How to Clean Pet Hair From a Wood Floor

Pet hair isn't difficult to remove from wood floors.

Like many pet owners, you love your pet, but you probably hate the pet hair. Pet hair finds its way into upholstery, carpets and even wood floors. Brooms and vacuums tend to push hair into the air instead of removing it. Eventually, the hair resettles on your floor. Instead, try an electrostatic mop which creates an electrostatic charge that attracts dust, dirt and pet hair.

Things You'll Need

• Electrostatic mop
• Hardwood floor cleaner

Instructions

1. Dry mop your floor at least weekly with an electrostatic mop. Start in the corner farthest away from the room entrance and brush the mop across the surface of your floor, covering the entire area. Throw away the disposable pad if your mop has one. Otherwise, remove the washable pad and wash it.

2. Wet mop your floor when it appears dirty or stained. Wet the mop in your sink and wring it out thoroughly, as excessive wetness can warp or damage wood floors.

3. Spray or apply hardwood floor cleaner. If your mop came with a disposable cleaning pad, use that. Start in a far corner and mop the entire surface of the floor. Throw away the disposable pad or wash the reusable pad.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have an electrostatic mop, you can also use a broom or a vacuum to remove pet hair. If using a vacuum, turn off the beater brush mode so you don't damage the floor or use an attachment made for cleaning wood floors.

• Brush and groom your pet regularly to cut down on shedding.

• Trim your dog's nails regularly to avoid scratches on your hardwood floor.

• Vacuum carpets and upholstery weekly to remove pet hair. As pet hair builds up, it becomes harder to remove.

References

• "Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook"; Martha Stewart; 2006

Resources

• Pet Place: Ways to Clean Up Your Dog's Waste
• The Fun Times Guide: Dealing With Dog Fur