. I know there are such kind of handy rubber sponges for sale here too, but I've never tried it before. And yes I'm also vacuum cleaning lots and lots of times.
    I'm so glad that Snarf is only moulting a few months a year, that's not the problem. He is more a mud pot, always digging, rolling and hanging around in or near muddy ditches.

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    1. I love hearing about the things that Snarf does ... he certainly sounds like a happy, happy dog!

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  9. Why have I not known about this magic sponge!
    Thank You.
    Linda C in Seattle

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  10. Replies
    1. That’s what I said when my friend showed it to me!

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  11. Amazing! And where were you when I had my long haired shedding kitties? lol That does a great job. xo Diana

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    1. I was here, cleaning up after my own long-haired shedding kitties. :)

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  12. The miracle I've been waiting for! Thanks! Can't wait to try out this sponge on the fabric seats of my truck.

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