Dog Hair, Vacuums and Cold Weather Static - HELP

Updated on January 30, 2009
J.C. asks from Columbus, OH
25 answers

Hello Ladies,

I have a canister vacuum because most of my floors are hardwood and am having no problem cleaning them. I am however, having a heck of a time getting my vacuum to pick up the dog hair off my carpets. And I'll tell you, I think it has something to do with the cold weather and how dry our house is. We have a lot of static.
I boil a pot of water almost every day and we keep a cast iron pot of water on our wood burning stove and that helps out a lot.
But this ding-dangit vacuum is taking the cold weather hard. The dog hair just seems to push around and not suck up. It's infuriating.
We change the bag religiously and keep pulling the dog hair off the brushes, so it's not a matter of not keeping up with the maintennance.
I've even tried crop dusting our main carpet with static guard before a vacuum. And although this tends to work a bit, I hate the idea of the kids playing on the rug after.
So what I'm hoping for is a 'This worked for me' idea so I can stop fantasizing about chucking the vacuum out the window.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions,
J.

3 moms found this helpful

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So What Happened?

Okay, this may just be the biggest bit of stupidity you've all ever heard. I tried the pet sprinkle stuff, I tried changing the belt. Nothing worked. Then I took the brush part off and looked inside and found a huge glob of dog hair and lint out of the opening. And guess what, the vacuum works fine now.

Duh. Supreme Duh. Major Duh.

Thanks for all the ideas ladies!

Featured Answers

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C.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

I have two dogs that shed a LOT. I finally bought a rubber broom. I had to buy it online, but I love it. It's a little extra work, but I consider it excercise. I don't like using chemicals in the house so the rubber broom works best for me.

C.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Cincinnati on

I saw a lot of people advising getting a new vacuum, I have a Dyson that works awesome for the hair from my yellow lab. However, I also use Arm & Hammers Pet Fresh carpet deodorizer. It helps to loosen up the hair and the vacuum just sucks it all up. It smells nice and is safe for kids. Good Luck!

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K.Y.

answers from Canton on

new vacuum on market works wonderfully for this.it is called shark it has been on tv and i know that it is available at department stores like walmart bed bath and beyond look for it.also for pet odors try this it has worked for me and i have 16 dogs in my home.mix some borax mule team detergent with lemon juice (REAL) put it into mop water.trust me no one will know you had a dog in there this is also good and safe for pets as it is natural.you can use it in place of spray cleaners as well just make up a warm or cold bucket of water and clean your surfaces with it

2 moms found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Kokomo on

I bought the Bissell Pet Hair Vacuum for about 129 and it is great! Some of the reviews said people were taking thier Dysons back! It has no bags and great attachments for furniture too. I have an AMerican Eskimo and they shed big white clumps of fur. I have to sweep every day and it picks it all up, every time! I love it!

1 mom found this helpful

M.F.

answers from Lansing on

you should try using DryGreen Carpet Cleaning every 3 or 4 months. Over 85% of all pet hairs and sediments in your carpet will be removed each appointment; not to mention its half the price of those guys with the truck water hoses

1 mom found this helpful
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C.L.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi. I also have two dogs that shed alot. On your carpets, get the rubber broom (looks like a rake) and use it before you vaccuum. On your hardwood, use a Swifer. This is relatively an inexpensive way to pick up the dog hair and no chemicals are available for roaming fingers or mouths. Otherwise, I would invest in a better vaccuum cleaner. My vaccuum picks up the dog hair. Good Luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Cleveland on

hello, we own a Golden retriever/yellow lab mix and the hair is unbelievable! we have hardwood floors and carpet combo as well. I have found it in every corner of the house, and for the wedding my SIL bought us a little blue vaccuuum called the "Shark" vaccuum and it works like a dream! I personally think it can't be beat! I am not sure whether Shark is the brand name or model name but if you ebay or google shark vaccuum i am sure you will find it. The only thing is you have to learn to hear the sound it makes when the bag is full, and it's not a big vaccuum so it gets full about every 3 uses with our dog's load of hair, but it picks it all up every time. It would probably help if I vaccuuumed a little more often too. ;) Good luck! --A

1 mom found this helpful
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P.C.

answers from Houston on

A Shop Vac does a great job and is only about $40. It has a huge tank and wheels and all you need to do is add a long extention cord to it.

The problem with most vacuums is that the rotating brush gets pet hair wound around it or globs of hair gets stuck in the vacuum tubing.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.T.

answers from Dayton on

Well J. just as you asked here it goes. This works for me, I use downy just put straight downy into a multipurpose spray bottle and mist it onto any material wait a few minutes and then vacuum. It not only breaks the static cling but it also leaves your house smelling wonderful. Lots of luck to you, and God bless.

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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi J.,
Lots of great advice here - I picked up a few tips too. My yellow labs happily shed like crazy, and the static in my hardwoods and rugs makes me crazy, not to mention when it gets on my sofa upholstery.
I clipped a coupon for a new thing the other day that I may try - it's called the Scotch Fur Fighter (by the people who make ScotchGuard). It's a kit that helps you pull all the pet hair off fabrics, even the ones stuck in.
Supposed to find it in the cleaning or pet aisles. I think they trotted it out just in time for the holiday visiting season.

Good luck!
S.

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E.W.

answers from Dayton on

Hi,

I have four cats, a small dog, a toddler, and a husband. I also have white carpet that shows everything! (Did I mention my husband is a fanatic about clean carpets?) Everything I tried to get the hair up did not work. I even used a stiff broom and got down on my hands and knees to manually pick up the hair. My vacuum was a top of the line Hoover.
My business partner and bff brought over her Dyson Animal and let me use it and I was hooked. I gave away my vacuum and bought one for myself. I haven't had an issue with fur since. My carpets even feel cleaner. They are pricey, but they are worth every penny. I've had mine for over a year now and it still works like brand new. If you can, borrow one from someone and you'll see it for yourself.

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P.A.

answers from Youngstown on

Can't help at all with the vacuum problem, but I'd suggest that instead of brushing your dog, get a shedding blade. My Jack Russells shed alot, and I use it regularly on them outside. It really cuts down on the hair in the house.

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C.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

A Rainbow sweeper works the best! You can set it in the middle of your room and let it pull the dust out of the air. Plus it is water based so no dust mites living in your sweeper bags. You just dump out those nasty little creatures and all of the hair is in the trash each time. Other than that, I use my Swiffer, a much cheaper investment.

Have fun!
C. H.
www.behealthy.fourpointmoms.com
Need help cleaning your house?? I can do it for you. Ask me! :-)

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A.M.

answers from Cincinnati on

I know it seems expensive...but investing in a Dyson vacum has been the best investment ever! WE LOVE it...you really only have to go over furniture and carpets once...and we have a dog with dark black hair that sheds a lot...i'm sure they may have some good after Christmas sales this year!

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L.N.

answers from Indianapolis on

J.,
I was having trouble with my vacuum not doing a very good job of picking things up, it would just push the dog hair around also. It turns out that the motor belt was worn out. It wasn't broken but it was streched and that caused it to run inefficiently. You really couldn't tell because it appeared to run just fine. I took it to a repair place, the guy looked at it and replaced the belt, charged me $5!

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K.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Not stupid...haha...I do that all the time - my vacuum sucks up so well that it gets clogged very easily...all over - especially when we got new carpet - all the carpet fibers got stuck in there...I have a Himalayan and the hair is not hard to suck up - but it means I have to clean the tube and filters a lot more often...
Glad you figured it out!

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D.T.

answers from Muncie on

A little squirt bottle of water? Would slightly damp dog hair pick up easier? Couldn't hurt right?

Good luck!

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A.H.

answers from Portland on

Don't worry about it. Mine wasn't working and right before I bought a new a one my dad came over and took it all of the way apart - like removing screws and all - and found a HIGHLIGHTER way deep inside the tube. Apparently when I was using the wand to clean out between the couch cushions I unwittingly sucked one up and had no idea. I thought the motor just wasn't working as well as it should. I had already cleaned it, changed the filter, all of that, too.
I felt so stupid!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Columbus on

Buy a Furminator (an amazing pet hair remover - not really a brush, per say) and if you can afford it, a Dyson. I ADORE my Dyson and will never buy another type of vacuum in my life. They are a bit pricey, but look at it as an investment. That thing will pick up anything! I even had a Kirby salesman demonstrate his top-of-the-line Kirby at my house. After he left, I used my Dyson where he'd been working and it got stuff up that the Kirby left behind!

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L.T.

answers from Dayton on

I think I have genuine feelings for my Dyson! It is great with dog and cat hair, It is the best vaccuum ever and well worth the price. We are having static problems also. I had track pants on earlier and had to change, they kept clinging to the backs of my legs! We have done and still do the whole water boiling thing but nothing seems to work really well. One of these days we will install a whole house humidifier.How well would keeping the heat at a lower temp work? I may try that. I hope someone has a great idea for the static, it is irritating! But one more word: Dyson

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L.L.

answers from Portland on

Jen you must have a super shedder.
I had a Siberian-wolf-Malamute, and a GSD service dog....I solved the problem backwards...I vacuumed the dogs about every day.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Washington DC on

I have had the same problem. One thing that has helped was having a spray bottle filled with water. I spray the air quite frequently, because boiling water costs money! I also spray the carpet just before I vacuum because I have a dog that sheds too. And this helps a lot. Someone told me about a furnace on the market that has a humidifier attached. I cannot afford it but maybe you can. I don't know about you, but we just won't part with our "sydney" so we must find a way!

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A.B.

answers from Seattle on

whoo hoo! I'm so glad you figured out the problem, without having to buy an expensive new vacuum, like others were suggesting.

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L.C.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi J.,

We have a 4 week old and 3 adult labs. Our house is a combination of hardwood and carpet. I have found that it is easiest to have 2 vacuum cleaners. We usually go through one each year. We purchased the Bissel Pet Hair Eraser bag-less vacuum cleaner. It works really really well on our carpet. It is reasonably priced (about 150). On our hardwood floor I use a dirt devil bag-less vacuum, but I find that it pushes around the dog hair as well. I am considering get an electric broom by dirt devil. I have also had luck with a broom with foam on it (not sure the name or maker).

As for the static electricity, did you try to pull bowls of water in front of each register? That has worked for us in the past.

Good luck and hope you find something that works!

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