Filed under: Storage & Cleaning, Cleaning
Got a shedding pet? We put three pet hair removal products to the test.I have a problem: I'm a pet lover.
This is an issue because I'm not a big fan of pet hair (who is?), especially when it is constantly covering all of my furniture (with two cats and one dog, it's bound to).
This isn't a new concept: We all love our pets, but our adoration for these favorite fluffy friends isn't at its finest when we're facing a losing battle with their fur.
My favorite chair, a hand-me-down from my midcentury-loving grandmother, quickly became my dog's favorite chair. And thus the cats jumped on the bandwagon, too (notice the stealth little ninja in the bottom right corner?). Now my battle against fur-covered upholstery is never ending. Photo: Allison Lind
So what's the solution? There are countless anti-fur products out there, and it can be overwhelming to maneuver through a seemingly endless aisle of cleaning goods. In an act of fur-fighting desperation, I decided to put three products to the test to see what worked best. Let's see how they held up.
1. Evercare Pet Hair Lint Rollers
What it is: We're all familiar with standard lint rollers (especially pet owners). But these babies go beyond the basic and are apparently "especially designed for pets."
How it works: You can pretty much guess how they work -- simply roll over hair-coated areas and the sticky surface should remove it.
Our grade: B
The sticky sheets do their job of picking up fur quite nicely, but you'll find yourself "reloading" new sheets often and tight corners prove difficult. Bed Bath & Beyond sells the Pet Hair Roller (plus two refills) for just $9.99, so it's not a hefty purchase. However, if pet hair is more than a mild problem in your household, you might need to invest in something a bit more powerful.
Which product will keep your dog's fur from sticking to your couch? Photo: cornfusion, Flickr
What it is: This hand-held product from Pledge is designed to roll over hair-covered surfaces, picking up hairs as you go and "limiting the waste that comes with using sticky roller sheets."
How it works: Nearly every time I've hit my local grocery store in the past few months, I've been a devoted purchaser of this new contraption. You simply roll it over the surface, back and forth, as it picks up hair. You do have to go over the same areas at least a couple of times for more stubborn hairs, but it does its job well with minimal effort. It's pretty difficult to get to tight corners, though, because the rollers are about an inch in from the device's sides. I often find myself needing to manually clean those spaces, which can be a bit of a pain.
Our grade: C
At around $5 or $6, it's a relatively affordable purchase, considering how well it does its job. My problem? With two cats and a dog that sheds like a maniac, I quickly make my way through the Fabric Sweeper's limited "cargo" space. And once it's filled, that's it. It's only intended for one use (until it's filled) -- then you toss it into the garbage and start anew. Over all, I love this option for every day pet-hair removing. Though I'd love it a whole lot more if I weren't adding to a landfill every time I use a new one.
Cats love to lounge on the furniture. Photo: Iamcatfurniture, Flickr
3. Eureka Pet Expert
What it is: This upright vacuum goes beyond your typical floor-cleaning duties and is designed especially for pet owners, with add-on tools named the Hair Raiser and Pet Power Paw that are advertised as being able to "quickly and easily eliminate pesky pet hair from upholstery, fabric and even clothing."
How it works: Beyond its excellent vacuuming abilities (and HEPA Filter with odor-absorbing charcoal), the Pet Expert's special tools definitely stand up to stubborn shedding. The Hair Raiser brush (similar to your standard felt lint brush) can be used separate from the vacuum (no power required) and it self cleans -- when it fills with hair, you simply place it into its holster, pull back out, and it's clean again (no need to manually pull off those clumps of caught hair). And when you restart the vacuum, a special function removes discarded hair from the holster into the bagless chamber. The Pet Power Paw, an extended tool from the powered-up vacuum, can be used on upholstery as well (also excellent on stairs, FYI), and picks up even the most stubborn hairs like a dream.
Our grade: A
At $99 (through Amazon.com), this multi-tasker carries a bigger price tag than the other pet hair solutions I tested. But when it comes to deep cleaning those furry messes, this tool can tackle the job. If you're on the market for an affordable, high-performing vacuum -- and you have a pet-hair problem -- this is your tool.
If you own pets, tell us about your best cleaning tip for dog or cat lovers.
Learn about more cleaning tips for pet lovers here.