
Must-know hacks for Seasonal Cleaning for Pet Owners
You love your pet, but let’s be real—keeping your home clean with a pet who brings hair everywhere is a never-ending battle, especially when it is shedding season.
There’s a higher risk of fleas and ticks entering the home, and on top of all this, when guests arrive for the holidays.
Your house needs to look spotless.
Sound overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be.
With the right low-effort, high-impact cleaning strategies, you can stay ahead of pet messes without spending hours vacuuming, mopping, and scrubbing.
In this guide, I’ll break down the fastest, most effective ways to:
- Prepare your home for shedding season
- Deep cleaning before flea & tick season
- Winter cleaning tips for wet and muddy pets
- Holiday cleaning tips for pet-friendly homes
- Manage pet shedding in summer
and frequently asked questions about pet hair vacuums in the end.
1. How to Prepare Your Home for Shedding Season
Shedding season can turn your home into a fur-covered mess, clogging vacuums, covering furniture, and sticking to every piece of clothing you own. But here’s the good news: with the right prep and simple, time-saving routine, you can save yourself from the problem of loose fur buildup before it takes over your home.
- Brush pets daily with an effective de-shedding tool like a Furminator or rubber brush to remove loose hair before it lands on surfaces. Do it outside, preferably in a tiled area or in a designated shedding zone, to prevent the hassle of cleaning the carpet later.
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Cover high-shedding areas like your sofa, pet beds or wherever your pet hangs out the most with washable blankets that you can just shake out daily, and then toss in the wash weekly.
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Vacuum Smarter with vacuums built to deal with pet hair like SEBO G4, G5 and SEBO Automatic X4 and use a pet hair attachment to lift fur from carpets and upholstery before vacuuming to prevent clogging.
- Use a damp microfiber or dry swifter mop every few days to trap fine hairs and maintain your floor.
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PRO TIP - Toss pet bedding and blankets in the dryer for 10 minutes before washing—this loosens hair, making it easier to remove.
2. Deep Cleaning Tips Before Flea & Tick Season
Did you know that a single flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day? That’s why waiting until you see fleas is already too late. The best way to stop an infestation is to deep clean before flea and tick season even starts sanitize your home, and keep your pets itch-free—all while using minimal products and maximum efficiency.
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Wash Fabrics, all pet bedding, soft toys, and washable rugs in hot water weekly and dry them using a high-heat dryer cycle to kill eggs.
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Vacuum floors, baseboards, and furniture thoroughly, then immediately discard the vacuum bag or empty the canister outside.
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Lightly sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth on carpets and pet areas, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum—kills fleas naturally.
- A 1:1 vinegar-water solution repels fleas while disinfecting, so mop pet zones with this solution twice weekly.
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Before you let your pets out, make sure that the grass is trimmed and apply cedar oil spray to pet-friendly outdoor areas to deter fleas and ticks.
3. Winter Cleaning Tips for Wet and Muddy Pets
Muddy paw prints on the floor and a wet dog smell on the couch.
Sound familiar?
Winter weather turns your home into a dirt, moisture, and pet mess. So how do we keep floors and furniture clean without constant mopping?
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Have a paw station at the door, by placing a super absorbent doormat and keep microfiber towels or pet wipes by the entrance.
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If paws are extra muddy, dip them in a shallow bowl of water, dry them with a towel, and then finish with a quick rub using a damp microfiber cloth.
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Use waterproof furniture covers or fleece throws on sofas for easy washing.
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Instead of a full mop session, use a damp microfiber mop with a vinegar-water mix (1:1) for fast floor cleanup.
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Sprinkle baking soda on pet bedding and carpets, let sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum to absorb wet-dog smells and maximum odor control.
4. Holiday Cleaning Tips for Pet-Friendly Homes
Guests are coming over, but your pet doesn’t care.
Fur on the couch, water bowl spills, and the occasional 'oops' accident, here are my best cleaning tips to keep your home guest-ready—fast, easy, and without the last-minute panic
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Groom pets before guests arrive and vacuum high-traffic areas right before they show up.
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Use baby gates or close off certain rooms to limit pet messes and create a pet-free zone for guests.
- Place a waterproof mat under food and water bowls and set up a designated pet area with a washable blanket.
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Use a rubber glove or damp sponge to quickly remove pet hair from furniture before guests arrive.
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Simmer cinnamon sticks & orange peels or set out activated charcoal bags for a fresh-smelling home.
5. How to Manage Pet Shedding in Summer
When temperatures rise, your pet sheds even more to stay cool. The problem? It ends up on your floors, furniture, and clothes.
But managing summer shedding doesn’t have to be a full-time job.
This is all you need to do.
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Use a de-shedding brush outside or in the bathtub to minimize indoor mess.
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Give pets a quick rinse (no soap) 2–3 times a week to loosen and wash away excess fur.
- Keep lint rollers in key areas—near the couch, in the car, and by the door for quick fur removal.
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Stick to a twice-a-week vacuum schedule using a HEPA-filter vacuum to catch fine hairs and dander.
- Run a humidifier to prevent dry skin, which reduces excessive shedding.
By implementing small, daily habits (like quick grooming, strategic vacuuming, and smart fabric protection), you’ll spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying life with your pet.
I hope this was helpful and simple to follow.
FAQS
Which vacuum is best for pet hair?
Dyson V15 Detect: A powerful cordless vacuum with a laser cleaner head to reveal hidden dust and pet hair. Its tangle-free brush roll and HEPA filtration ensure minimal maintenance and effective allergen capture.
Shark Stratos Cordless: Features a dual-brush roll system for large debris and fine hair, plus anti-tangle technology. A flexible wand design makes it easy to clean under furniture.
SEBO Automatic X7 Pet Boost: Self-adjusts to different floor types, with a ‘Boost’ mode for deep carpet cleaning. Includes a mini turbo tool for upholstery and a charcoal filter to neutralize pet odours.
SEBO Felix 1 Premium Pet: Offers strong suction, motorized attachments, and hospital-grade S-Class filtration that captures 99.9% of allergens, ideal for pet owners. Swivel neck for easy manoeuvrability, activated charcoal filtration for odour control, and a turbo brush for removing pet hair from furniture and stairs.
SEBO Dart: A budget-friendly option with strong suction, S-Class filtration, and a flat-to-the-floor design for cleaning under furniture. Can also be converted into a floor polisher.
Are pet vacuums worth it?
A pet-specific vacuum is a smart investment for pet owners, offering stronger suction for stubborn pet hair, specialized attachments like motorized brushes, and HEPA filtration to trap allergens. Anti-tangle brush rolls prevent clogging, while durable construction ensures longevity. Though they may cost more, these vacuums provide superior cleaning and healthier air, making them worth it for pet-friendly homes.
Can a vacuum cleaner remove pet hair?
Yes, vacuum cleaners can effectively remove pet hair from various surfaces, especially when equipped with features designed specifically for this purpose. Features like Enhanced Suction Power, Specialized Brush Rolls, HEPA Filtration Systems and attachments like long hose make any vacuum ideal for cleaning pet hair.
What is the difference between a pet hair vacuum and a regular vacuum?
Pet hair vacuums offer stronger suction, anti-tangle brush rolls, and HEPA filtration to effectively remove pet hair and allergens, making them ideal for pet owners. They also come with specialized attachments like motorised pet brushes and upholstery tools, ensuring thorough cleaning. Built for durability, they often include odour-neutralising filters to keep your home fresh. In contrast, regular vacuums have standard suction, general-purpose attachments, and basic filtration, which may struggle with embedded pet hair and allergens. While pet hair vacuums are pricier, they provide superior performance, easier maintenance, and better air quality for homes with pets.
What type of vacuum is best for hair?
When choosing a vacuum specifically designed to handle hair—whether from pets or humans—it's crucial to opt for a model with features that prevent tangling and maximise hair pickup efficiency. Anti-tangle brush rolls help prevent hair from wrapping around the brush, reducing maintenance and ensuring uninterrupted performance. Strong suction power is essential for effectively lifting hair from carpets, hard floors, and upholstery. Specialised attachments, such as motorised pet brushes or hair screw tools, enhance the vacuum's ability to remove hair from furniture, stairs, and other tricky areas.
Some ideal vacuums are -
- Dyson V15 Detect
- Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum
- Sebo Felix Premium
Click here to explore our collection of SEBO Vacuums for all kinds of needs and all kinds of properties, or just contact us and we'll help you find the one for your need.