How to clean pet hair around the home
Pets shed hair around the house continuously, and the unique structure of their coats makes cleaning and pet hair removal particularly difficult. Once animal hair reaches a certain length it becomes loose and falls – dog breeds like German Shepherds, Collies and Samoyeds are especially prone to losing hair in spring and autumn.
Pet hair embeds itself ‘electrostatically’ to hard floors and carpeted surfaces. If left, pet allergens and the microscopic life that accompanies pet hair can trigger allergies and impair air quality and the health of homes.
Dyson engineers have developed the most effective way to remove dog hair, using a combination of high-powered airflow and active agitation from targeted tools like the Stubborn dirt brush. To discover the most advanced vacuum for pet hair removal and the best methods to clean pet hair from the home, read on.
-
What is pet dander?
-
Mess created by pets can be both visible and undetectable. Alongside pet food, dirt and mud brought in from outside, microscopic life like pet dander can inhabit a range of areas in the home and impact overall health.
Invisible to the naked eye, pet dander is composed of tiny skin particles shed by pets onto surfaces and through air in household dust. Once these microscopic particles become airborne, dust mites and skin flakes containing pet allergens can be inhaled, triggering allergies. Pet dander builds up on soft furnishings like mattresses, carpets and upholstery and is the food source of dust mites.
For many pet owners, the frustration of constantly cleaning up hair is an everyday problem, particularly as we spend more time indoors. But spotting the hair is half the battle. Beyond the locks left behind is a world of microscopic mess consisting of skin, hair and dirt. Here's how to deal with it.
Dyson pet hair technology
To combat pet hair and the risk they pose to healthy spaces, our engineers recreate conditions of real homes in the Dyson Pick-Up Laboratory.
To understand how to get rid of dog hair fully, we test our technology on dust and dander from real homes. As Senior Mechanical Engineer James McCrea states, “When we design vacuum cleaners, we test with dust from real homes and not just industry standard material, because we know that organic matter like pet hair and dander is often caught up in household dust and will have a big impact on how the machine functions”.
As a result of this research, we’ve developed suction power and filtration systems powerful enough to lift and remove pet hair completely. To find the latest technology in vacuum cleaners for dog and cat hair as well as other pets, select from our advanced cordless vacuums.
Laser detection
Because microscopic particles, allergens and dust mites created and distributed by pet hair are invisible to the naked eye, our latest technology aids with detection for complete capture and removal. Dyson’s laser finds and reveals the particles on hard floors1 to ensure the whole clean of homes and removal of pet allergens.
Dyson Gen5detect
For complete pet hair removal, Dyson Gen5detect, our most powerful HEPA cordless vacuum applies laser detection, sizing and counting particles2 as you clean. Pet dander and pet allergens can centralise in particular areas – as higher dust volumes are identified, the new fifth generation Dyson Hyperdymium™ motor increases suction3. Once pet hair is lifted from surfaces, the anti-tangle comb clears hair, allowing filtration to seal in 99.99% of microscopic particles4.
Manoeuvrability
Pets and the hair that they shed can get into hard-to-reach places and corners of the home. The structure of animal’s coats makes the hair ‘stick’ to hard floors and embed itself into carpeted areas and soft furnishings. Dyson’s manoeuvrable vacuum neck reaches around obstacles and into tight spaces5 for effective cat and dog hair removal.
Dyson Omni-glide™
Our slimmest and most manoeuvrable vacuum6, Dyson Omni-glide™ picks up fine particles like pet dander with an articulating neck and a narrow cleaner head for tight spaces. The versatile design of our hard floor vacuum allows this machine to lay flat on the floor, vacuuming pet hair found under low furniture. Once captured, whole-machine filtration traps 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns4.
Tips on effective pet hair removal
Knowing how to get rid of dog hair can be tricky, but the right tools and habits will effectively remove harmful particles from the home, restoring control over your environment. Follow our tips below to reduce pet hair allergies and achieve a whole-home clean.
- Groom pets regularly
- Wash pet blankets at a high heat
- Clean dust from top to bottom
- Vacuum upholstery and carpets often and slowly
As hair growth reaches the catagen phase, pets shed particles and strands continuously. Brushing and grooming your pets frequently will decrease the amount of pet dander being deposited around the home. Designed for adult dogs with medium and long hair, Dyson’s Pet Grooming Kit* brushes pet hair, capturing pet allergens and dead skin cells.
*Only compatible with the Dyson corded vacuum rangeWashing blankets, cushions and bedding at 60 degrees Celsius will help to break down pet allergens and reduce the amount of microscopic dander that dust mites feed on. For how to get dog hair off the couch effectively, make sure to remove and wash couch covers frequently.
When vacuuming, start by cleaning up high before targeting floors. Pet hair, dust and dander can become displaced when disturbed, falling onto surfaces below. Dyson cordless machines are built for whole-home cleaning through their versatile and manoeuvrable cord-free technology.
Alongside suction, pet hair requires ‘agitation’ for complete removal. Vacuuming slowly gives the airflow and brush bar more time to agitate and lift pet hair from surfaces. Using your Dyson vacuum often and alternating directions picks up more embedded hair.
Debra Rajwani
Email: debra.rajwani@dyson.com