We all love our four-legged friends, but if your dog is the kind to shed left, right and center, your hardwood floors are probably crying out for a little TLC.
No matter how long you spend cleaning, admiring the finish of each surface, and relishing in the smell of fresh fragrances, you’re always bound to find that one clump of hair stuffed between the cracks of your hardwood floors.
When you’ve slaved the day away washing each corner of the home, no amount of puppy dog eyes or wagging tails can ease your frustration.
Now for the good news: there’s a solution! If mans best friend turned frenemy has tortured your hardwood floors for long enough, stick with us to learn the best ways to pick up those pesky hairs and keep one step ahead of your molting menace.
Prevent Shedding
That’s right – you can reduce molting, even on the most notorious of shedders. You may not be able to prevent it completely (and you shouldn’t – it’s good for your dog!), but there are ways to make the process more manageable.
1: Regular Brushing And Trimming
Grooming your dog will help you keep on top of the loose fur and prevent it from ending up on your floor. Use small bristles to collect as much hair as possible, and trim regularly to collect dead hair.
2: Apply Regular Flea Treatments
What happens when a dog has fleas? It scratches. What happens when they scratch? Your home becomes caked in a loose fluff tornado. Make sure you’re applying flea treatments regularly to prevent excess scratching and shedding.
3: Feed Them The Right Food
A healthy diet is one of the best ways to reduce shedding. Choose foods that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, and opt for brands geared to sensitive stomachs to ensure your dog is receiving the appropriate nutrients. A healthy gut means a healthy coat.
Even if you incorporate these preventative measures into your dog’s routine, you’ll still find an inevitable build-up of hair, especially in hard-to-reach areas. So, how exactly do you keep your hardwood floors clear of loose fur? Let’s take a look.
Choose The Right Equipment
There are definitely some essentials that spring to mind. (Yes, you’ll probably need a vacuum, a mop, and a bucket of water at some point), but are there any specific types of equipment you should be looking at?
Pet Hair Vacuums
Many brands now manufacture equipment specifically designed to tackle pet hair. Thanks to their improved filters, hardwood floor attachments, and unparalleled suction power, these can work wonders on your hardwood floors. If you’re using a standard vacuum, it may be time to invest in something built for the job.
The name is more than just a marketing ploy. Pet hair vacuums often come with multiple attachments, and they’re also steerable, flexible, and include features like ‘anti-hair wrap technology.’
These are much more advanced than your average vacuum, and they’re often the most efficient way to collect loose dog hair.
Mops And Dusters
If you have hardwood floors, mops and dusters are essential. Before you begin cleaning with a damp mop, you should clean your floor first with a dry microfibre mop or duster. Microfibre pads generate electrostatic when they move, acting as a natural magnet for surrounding pet hair, dirt, and debris.
When you’re ready to clean with a damp mop, be sure not to drench it thoroughly. Excess water can cause cracks or warps on your floor. Make sure to mop your floor in a smooth motion, always following the grain of the wood. You may need to do this several times if your surface is looking a little worse for wear.
Choose The Right Cleaner
When it’s time to mop, you may need more than warm water to do the job.
Choose a cleaner that’s designed for hardwood floors. If your floor is finished with wax, oil, or Monocoat, avoid water altogether as it can damage the wood or cloud the coating. Instead, choose a cleaner or spray that’s PH neutral. You can use a moist cloth with your solution, but you should take care not to soak the floor.
You can also create your own cleaning solution. However, most of these will contain water, so avoid natural solutions if your floor features any of the above coatings.
Natural solutions can be made from a combination of white vinegar, water, and essential oils. Simply choose your desired ratio, and begin rinsing with a mop or a cloth.
Remember: pick up as much hair as possible before mopping. Flicking the hair in a sweeping motion, especially with a damp cloth, can cause hairs to stick deeper into your floor.
Use A Broom
Sure, brooms aren’t as technical as a vacuum, but sometimes, less is more. Plus, you can now purchase dog hair brooms specifically made for hardwood floors – what more could you need?
In addition to their standard nylon fibers, many dog hair brooms also feature an inner set of bristles that extend outwards. These are often made from rubber. The extra strength from the rubber allows the broom to pick up larger clumps of hair, while the smaller external bristles can collect random strays in seconds.
Dog hair brooms come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose smaller heads for tight spaces and larger heads for wider surface areas.
Final Thoughts
Remember: as frustrating as it is for us humans, shedding is natural. Regular shedding forms an essential part of a dog’s skin and fur health, and unless your breed doesn’t shed at all, it’s an inevitable part of being a dog.
However, this doesn’t mean your hardwood floors have to suffer. With a balanced combination of preventative measures like flea treatments and a few tweaks to your cleaning routine, like adding microfibre cloths and pet vacuums, you can keep on top of the build-up and guarantee a shiny, hairless finish with every clean!