How to Deal with Pet Hair in a Small Apartment

That Cleaning Girl · Apartment Cleaning

Pets make an apartment feel like home. They also make it furry. In a small space, pet hair gathers fast: on the couch, under the bed, in the corners and on every black shirt you own. We just covered Apartment Move-In Cleaning: What to Clean Before You Unpack, and pet hair is one of the first things people notice in a new place. Here is how to keep it under control without vacuuming three times a day.

Start at the source: grooming

The less hair your pet drops, the less you have to clean up. Regular brushing catches loose hair before it hits the floor.

• Brush dogs and cats a few times a week, more during shedding season.
• Brush outside or on the balcony when you can, so the hair blows away instead of settling inside.
• Use a deshedding tool for double-coated breeds.
• Keep up with baths and grooming appointments.

In North Texas, many pets shed heavily in spring as the weather warms up and again in fall. Plan for extra brushing and vacuuming in those weeks. A healthy diet and plenty of water help coat health too, and your vet can tell you if your pet is shedding more than normal for their breed.

The right tools make the job faster

You do not need a closet full of gadgets, but a few tools make pet hair much easier.

• A vacuum with a pet tool or motorized brush. Bagless cordless vacuums are great for quick daily passes in a small apartment.
• A rubber broom or squeegee. Dragging it across carpet pulls up hair a vacuum leaves behind.
• Rubber gloves. Slightly damp, they pull hair off upholstery in seconds. Just run your hand across the couch.
• Lint rollers. Keep one by the door and one in the car.
• Microfiber cloths. They grab hair from hard surfaces instead of pushing it around.

Protect the furniture

In a small apartment, the couch and bed are where your pet spends most of their time. Washable throws and covers save a lot of work. Put a blanket on your pet's favorite spot on the couch and wash it weekly. Keep a cover on the bed if your pet sleeps there. It is a lot easier to throw a blanket in the washer than to lint-roll a whole couch.

Floors and corners

Pet hair collects in corners, along baseboards and under furniture where air currents push it. Vacuum the edges of each room, not just the middle. Use the crevice tool along baseboards and under the bed edge. For hard floors, a dry microfiber mop picks up hair well before you damp mop.

Rugs hold a lot of hair. A small washable rug in your pet's favorite spot is easier to keep clean than a large one that has to be vacuumed in place.

Do not forget the stairs if your apartment is a townhome style unit, and the closet floors. Hair drifts into closets every time the door opens and settles on the carpet in the back, out of sight. A quick pass with the vacuum in each closet every couple of weeks keeps it from building into mats. Under the couch is another hidden spot. Lift the skirt or use a slim attachment and you will probably find enough hair to make a second cat.

The air and the vents

Pet hair and dander float around and end up on air vents, fan blades and in the HVAC filter. Dust the fan blades and vacuum the return vent cover every couple of weeks. If you are responsible for the air filter in your lease, change it on schedule, or more often with pets. A fresh filter traps more hair and dander and keeps your air feeling cleaner.

A daily and weekly routine

• Daily: a quick vacuum of the main living area and a lint roll of the couch.
• Every few days: shake out or wash the pet blanket, wipe hard surfaces.
• Weekly: full vacuum of every room, wash pet bedding, vacuum furniture.
• Monthly: vacuum under the bed and couch, dust vents and fan blades, wash curtains if they hold hair.

In a small apartment, a short daily pass beats a long weekly battle every time.

Watch for pet policies

Some apartment communities have specific rules about pets, pet areas and cleaning when you move out. Read your lease, especially the pet addendum, so you know what is expected at move-out. Pet hair in the vents, closets and carpet is something to plan time for.

Many communities also have rules about pet waste stations, leashes in common areas and pets on balconies. Following those keeps your building happy and your apartment cleaner, since less mess gets tracked inside.

We clean lots of homes with dogs and cats in Waxahachie, Midlothian and the south DFW area. See more on our apartment cleaning services page. Next, we tackle the other pet problem: smells.