Pet hair vs carpet fibres: expert tips to keep your floors fresh
For the love of your furry friends, you may have resigned yourself to carpets that host pet hair, muddy paws, ‘presents’ like slightly chewed birds or rodents, and the odd sneaky vomit.
It can make having a fresh, clean carpet a bit of a challenge, right?
However, as Christchurch’s best professional carpet cleaners, Advanced Carpet Cleaning are here to help. Here are our top strategies to protect your carpets while keeping your four-legged family members happy.
Understanding the pet hair challenge
Pet hair isn't just a surface-level nuisance. Left to accumulate, it has the capacity to create quite the Pandora’s Box of problems.
Obviously, different pet breeds shed varying amounts and types of hair, from the fine undercoat of Golden Retrievers to the coarser hairs of German Shepherds, and the rough, wiry hairs of the Jack Russell. Each hair type behaves differently with carpet materials, with some ‘felting’ on the surface of carpet and others ‘burrowing’ into carpet fibres and no matter how often you vacuum you can’t seem to get it all.
Not to be overlooked are also the accompanying issues: odours, allergies, and the keratin in pet hair making a perfect environment for carpet beetle to lay their eggs so the larvae can munch greedily after hatching.
And carpet type will also have a bearing on whether pet hair removes easily or not.
So, here are our top tips.
Vacuuming: it’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it
Effective pet hair removal requires commitment! When it comes to pet hair, a quick weekly flick with the standard hoover is like kids eating broccoli – they move it around all over the place but those florets never get lift-off!
To ensure you’re not just re-locating pet hair, or pushing it down into the carpet pile, the key lies in vacuum selection and technique.
· What?
Models with motorised brush rolls and strong suction specifically designed for pet hair removal outperform standard units. If you can, adjust the height setting for maximum contact with the carpet fibres.
Before purchasing a brush vacuum, check the carpet manufacturer’s recommendations for vacuuming your carpet type.
· Where?
If your pet has preferred places to lie down or sit, daily spot-vacuuming maybe necessary to prevent their hairs from becoming deeply embedded.
· How?
As professional carpet cleaning Christchurch experts, we recommend to clients to use a multi-directional vacuuming technique that works against the carpet's natural grain. Slow, overlapping lengths in north-south directions, followed by perpendicular east-west movements. This method is far more effective than the standard backwards-and-forwards vacuuming routine.
How often should pet owners get their carpets professionally cleaned?
As well as ensuring your vacuuming isn’t wasted effort, establishing a regular professional cleaning schedule prevents minor issues from becoming major problems, keeps your home healthier for you and your guests, and feels fresh and clean. But how often?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula, but if any of the list below sounds familiar, then assess pragmatically how the carpet is holding up:
- Multiple shedding pets
- Cats or dogs with long fur
- Large-breed dogs
- Indoors-only pets
- Standard vacuum cleaner
- Fur you can ball up off the carpet or scrape into a little pile with your shoe!
Whereas non-pet households may opt for a steam clean every 18-24 months, homes with pets will keep on top of the pet hair issues much better with yearly cleans. Advanced Carpet Cleaning can not only keep your carpet looking good – and extend its life – but also check for any carpet pest problems associated with pet ownership.
End of tenancy carpet cleaning is particularly critical for pet owners to ensure the property is handed back in a condition that gets you your bond returned.
Preventative measures to protect your carpets
‘Preventative measures’ doesn’t mean you have to restrict your pet’s movements, depriving you of each other’s company – it simply means being wise with your decisions:
- Place washable rugs in their favourite parking spots
- Clean or replace pet bedding often
- Groom them regularly to reduce the amount of hair reaching your carpet. Choose brushes designed for their specific coat types (for example, slicker brushes for undercoat removal and rubber grooming mitts for short-haired breeds).
Advanced Carpet Cleaning’s stain management advice
If you haven’t ever come across a little pee or vomit on the carpet, are you even a pet owner?? It’s only a matter of time!
But don’t despair. The main thing is that if your pet has an accident, don’t ignore it. Quickly blotting up liquid remains the best response to animal urine. Pet urine creates alkaline conditions that can alter carpet colour if not neutralised quickly; pet vomit is very acidic and can also permanently colour carpet.
Download our free Stain Treatment Guide to give you the pointers you need to deal with fresh stains.
And be sure not to skip your next professional clean, as the products and equipment we use give you the peace of mind of fresh, hygienic carpet again and can help with stains and odours.
Clean carpets AND happy pets – home sweet home!
Although we’ve titled this article as a battle between clean carpets and pet hairs, in practice they’re not mutually exclusive. Maintaining beautiful carpets as a pet owner is perfectly doable, with the right proactive steps in place.
If you would like to learn more about how Advanced Carpet Cleaning can help you love both your pets and your carpet, call us on 0800 566 576 to discuss your carpet cleaning needs.
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