As any pet parent knows, maintaining a clean, fur-free home can seem like a futile battle. Hairballs continue to waft and collect in every crevice despite your best efforts, making your home feel more dustbowl than dwelling. But when you have a stellar vacuum cleaner at the ready, as well as some key techniques up your sleeve, you can reclaim your space. Here’s what to look for in a model and how to use it like a pro.
Choose the Right Device
When it comes to pet hair, no ordinary vac will do — particularly if you have a shedder who gifts you enough fur to knit a winter wardrobe with. An effective choice is one that lets you configure the device to a specific task or area, such as the Miele Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog, which has a flexible three-in-one design. It’s got other innovative features that make it a pet owner’s dream, too: A built-in HEPA lifetime filter cleans the air, minimizing exposure to dust and allergens in the home; automatic floor detection adapts speed and power as you move from room to room; an LED headlight helps ensure you don’t miss a hair, and every charge gives you up to 60 minutes* of cleaning time. For more reasons why Good Housekeeping experts are impressed with the Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog, watch the video above.
*Dependent on cleaning mode.
Choose the Proper Mode
Conquering a fur trail is as much about knowing how to use a powerful device as it is about selecting it in the first place; the settings you use can make a big difference. For example, Miele Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog’s Reach Mode makes it a cinch to suction under-bed and -couch fur. Its Compact Mode, in combination with the included Handheld Turbo Brush, is perfect for quickie furniture or car refreshes. And the ergonomic Comfort Mode evenly distributes the weight of the vacuum so you can effortlessly clean large spaces.
And regardless of what device you have, Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab at Good Housekeeping, recommends “choosing the highest (max) suction level your vacuum offers to more easily pull pet hair from fabrics.”
Use the Correct Attachments
Vacuuming up fur in hard-to-reach or -maneuver areas isn’t so difficult when you’re utilizing the proper tools for each task. The Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog “comes with a mini rotating brush attachment for nabbing pet hair on stairs and in upholstery creases, and a crevice tool for getting the clumps that lurk in corners and along walls,” Forté notes.
Treat Fabrics First
Your vacuum may have enough horsepower to easily suction up pet hair off the floor, but if you’re trying to remove it from a fabric that’s prone to static (like synthetics or wool), you may be met with some resistance. Forté suggests spraying pet hair-covered fabrics with a static-eliminating spray before vacuuming. “It helps break the charge that bonds the pet hair to the fabric, making it easier to suck up,” she explains.
Know Your Grooming Basics
The more you brush your pet, the less they may shed. A good scrub in the bath can also help remove dead hair before it can get to your floor or furniture — just check with your vet on how often to do it, to avoid over-bathing (which can dry out their skin and coat). Overall, in fact, “the more fur you actively remove from your pet, the less you’ll have to remove from your furniture,” Forté says.
