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If your home feels fluffier than it did a month ago, you’re not imagining it. Mid to late May is the peak of “coat lashing” which is the four to six week stretch when dogs and cats shed their winter coats all over your furniture. So we asked the TMS audience what you wanted to know more about grooming your pets. Here are the five questions that came up the most, along with our expert answers for quick and effective results.
Q: How do I deal with pet hair that is on absolutely everything?
Most people grab the vacuum and start chasing the hair around the house. But that’s like mopping the floor with the faucet still on: yikes! First you need to close the faucet. Bathing is the single most impactful thing you can do because it gets the loose coat out. ahead she sits on your sofa.
The FURminator deShedding tool goes through the top coat to capture that loose fur. The brand says it reduces shedding by up to 90%. Use it on a dry layer for 10 to 20 minutes, once or twice a week, and do it outside if you can. It is vet recommended and I have used it on my cat for years. When choosing a brush, make sure you choose the right animal and size.
For hair that still comes out, the vacuum tip is not “buy a vacuum”, on the contrary, it is use the correct plugin. A motorized or turbo brush head has a rotating brush that digs into the upholstery and lifts embedded bristles. A simple suction nozzle just goes over the top. If you’re vacuuming and the hair is still there, it’s almost always attachment.
If you are looking for a vacuum that can help you with this and has that motorized head, the Bosch Unlimited 10 is a new entry on the market and has performed really well.
Q: My dog had an accident on the carpet. How do you actually get it out?
If you don’t eliminate it completely windyour dog reads that spot as a designated bathroom and turns back. Gift! Poor cleaning actually compounds the problem.
Start with the technique: lift the solids with a light touch using a paper towel and be sure not to press down, which only drives the mess deeper into the fibers. Wipe, never rub. Then look for an enzyme cleanser.
ez-clean is a Canadian-made bio-enzyme cleaner that kennels and groomers rely on, and the enzymes literally break down organic matter, so there’s nothing left to smell and nothing to call your dog back. Leave on for the time the label specifies and follow directions for best results. I have had amazing results with it.
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Question: My pet drinks from the tap and toilet. How do I keep the bathroom clean without making it dangerous?
The bathroom is the place where the hardest things in the house are used. Think bleach, disinfectants, strong acids, and it’s also where your pet drinks water and licks its paws. Cats are particularly vulnerable because they lack a liver enzyme that breaks down certain compounds. “Natural” and “fragrant” on the label does not automatically mean that the products are safe.
For everyday cleaning, ATTITUDE Bathroom Cleaner (EWG Verified, made in Montreal) is built on citric acid and plant-based surfactants and contains no ammonia, bleach or alcohol. This is your everyday cleanser.
When you need to disinfect, ATTITUDE also makes an unscented sanitizer. The universal rule for all disinfectants and pets: many are safe after drying, but not when wet. Keep your pet out of the room until every surface is completely dry and check the label for that exact instruction. You can also rinse the surface with a clean cloth and water after wiping the disinfectant for extra safety.
Q: How often should I wash my pet’s bed and blankets?
Pet beds and blankets hold hair, dander, body oils, and anything else your pet drags out (or the litter box…). In short: they smell bad and are a real source of allergens. Wash them weekly, in a separate load from your laundry, at the highest temperature the care label allows.
Use an unscented detergent like Tide Free & Gentle as dyes and perfumes leave a residue that stays on your pet’s skin all day and strong scents can irritate their more sensitive noses.
Two pro moves: run the bed through the dryer first on no heat to get rid of loose hair in the lint trap (add water to loose hair and it clumps, sticks to the tub and can clog your drain), and add an extra rinse cycle for pets with sensitive skin.
Q: What about toys and chains?
Pet toys and bowls are among the most harmful items in the home, but some toys just can’t get through a hot wash because of scratches, stuffing, and stuck-on bits. Instead, be mindful and clear of the material.
Cloth toys are placed inside an old pillow case or mesh bag on a soft and cool cycle with the same Unscented Tidethen air dry. Plastic or rubber toys are soaked for 10 minutes in hot soapy water and then rinsed. For zippers, remove any tags, wash them in the bag and hang to air dry. The National Sanitation Foundation recommends cleaning toys, bedding and leashes weekly to monthly, depending on use, and washing food and water bowls daily.
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