Many of us love having a pet in our home. Most dogs, however, will shed and leave behind traces of hair. Pet hair can show up on everything from bedding to kitchen appliances. Here is how to keep your home as clean as possible when there is a dog in the house.

How to Prevent Dog Hair From Taking Over

The first step is crucial, limit the amount of dog hair that gets into your home in the first place. There are a few practical steps to keep your pet as healthy and obedient as possible. This will hopefully produce less shedding and keep the shedding constrained to only in certain areas.

Keep Your Pet Brushed and Bathed

Keeping your dog regularly bathed and groomed will go a long way to prevent excessive shedding. Short-haired dogs should be brushed once or twice a week. Dogs with long hair may require grooming more frequently. This will keep loose hair in the brush and not all over your home. Bathe your dog every few months with a gentle oatmeal shampoo to keep fur as healthy as possible. Doctors Foster and Smith recommend feeding a dog a diet that includes plenty of digestible proteins. The health of an animal's coat is related to their diet as well as the owner's grooming practices.

Train Your Pet

There are certain areas that should be off-limits to pets. DogTime.com explains that to keep dogs out of certain areas, such as beds and sofas, it's best to never let them there in the first place. It's recommended to provide comfy spots on the floor for your dog. You can use large throw pillows to give your dog his or her own spot. If a dog needs to be removed from the furniture, put a leash on your dog first. Then gently pull so the dog will jump off. Removing a dog with your hands may be seen as a form of petting or even praise.

Treat Any Medical Issues

There are specific medical conditions that may cause a dog to shed more frequently. PetCareRx states that extreme shedding can sometimes include the loss of entire chunks of fur. Cushing's disease may cause excessive shedding. Allergies and hormonal imbalances can also cause issues with your pet's coat. Other problems that may lead to abnormal shedding include fungal infections and immune disorders. A certain amount of shedding should be expected in dogs. However, if your dog is suffering from excessive shedding, it may be time for a visit to your veterinarian.

Removing Dog Hair Throughout the House

Often, preventative measures will only go so far. Your home may already have dog hair everywhere. There are practical steps you can take to remove it quickly and easily.

Keep Bedding Fresh and Clean

Many of us love having our pets snuggle up with us in bed. It's a good idea to put a towel or folded blanket over your regular bedding in your dog's favorite spot. If your pet does get on the pillows, blankets, and bedding, use a dryer sheet to remove any dog hair. Rub the dryer sheets over the bedding a few times and the hair will normally come right off. Scented dryer sheets will also help remove any pet odor, and leave the bedroom smelling clean and fresh. Make sure to wash and dry sheets and comforters separately to keep any hair of other items.

Clean the Living Room

Dog hair on your favorite sofa or chair is a common problem for most pet owners. According to Apartment Therapy, an easy way to remove pet hair from a fabric sofa starts with a damp rubber glove. Rub the glove over sofas and chairs until the glove is full of hair. Rinse and repeat as necessary. There may not always be time to clean all the furniture. For this reason, it's a good idea to invest in throws or furniture covers to keep items protected.

Get the Kitchen as Healthy as Possible

Your kitchen is one area that needs to be as clean and free of dog hair as possible. Keep a stack of toothpicks in a small container on the counter when you're working in the kitchen. Before preparing any food, wipe down the counters and cooking area with a damp cloth. Then use the toothpicks to remove any stray hairs and keep your hands clean as you prepare your meals.

Keep Your Floors Sparkling

Clean My Space suggests cleaning hardwood floors with a dust mop instead of a vacuum. The exhaust on a vacuum may cause pet hair as well as other particles on a hard floor to fly back onto surfaces. It's also important to make sure it's an electrostatic dust mop. On tile floors, a damp mop seems to work best for removing pet hair. Make sure the mop is only damp and not soaking wet since this can create more of a mess with the hair.

Creative Carpet Cleaning

Carpet is usually the most difficult type of flooring to keep clean when a dog is in the house. Some pet owners have actually installed carpeting that matches the color of their dogs. If you don't want to take such drastic measures there are other options. Start by vacuuming the carpet. Then spray the carpet with a small amount of water. Take a damp sponge mop and gently mop over the carpet. The dog hair should clump up so that it can now be picked up or vacuumed.

When your beloved dog is in the home removing every single dog hair is probably not possible. Following these tips, however, can go a long way to eliminating as much of the hair as possible.

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