The upside of living with a four-legged family member: fun, cuteness and unconditional love. The downside: fur. Shedding and other evidence of your pet (accidents – everyone’s had ‘em) can show up daily on your floors. Happily, floor care manufacturers have responded with a savvy array of choices to deal with the not-so-nice stuff a pet leaves behind.
The Tool: Upright Bagless Vac
Those preferring a bagless-style vacuum will want to check out Dyson’s DC25AN, or DC43AN vacuums, as well as Hoover’s Pet Windtunnel vacuum.
Both of Dyson’s models are equipped with powerful Root Cyclone Technology, fur-seeking attachments, and a HEPA filtration system that helps reduce odours and allergens in the air (a plus in any household). And when you’re ready to empty the bin, it’s easy and hygienic with the simple push of a button.
The Hoover Pet Windtunnel Bagless Cyclonic Upright combines Windtunnel and Cyclonic technologies so it never loses suction. It’s also equipped with a rotating pet power upholstery brush that pulls those hard-to-get pet hairs off your furniture.
The Tool: Canister Vac
If prior attempts to make pet hair disappear with a canister vac have been unsuccessful, maybe it’s time to unleash the Animal. What’s different about this Dyson design? For starters, efficient Cyclone technology captures even microscopic dust so pet hair doesn’t stand a chance. Attachments maximize results on upholstery, carpets or hardwood floors, and the canister is bagless which means it’s a snap to empty. It stores compactly and is Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly, too.
Tool: Cordless Hand Vac
Your mother-in-law is on her way over, and Fluffy has been lolling on the ottoman all day. Sure, you could dig out the vacuum cleaner, plug it in, find the right attachment and so on and so on… Or you could grab Dyson’s cordless handheld Animal – the DC31AN or the DC34AN - from its recharging stand, suck up all evidence of your pet’s superior lounging ability, and go back to whatever it was you were doing before. A motorized brush and pivoting head add versatility to an already handy bag-free design. It’s perfect when you need fast fur clean-ups, or you’ve got multiple small destinations (like the car) that you need to clean.
The Tool: Robotic Vacuum
While your cat may think the iRobot Roomba is a toy for her, it is you who will be most entertained by its tricks. Just place this hands-free machine on the floor (read the directions first, of course), and let it work while you enjoy life’s less-harried pursuits.
Engineered to inhale fur, kitty litter, dust, dirt and more, Roomba’s cleaning heads adjust automatically for carpets or bare floors. On board scheduling even allows you to preset up to seven cleaning times per week – so your Roomba will automatically vacuum wherever and whenever you want – even if you’re not there.