Tips to Remove Cat Hair in the Home: When the Cat’s Away, There is Cat Hair to Clean Up

They may be smaller, and often less fluffy than dogs but cats shed a whole lot too. While this happens all year round, shedding tends to increase before winter when your feline family member sheds old fur in order to allow new hair to grow in time for the colder weather. 

Nevertheless, whatever time of the year it is, you will find fur pretty much everywhere in your house which is why it pays to know how to remove cat hair from different household surfaces. 

By now, you might have tried a few different things but ended up unsatisfied with the results. Whether you were unable to pick up all of the fur, or it returned to the surface within minutes, the bottom line is that you need to use more effective methods to truly get rid of cat hair in the home.

Today, we’re focusing on some of the most common indoor areas and surfaces where cat hair accumulates, and sharing a few tried and tested ways to remove it, here's how we handle and remove cat hair with our regular cleaning service. Let’s get started!

Carpets & Rugs

One of the most loved places for cats to play is on a carpet or rug. As they roll around, loose cat hair is spread across the carpet which gets ground in with foot traffic. For this reason, experts advise using a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush to untangle fur trapped deep into the pile.

If you don’t have a carpet agitator, you can use a soft brush or special carpet brush that will help lift the pile. Brushing the fibres in the opposite direction will dislodge dirt and cat hair, thereby allowing you to clean more thoroughly. For best results, you should vacuum the carpet or rug first, making sure to manoeuvre the vacuum head in all directions, and then brush it to loosen up missed debris and hairs before vacuuming once more. 

Hard Surfaces & Furniture

The key to cleaning up cat hair in your home is to use methods that remove or pick up the hair as opposed to moving it around. For flooring like hardwood, tile, stone, vinyl, and linoleum, vacuuming is always recommended over sweeping; however, using an electrostatic broom after vacuuming the floor can help pick up any cat hair that the vacuum cleaner missed. Fur clings to the electrostatic bristles which can then be cleaned or dusted off outside the house.

When it comes to your furniture and other hard surfaces in your house, a damp microfibre cloth should be your cleaning tool of choice. Even when dry, microfibre dust cloths are great at picking up dust; the dampness, on the other hand, further helps cat hair to cling to the material. 

Upholstery

Sofas, couches, upholstered chairs, etc; every cat owner knows how much their precious pet enjoys climbing up to these places for a little snooze time! This is precisely why many opt to use pet covers for their upholstery as they keep fur off the cushions underneath. Nevertheless, if you are dealing with cat hair on your couch or upholstered furniture, there are few different things you can do to remove it. These are listed below.

• Put on a pair of rubber gloves, dampen them, and gently glide your hands over the fabric to pick up cat fur. Use a damp towel to clean the gloves, and repeat as needed.
• Use an upholstery attachment when vacuuming cushions, and a crevice tool to remove pet hair from the nooks and crannies of sofas and couches.
• Dampen a sponge and wipe the upholstery in one direction; the cat hair will get clumped together which can then be vacuumed up or brushed off to remove.
• Rubbing a pumice stone on upholstery can also help gather cat hair without much trouble.
• Owing to the silicone or rubber blade, a handheld squeegee can be used to remove cat hair from your upholstery .

How to Reduce Cat Hair in the Home

While it may not be possible to prevent cat fur in your home altogether, finding ways to reduce it will go a long way in keeping surfaces clean, and hairballs away for longer periods. These include one-time solutions while others entail simple measures that will minimise the amount of hair your cats sheds in the house. Take a look below.

Use an Anti-Static Spray

If you didn’t already know this, cat hair and dog hair have an electric charge which is why they cling to things. By spraying surfaces and fabrics with an anti-static spray, cat hair will be repelled. You can purchase commercial anti-static sprays or simply make one by mixing 3 cups of water and 2 - 3 tablespoons of liquid fabric softener in a spray bottle. 

Cover Upholstery With Pet Covers

These fabric covers are easy to remove, wash, and replace. They keep sofa and couch cushions clean and fur-free for much longer, and are easy to maintain with regular vacuuming. 

Bathe and Groom Your Cat Regularly

In general, regular grooming and bathing of your pets is imperative to their wellbeing; the added perk here is less shedding! Brushing your cat outside at least once a day will keep cat fur in your home to a minimum. 

When you have a cat, or any furry pet, you have to accept the fact that shedded pet hair is going to be all over the place! The good news is that there are easy yet effective cleaning tips you can implement in your cleaning routine to efficiently remove cat hair in your home. Similarly, the amount of cat hair falling or floating around your house can be significantly reduced by taking a few simple measures. Use the tips above to clean up cat hair, and keep the buildup to an all time low!