Spring is around the corner! For many pet owners, that means the start of outdoor fun again — and the official kickoff of shedding season.
We’re here to help with this never-ending battle! So we’ve rounded up some ideas to assist you in keeping a handle on all that hair, using our favorite spring-cleaning and grooming techniques.
How to Manage Pet Fur

Thinkstock
Keep Up With Vacuuming
Your vacuum is your best friend — well, next to your dog anyway. Make sure to invest
in a good one. For some dog breeds, you’ll need to use it every day to keep
up with the hair they drop. Some companies have models designed specifically to
help pet owners clean the hair from floors and upholstery. You might even be able to use it
right on your dog, too. Some dog-friendly vacuums are sold with dog
attachments.
Not all dogs like this idea, so you’ll want to get him used to it gradually.

Thinkstock
Bathe Your Pet Regularly
If you give your pup a nice warm bath before you brush, it
will help loosen up dead hair, Dr. Marty Becker writes. Ask your veterinarian about shampoos and nubby rubber hound gloves that you can use on your dog while she’s still in the tub. Then safely blow-dry your dog’s coat completely using
a low or cool setting to help get rid of loose hair in her undercoat. Bathing isn’t
just for dogs, either, writes Dr. Becker. Many cats can learn to enjoy bath time, thanks to practice, praise and positive rewards.

Thinkstock
Brush Often
Regularly
brushing your dog or cat’s coat can make a world of difference —
especially during the spring shedding season. If you brush every day or two
during that period, it becomes more manageable. Depending on your pet's coat type, you can gently use wire slicker brushes, undercoat rakes, shedding blades or hound gloves to do the job, and using a lint roller between
brushings can help, too. Taking your dog
outdoors for brushing
sessions is best so the fur doesn’t fly all over the house, but you can also go
into the garage or lay down a sheet that you can put in the washing machine.

Thiknkstock
Try the Rubber Glove Trick
Here’s a simple and fast way to wipe away loose hair. You
know those long rubber
gloves you use to clean the dishes? They have another purpose, too. They’re
great for capturing pet hair. Put them on and then run your hands over
furniture, carpets and the four-legged culprits themselves, and you’ll collect lots of
stray hair.

Thinkstock
Cover the Furniture
If your pets are allowed on the furniture, you might consider using slipcovers to protect your pieces. That way, when the covers get dirty or you
have guests coming over, you can just slip off the covers and throw them in the wash. If you
don’t have furniture that lends itself to slipcovers, protect it with a
sheet you can remove for company, Dr. Becker suggests.

Thinkstock
Clean Out Vents and Filters
Vents that heat and cool your home are quite the traps
for pet hair. Use a long, flat duster to get the fur out, which
will help ensure they’re working more efficiently. Experts say
furnace filters should be replaced more frequently in homes that have pet
residents, and you should also remember to clean out your dryer’s lint trap,
which catches a lot of hair.

Thinkstock
Get the Easy-to-Miss Spots
Hair can get into the strangest
places, including nooks and crannies you might not think to clean. In
addition to hard-to-reach places, like under your refrigerator and behind (and
underneath) furniture, lampshades and long curtains can pick up lots of hair.
After a while, you probably don’t even notice the fur anymore. But it’s good
to keep these spots in mind if you’re going for a deep cleaning.
More on Vetstreet:
- Don’t Make These Litterbox Mistakes
- How Can I Get My Adult Dog to Stop Chewing on Things?
- 5 Tips for Getting Pet Stains Out of Carpet
- How to Cope When Pets Have Fleas
- Keep Your Home Free of Pet Odors