For dog and cat owners, there’s no doubt that these furry creatures are much-loved members of the family and that we share the same spaces in the home as they do.
But while you can love your four-legged friend in more ways than words can express, the issue of fur and hair that they leave behind in their wake is generally not something to be pleased about.
And if you have one or two pets, you could probably handle cleanup duty alone, but if you’re given the opportunity to care for multiple cats and dogs? Get ready to roll up your sleeves and put in some elbow grease!
The truth is, dogs and cats shed a lot of their fur, and all of this fur eventually makes its way to your clothes, your furniture, and in this case – the baseboards of your home.
Here’s how you can keep the baseboards in your home clean with dogs:
Using a mixture of 4 cups of warm water and 80ml of liquid fabric softener will remove most types of impurities from your baseboards. Because of the fabric softener’s anti-static properties, your baseboard will be protected against new dirt and pet hair.
The mixture amount listed above can clean up to 2000 linear feet of baseboard before needing to make more cleaning solution.
Please continue reading to find other effective methods for cleaning baseboards.
Vacuuming Alone Is Not Effective
Vacuum cleaners are fantastic inventions, but when it comes to pet hair on baseboards, standard vacuum cleaners aren’t able to clean baseboards as well as they clean regular floors.
If the suction of your vacuum is not adequate or dirt is cake on, the vacuum may not clean your baseboards well enough.
One method you can do to remove such pet hair is to use rubber material, like a rubber glove, to produce static that lifts off and clumps up all the pet hair stuck on the baseboard. Then, use the vacuum cleaner to suck up the bigger clumps of pet hair effectively.
Recommended Read:
Baseboards are a magnet for dust and, hair and fur. Until the day robot vacuums become advanced enough to clean the whole baseboard, here are 2 great resources on how to protect your baseboards
Use a Wet Rag or Sponge
Wet rags are effective at removing pet hair from baseboards, and the same goes for wet sponges as well.
Using either method, clump the pet hair from one end of the baseboard to the other. This makes it much easier to remove the fur from your baseboards and vacuum the area up for a full clean.
The Dryer Sheet Hack
Another helpful method is to use your dryer sheets to clean up your baseboards filled with pet hair.
Dryer sheets have very effective anti-static properties, which is exactly what you need to ensure that all pet hair is effectively removed from your baseboards.
Simply take a dryer sheet and run the sheet across the entirety of the baseboard you want to clean.
The fur will stick out and repel off the baseboard because of the anti-static reaction and make it much easier for you to keep the entire baseboard free of pet hair.
You can also save used dryer sheets and apply them for this purpose, prolonging their use!
Make Your Own Pet Fur Removal Spray
When you’ve run out of cleaning products in your home, making your own cleaning/pet fur removal spray with things you already have on your laundry shelf is easy.
Mix some water and some fabric softener to create a pet fur removal spray that effectively lifts pet hair off the surfaces they are stuck on so that it can be easily wiped off.
This solution works on upholstered furniture and floors as well.
Using this spray on your baseboards also helps fight pet odors and keeps your home smelling fresh.
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Clean up Loose Fur Before It Gets in the House
They say prevention is better than cure, and it couldn’t be more true when it comes to pet hair.
If you let your dog outside, chances are they’re rolling and running around, shedding a lot of fur in the process. And if left alone, this fur eventually drops off as they walk around the home, getting stuck on carpets, furniture, and baseboards.
Keep brushes, towels, and pet cleaning equipment right by the door so that you can clean up your furry companion right as they come in.
Wipe their paws down to remove any dirt from the outside, and brush their fur thoroughly to remove any loosened fur way before it has the chance to make itself at home on your furniture and baseboards.
How Often Should I Clean My Baseboards?
This depends on the number of pets you have in your home and also the rate at which they shed their fur. The frequency of cleaning varies from person to person, but generally, you’ll want to clean your baseboards at least once every month.
Regular cleaning up of pet hair around your home results in better air quality for you and your family.
If you know that your dog usually sheds a lot of hair, try to brush them every few days so that all that loose fur doesn’t get a chance to fall off and get stuck to your furniture or your baseboards.
The Best Type of Vacuums for Cleaning Baseboards
One of the best vacuums for cleaning baseboards is the Dyson Big Ball Animal 2. This is my top pick based on my research. If you want to know why this is my top pick, here is a full article I wrote about it.
If you’re looking for more of a hands-off, kick up your feet and watch Netflix solution, check out our top 3 picks for robot vacuums right below.
Instead of going into major detail here, I highly recommend you read our Best Robot Vacuum For Dog Hair buyers guide.
Baseboard Materials and How Best to Clean Them
Baseboards come in various materials, but the two main ones are Wood and MDF. In this case, here are the most effective ways to clean both types of baseboard materials after you’ve removed the pet hair from your baseboards using the methods listed above.
- For Wood, you’ll want to use some water dish soap and finish off with some mineral oil to varnish the wood once you’re done cleaning it.
The varnish will keep your baseboards looking brand new and condition the wood as well.
- You’ll want to use a mix of water and some white vinegar for MDF. This effective cleaning solution blasts through any stains, fur, dirt, or debris on your baseboards to reveal a clean-looking baseboard.
Other Recommendations
Although robot vacuums and mops are not the best at cleaning baseboards, they are highly effective at keeping pet hair in check.
The more pet hair you can remove from your home, the less that will stick to your baseboards.
Check out this recent article I wrote about robot vacuums here. And robot mop article can be found here. Both are a 5 – 8 minute read, but well worth the read.
Conclusion
Baseboards are an essential part of the home to keep clean as they are in highly visible areas, and the collection of pet hair can result in a lower air quality that you and your family breathe in at home.
The methods listed above will effectively remove pet hair where it doesn’t need to be and help keep your baseboard clean from dogs.
This will allow you to enjoy your pet’s presence more than cleaning up after them!
Photo altered by simplelifesaver.com | Photo attribution: Samia Liamani
