If you have a pet at home, you know what it’s like to look down and see a layer of hair instead of your actual floors. In summer especially, our furry friends may start shedding even more to get rid of their winter coat and stay cool. So, with extra hair in the air, on the ground, and all over your furniture, how can you keep your home fresh throughout the hotter months?

We tapped two cleaning professionals for their top tips on how to maintain a pet hair-free home that you and your fur babies can enjoy.

Groom First, Always

The key to minimizing pet hair in the home to prevent it in the first place rather than cleaning it up later.

“I always say, brush the dog before the dog brushes you,” says cleaning expert Patricia Duarte. “Summer heat ramps up shedding—especially in double-coated breeds—so investing five to 10 minutes a day with a regular brush for surface hair and once a week with a [deshedding] tool for the undercoat is well worth it.”

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Clean as You Go

Having tools handy throughout your home for everyday cleanups can stop hair from building up.

“[I] recommend keeping a lint roller or pet hair remover brush by the couch or bed for quick daily touch-ups,” says cleaning expert Jessica Gonzalez. “Little habits like these go a long way when you’re trying to keep up with summer shedding.”

Cordless vacuums are also great for high-traffic areas your pet regularly walks through.

“It’s light, self-standing, and easy enough to use daily without dreading,” Duarte explains. “[It] is also a lifesaver for zapping fur from the bathtub—pups’ hair is truly everywhere. A quick once-over before running the bath keeps the drain happy and saves a plumber’s bill.”

Mitigate Mess at the Door

Before your pet can even make their way to the living room, an absorbent mat can keep pet hair contained.

“They trap paw prints, water, and fur before they get cozy in the carpet or slide into hidden areas under appliances and beds,” Duarte says. “They trap so many furball floaties—I can’t imagine what my home would look like without them.”

Treat Hard Surfaces and Carpet Differently

For hardwood or tile floors, a dry microfiber mop or an electrostatic dust mop works wonders.

“They’re great for picking up pet hair fast without having to haul out a vacuum every time,” Gonzalez says. “Try to avoid sweeping with a bristle broom since it tends to scatter the hair around instead of picking it up.”

The key to mopping hardwood or tile floors is to go slow, boxing out an area and moving in an M-pattern. Carpet, on the other hand, traps more hair and requires a different kind of diligence.

“Vacuum daily with a quick cordless [and] deep clean weekly,” Duarte suggests. “Wash throw rugs weekly. Fur loves to embed itself in fibers, so staying ahead is key.”

Vacuum the Furniture

It’s not just the floors you have to worry about—furniture fabrics can be hotspots for fur, too.

“I suggest a handheld vacuum with a pet brush attachment or even a damp rubber glove to grab hair off cushions,” Gonzalez says. “It sounds odd, but the glove trick works well.”

Pet-proof covers or a designated blanket are also an easy solution to prevent hair from accumulating all over.

“They protect your furniture and wash well, which matters because ‘that’s the dog’s spot now’ shouldn’t be a life sentence for your stylish chaise lounge,” Duarte says.

Wash What Your Pet Lays On

Whatever your pet lies on—whether it be throw blankets or pet beds—should go through the wash weekly.

“I toss in silicone laundry discs to trap extra hair in the washer and dryer, and one-fourth cup of Borax to soften hard water,” Duarte says.

We purchased the ChomChom Roller so our reviewer could put it to the test in her home. Keep reading for our full product review.

Trying to keep your home clean with pets can feel like a never-ending battle (I know; I have both a cat and a dog) which is why products like the ChomChom Roller are so appealing to pet owners. This reusable pet hair removal device is like a lint roller, but you don’t have to constantly peel off sticky hair-covered sheets. Are you intrigued yet?

The Spruce Pets wanted to see if the ChomChom was a viable way to get pet hair off furniture, blankets, and other household surfaces, so I put it to the test in my apartment, which is frequently plagued by pet hair, despite my best cleaning efforts. Here’s what I found. 

Design: Simple and effective

When I first saw the ChomChom, my reaction was something along the lines of, “Is this it?” The gadget is compact and unassuming with a plain white exterior. It comes in a cardboard shell, but beyond that, it doesn’t even have any branding on it! 

The T-shaped device has a handle you hold onto, and when you flip it over, the roller itself is covered in a red fuzzy material interspersed with a few rubber pieces that stick out about half an inch. To use the ChomChom, roll it back and forth quickly across a fabric surface in short strokes—the protruding rubber piece stops the roller from making a full rotation. I loved how simple this product is—it’s straight to the point with no unnecessary bells or whistles. 

When you’re done, simply hit the “eject” button on the back of the handle to open the dirt compartment. This is easy to do, but I didn’t love that you have to manually scoop out the dirt, dust, and hair. It would be nice if it came with a small tool to help clean out the compartment. 

Cleaning Performance: Unbeatable, but not on all surfaces

I was simply amazed at how well the ChomChom picks up pet hair, dust, and other debris. For my first test, I used it on a blanket that the cat particularly enjoys napping on—believe it or not, the cat actually sheds a lot more than the dog, and he typically leaves patches of gray hair on his preferred sleep spots. There was quite a bit of hair on the blanket in question, but in one pass, the ChomChom removed the vast majority of it. I couldn’t believe how easy it was!

Next up was the couch. In a smart purchasing decision, I bought a gray sofa, so the cat’s hair isn’t readily visible on it—but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. It took me about two minutes to go over one of the cushions using the ChomChom, and the dirt compartment was plenty full by the time I was done. Again, I was impressed at how easy and efficient the product is to use, and there’s no need to stop and remove a sticky sheet every few swipes like with a lint roller. 

However, I found that the ChomChom isn’t great on all surfaces. In general, the fabric you’re using it on needs to be pulled taut. Otherwise, the ChomChom doesn’t perform well. So, for example, I tried using it to remove hair from a sweatshirt, but it wasn’t all that effective, as the fabric kept moving around. Similarly, it didn’t do a good job taking hair off the cat’s bedding, which is quite squishy. I had to pull the fabric taut before going over it with the ChomChom. 

Floor a mess? Read our reviews of the best vacuums for pet hair. 

Portability: Stash it anywhere

While the ChomChom is a little bit bigger than your standard lint roller thanks to its T-shaped frame, it’s still quite portable. It fit perfectly into my “junk drawer” for storage, and I think it would fit in most glove compartments if you wanted to use it to get pet hair off car seats.  

It would probably be too bulky to carry around in your purse, but because it’s not great on clothes, there’s really no reason to take it with you on the go. 

Price: Always on sale

The price for the ChomChom Roller is around $25. That may seem a little high for the extremely simple design, but if you think about how much it costs to buy a new lint roller every few months, chances are you’ll save money investing in this hair removal device. 

Competition: It depends on your needs

Lint Roller: Traditional lint rollers are probably the biggest competition for the ChomChom, but these two hair-removal tools excel in different areas. Lint rollers are great for removing hair from clothing, but it would be wasteful to use one on a whole couch—you’d go through so many sheets! While the ChomChom isn’t great for clothing, its reusable design makes it the perfect option for cleaning furniture, blankets, and other large areas. 

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Vacuum: While easy to use, you do have to manually move the ChomChom back and forth across your furniture. If you prefer a less tedious approach, you might like the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Vacuum, which I also tested. It does an equally good job removing pet hair with less “elbow grease” required on your part. 

Take a peek at some of the other best pet hair removers you can buy.

Specs

Product Name	Pet Hair Remover
Product Brand	ChomChom
UPC	856957004000
Price	$24.95
Product Dimensions	7.5 x 7.5 x 2.5 in.
Warranty	1 year, limited

Final Verdict

Unbeatable for quick hair cleanup.

You’ll still have to keep a lint roller around the house to get dog hair off your pants, but the ChomChom Roller is the superior choice when it comes to cleaning furniture, blankets, and other large areas that are covered in pet hair. Its low price, ease of use, effectiveness, and reusability make it a must-have in my book.