Pet owners struggle to cope with 'shedding season'

SHEDDING season is well and truly upon us, with Google searches for ‘pet shedding’ soaring 67% as pet owners seek help for their home. 

A new study from Shark Clean has analysed how pet owners are coping with shedding season, finding that 2.1 million adults in the UK are leaving pet hair on their sofa and abandoning their cleaning efforts as they struggle to keep on top of the mess.

Now, a cleaning expert has revealed exactly how to keep furniture clean from pet fur. 

On TikTok, thousands of videos have been posted, with creators showing their furry friends. A common theme among them is pet shedding, with many people taking to the platform to look for advice. 

One video asks: “Anyone else’s dog shedding like crazy?” While another shows a content creator documenting her experience of living with two shedding dogs.

Users shared similar experiences, with one commenting: “I can never get all the hair off mine.”

The Shark Clean study found that one in ten people said that their cars are also covered in pet hair during shedding season.

On top of that, 23% of respondents said the first thing they notice when visiting someone’s house is if it smells like their pet, with a further 12% saying they notice if a cat’s litter tray hasn’t been cleaned regularly. 

To help deal with shedding season, Salomé Gião, in-house microbiologist at Shark, has given her top tips for keeping on top of pet hair in the home:

1-Layer up: “A throw or blanket is the easiest way to protect your sofa or bedding. They’re easy to wash as often as you need and you can easily find one that complements your decor. Look for lightweight, machine washable fabrics for easy maintenance.” 

2-Keep on top of it: “Vacuum the sofa regularly with an upholstery tool to remove embedded pet hair and dust - don’t forget to remove seat cushions and vacuum down the back of the sofa with a crevice tool.” 

3-Wash bedding weekly: “It’s recommended to wash bedsheets at least once a week to keep dust and bacteria at bay, and ultimately to keep your mattress and pillows clean. If you can, dry bedsheets outside in the sun for an extra boost of UV light, which can be effective in helping to kill micro-organisms.”

4-No muddy paws: “Pet hair and dry dirt can be annoying to remove, but mud and wet dirt can be far more difficult to clean off fabrics without causing damage and may result in staining. Keep a clean towel handy in winter and be sure to dry your pet’s paws at the door before they make it to the sofa.”

5-Freshen up: “Air fresheners and fabric sprays may temporarily cover a pet’s smell, but to truly freshen up your upholstery try sprinkling it with baking soda – simply leave for around 30 minutes before vacuuming it up. Be sure to air out furniture regularly by removing any cushions and throws and opening the windows.”