How do you get dog hair out of carpets?

After investing in sumptuous new wall to wall carpeting, most homeowners are keen to keep it in perfect shape for as long as they can. However, households where a dog is part of the family may find this a tricky task to manage. Although short-haired breeds shed less, those with longer hair can cause thick luxury carpets to become choked with hair, even when they are hoovered regularly. For houseproud homeowners keen to keep their living spaces spick and span, this can be a serious problem.

Fortunately for dog owners, there are many reliable ways to keep carpets free from their four-legged friend’s loose hair. In the following passages, we’ll explore some effective methods you might find useful for solving the problem of canines and carpets.

Cost-effective answers

Prior to trying costly options to deal with dog hair, a simple lint roller is worth considering. Inexpensive to purchase, lint rollers can be efficient at removing hair from small areas that have become clogged with fur, such as favourite sleeping spots around the house. Although time-consuming, the sticky surface of a lint roller can be a suitable way to collect loose hair.

Another affordable answer is a pair of rubber gloves. Running dampened gloves over impacted areas can also prove effective at separating animal hair from carpets.

Simple solutions

When hoovering has failed to remove all the dog hair from your carpeting, a trick that might work is a spray solution made from water and fabric softener. After application, let your carpet dry and give it another hoover. You should find that the solution has loosened the hair, making it easier for the hoover to remove it.

Household baking soda can also obtain the same results. Sprinkle after hoovering and leave to settle before using the hoover once more to remove all the hair that has been loosened by the soda. An added benefit is that baking soda is also great at removing lingering odours, leaving your carpet smelling fresh and clean.

Pet shop products

Pet suppliers sell rubber brooms developed specifically to gather loose pet hair. Built for purpose, these brooms are comfortable to use and can be operated while standing, meaning you don’t need to bend down and experience back ache while you remove unwanted hair.

Another option worth trying from pet retailers is a pair of grooming gloves. While designed to groom animals themselves and remove loose hair before it sheds, these special gloves have a dimpled, tacky surface that can just as easily collect hair from floors.

Leave it to the professionals

If you find you’re still not managing to remove unwanted dog hair, or are simply looking for a less labour-intensive option, professional carpet cleaners may be the answer to your problem. A team of experienced operators offering such a service will be able to effectively remove dog hair that has become deeply embedded in your carpeting. A quick and dependable solution, professional carpet cleaners will typically take around 20 minutes to complete each room of your house, and your carpets will be hair-free by the time they leave.

Carpet tile manufacturers help protect public

Social distancing and one-way systems are now normal for most workplaces and public buildings. Carpet tile manufacturers are responding to this by creating tiles with social distance markers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing has been put in place in all workplaces. However, after the infection rate comes down and restrictions are lifted, social distancing may still be necessary. Most commercial buildings use stickers that mark two-metre distances and display arrows to indicate one-way systems. If social distancing becomes more long term, organisations will need to find a better solution than temporary stickers.

Some carpet tile manufacturers have now developed carpet tiles that feature permanent direction arrows and distance markers.

Many buildings have modified their space to create separate zones for different activities. For example, there are queue zones and waiting areas. These zones can be marked by using different coloured carpet tiles. To preserve the aesthetic appeal of an area, carpet tiles with plain circles are useful for both marking distance and blending in with the room decor.

For extra protection, carpet tiles can be coated with anti-bacterial solutions that reduce virus transmission. Some carpet tiles have a special coating that remains effective over a long period of time.

Innovative use of carpet tiles in North Wales and Chester properties can help stop the spread of the virus and protect everyone who works in or enters a building. Residential buildings may not need social distancing markers, but carpet tiles can still be installed if they are regularly cleaned.

Is artificial grass child-friendly?

There is no doubt that artificial grass provides an exceptional solution for outdoor areas when homeowners are looking for an option that is affordable, durable and extremely easy to look after. However, households with younger family members who are planning to install an artificial lawn may be curious as to whether it is a suitable choice. In the following passages, we’ll explore some of the many benefits of synthetic grass that make it an excellent environment for children to play on.

A safe place for play

Artificial lawns are engineered specifically to ensure children and family pets stay safe, and they employ materials that are entirely non-toxic in case they are ever ingested. Commonly crafted from soft nylon fibres, artificial grass blades are never abrasive when they come into contact with skin. This means children can play on artificial grass without ever receiving scratches. Many synthetic lawns are also hypoallergenic, ensuring no unwanted allergic reactions occur, which is commonly experienced with more natural environments.

Man-made grass can provide a soft landing for children if they slip and fall during play. While artificial grass is already springy and soft, additional cushioning can be appreciated when a thick and comfortable underlay is installed beneath. Whereas regular gardens can be filled with all manner of weeds and prickly plants, like nettles, parents can let their children play freely on artificial grass without worry.

A suitable option for outdoor accessories

Artificial grass can be used under a wide variety of items for outdoor play, from inflatable paddling pools and trampolines to temporary football goals. Providing a soft and safe place for recreation, artificial grass is also extremely hardwearing, allowing it to take the weight of heavy objects without becoming damaged. While artificial grass – particularly the kind crafted from nylon – is incredibly durable, it’s still a wise idea to place any heavy objects, such as water-filled pools or trampolines, in different locations to reduce wear in one area occurring. If your grass looks a little flat after you put children’s outdoor equipment away in the shed, simply use a stiff broom or a rake designed for artificial lawns to push the fibres upright once more for a more attractive appearance.

A low maintenance area to care for

Whether children are enjoying an outdoor snack and drink or playing with paints or pens, artificial grass provides an easy to clean environment when mess occurs. A simple garden hosing will handle most spills, and for more stubborn stains, using a small amount of mild detergent and a sponge will get the job done. For best results, and to avoid any lasting damage, it’s always a wise move to tackle such tasks as soon as possible.

A cleaner environment for children

Finally, unlike the grass and mud of regular gardens, artificial grass presents a far cleaner area for kids to play in. This means that when they come back inside from play, they won’t be tramping unwanted elements from outdoors across your clean floors and freshly vacuumed carpets.

How long will vinyl flooring last for?

Today’s vinyl options provide a stylish yet affordable solution for both homes and businesses. Perfectly presented to resemble tiles or planks, a wide selection of different woodgrains and styles of stone can be found that mimic natural surfaces. Alternatively, vinyl can also feature motifs and designs, allowing it to be laid out in eye-catching geometric patterns. This quality can make it ideal for a variety of spaces where a decorative look is desired, from foyers and hallways to elegant conservatories.

Vinyl is not only easy on the eye, but also incredibly hardwearing, making it a sound selection for those looking for a floor that lasts. A vinyl floor can last, on average, from 10 to 20 years, or even longer in some cases. This means property owners fitting vinyl can see a substantial return on their investment. However, there are some points that may impact the lifespan of vinyl flooring worth noting.

Picking a quality product

Vinyl flooring is available in a wide range of styles, but also in a diverse array of different qualities. Among the most economical of options for floor coverings, it’s still worth choosing a high-quality brand that comes well recommended when you purchase vinyl. There are multiple manufacturers to select from producing both vinyl and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) for an extensive range of applications, from kitchens and bathrooms to play areas for kids. As with any kind of floor, the quality of the vinyl you select will impact its longevity.

Professionally fitted flooring

While vinyl flooring is counted as one of the easier floor types to install, employing professionals to fit it can add to the length of time it lasts for. Incorrect installations can leave vinyl flooring vulnerable to potential damage, from exposed, poorly finished edges to tearing or improper subfloor preparation resulting in unwanted dents. With a flooring option as affordable as vinyl, it may be worth spending some of your savings on a professional fitting to ensure you get the most value from your new floor.

Wear and care

How much a floor is used will always be a factor when it comes to how long it can endure. Ideal for areas that see a heavy footfall in both homes and enterprises, vinyl is a durable option, but it will obviously last longer in areas that are seldom used. Fortunately, high-quality vinyl is typically designed with a dedicated wear layer, providing strong resistance to both scratches and stains, adding to its life span.

As with most other flooring choices, if left uncared for overtime, even a robust vinyl floor can have its life shortened. However, while failure to attend to spills and stains can cause damage in the long term, one major advantage of vinyl floors is that they are supremely low maintenance to look after. For the most part, you will find simple sweeping and light mopping is all that is required to keep your floor looking brand-new for many years to come.

Carpet manufacturers go green

Several carpet manufacturers are now creating more eco-friendly carpets.

Many people like the luxury of wool carpets in their homes. Wool is a sustainable material that is used to make premium-quality carpets. Though wool can be more expensive to buy than man-made fibres, it is much stronger, feels luxurious and will last a lot longer. Those buying wool carpets should look for The British Wool Foundation mark, which indicates genuine British wool carpets.

Some manufacturers are making carpets using corn glucose, which avoids the petroleum used in the manufacture of some man-made carpet fibres. Other carpet makers are using recycled materials. Discarded plastic bottles are used to make carpet backing and underlays, and old vehicle tyres can also be used in the production of underlays. Carpets made from discarded fishing nets are another innovative use of recycled materials.

High-quality carpets in North Wales homes should last for many years, but of course, no carpet lasts forever. Many in the carpet industry are concerned about throwing away carpets at the end of their life. A few years ago, most carpets ended up in landfill sites, but there are now organisations that take old carpets and recycle them. The raw materials in the carpets can be recovered and used in the manufacture of other products.

Many households in the North Wales and Chester areas are concerned about the environment. Carpet manufacturers share these concerns, which is reflected in the development of more eco-friendly carpets made from sustainable and recyclable materials.