Hair Raising Issues

Hi again,

This time I want to look at hair - yes hair that either you have shed or in particular your pets hair that has moulted around your home. This is a cleaning problem and can arise in many places around the house.

Pet hair from your favourite cat or dog sticks to carpets upholstery or simply gathers under beds and furniture. Not only is it unsightly but hairs will hold onto dust and mites leaving you with a possible health issue.  Vacuuming wooden floors simply spreads the problem elsewhere, as cat hairs in particular are so fine. Don’t forget your own hair which also clogs up the shower drain.

So what to do !

Prevention is the best option but not exactly that easy to stay on top of. Groom your pet daily so removing all those loose hairs. Some have even been known to take a vacuum cleaner to your favourite pet. While dogs respond to a regular brushing cats prefer to have a favourite spot with a built in comb/brush that they rub themselves with. This collects most of the hair in one spot.  Yes we humans also shed hair daily, so comb or brush those locks before you shower, when you get up in the morning and dispose of in the bin.

Daily vacuuming is a must when your pet is shedding hairs to change its season’s coat. Do remember that on wooden floor a vacuum blows air as well as sucks up dust so vacuuming on a wooden floor should be preceded by brushing or mopping the floor or furniture leg with a damp or sticky cloth.  Pet hair is full of static electricity so clings to furniture and cloths.

A few tricks with the type of cloth or gadget to use to collect pet hair include:

• A used dryer sheet (the one used to reduce static) If you have pet hair on your clothing simply wipe it off with a used dryer sheet. Also works great on cloth furniture or floors too!
• Carpets can be brushed with a damp window cleaning squeegee. This bundles all the hair into a lump that is then easy to vacuum.
• A damp mop gathers up all those hairs from wooden floors by reducing static.
• A damp rubber glove also works. Just simply wipe the hair off the glove and use it again.
• You should brush your carpets before you use the vacuum  It is quicker as you don’t spend all the time going over and over the carpet.
• By wrapping sellotape around you hand, with sticky side out, gently run your hand along the hairy surface to collect all those hairs.
• To remove pet hair from wooden furniture, use a soft cotton cloth sprayed with furniture polish or anti-static dusting spray. The spray will eliminate the electric charge, making removal easier and lessening the likelihood that the hair will re-stick

So now it’s your turn - Hair is one of the main causes of shower drain clogs, and many people make the mistake of using strong chemical cleaners, which can potentially damage pipes, to remove hair from their shower drain.

• As you wash your hair try to collect those strands as the come loose and stick then to the tiles on the wall for separate disposal when you have finished. This will reduce the hair volume going down the plug hole. Otherwise you will have to remove those hairs with a plunger, and perhaps a paper clip or hook.
• Put on rubber gloves, get a paper clip or a bent coat hanger and simply fish out the hair from below the drain strainer. It may help to remove that strainer first with a screwdriver.
• A suitable plunger will force the remaining follicles out and down the pipes.  Rinse the pipes with baking soda to clean out the residue, allowing time for the solution to work before a final rinse. Yes you now need to go to the bottom of the pipe (possibly outside the house) to collect the matted waste and dispose of in a bin.

Pristine Home would love to help you with all or any of your home cleaning needs, outside or inside your home, and this will ensure that not only is your home kept neat and tidy on a regular basis but will leave you time to enjoy your home and garden. Please call  1890252309 or info@pristine.ie  or visit our web site and avail of our many cleaning services. Let us do the tedious jobs and leave you the time for yourself.

Remember according to Bill Cosby  “Grey hair is Gods graffiti”  

Looking forward to hearing from you       Diana