Fur Frenzy
By Don Aslett

Excerpted from Don Aslett's book, No Time to Clean: How to Reduce & Prevent Cleaning the Professional Way.

Sometimes it's the shortest members of the family -- the ones who walk on all fours -- who make the most mess. They have only the best of intentions, of course. So you let them off. Yet someone -- probably you -- still has to deal with the fallout, so to speak. Don Aslett offers the following expert advice for keeping up on pet hair:

    * Groom pets regularly, especially pets with long hair or heavy coats, and any pet in shedding season. Get it before it gets all over.

    * A dampened cloth will remove hair from most hard surfaces well, and on soft surfaces like upholstery it will lift the hair so you can get it with a vacuum. A dry sponge is a good hair remover, too.

    * To remove hair effectively from upholstered furniture and other soft, smooth surfaces, you need a vacuum with a beater brush or power wand, or a handheld model with same.

    * A pet rake has stiff, crimped bristles that work well on carpet, soft furniture, bedding, drapes, car interiors and the like.

    * A lint roller does a good, quick job on clothes.

    * A dustmop is best for hair on hard floors.