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New Product Alert! Dirt Devil Gator Series

PetSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:20:02 -0700

Hand vacs can be a handy mess buster for pet owners. Reaching the couch, under chair cushions, or even cleaning the doggie bed is difficult with ordinary roller brushes or even some vacuum attachments. Let's soon welcome a new creature in town, the Dirt Devil Gator. Start the slideshow and see how this fights your (pet) hairy disasters.

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What's the Best Vacuum For Picking Up Pet Hair?

PetSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:30:40 -0700

There's nothing friendly about pet hair around the house. It tickles your throat, it coats your floors and furniture and, well, it's just gross. Unfortunately, any animal lover will tell you it's an unavoidable part of pet parenthood. I have had great luck keeping my place squeaky clean with the Dyson DC16 Animal, but there are tons of other great options out there.

Last year PetSugar readers shared their favorite vacuums for sucking up animal hair, but after a look at the models on the market (see below) it appears there are a bunch of newcomers on the scene. What do you think is the best vacuum for picking up pet hair?

Win an iRobot Roomba® 532 Pet Series!

PetSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:15:41 -0800

Any pet parent will tell you having the right vacuum is crucial for keeping your home clean and fur free, which is why we are thrilled our friends at iRobot are giving one lucky PetSugar reader an iRobot Roomba® 532 Pet Series!

The iRobot is a vacuum cleaning robot, which can pick up pet hair, pet dander, kitty litter and usual debris on its own. You don't have to waste time pushing it around, you just have to push "clean" and watch it do its magic.

To enter, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the fun quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member and log in before you take the quiz. If you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on Dec. 29, 2008, at 11:59 p.m. (PST). For Official Rules, click here.

Take the quiz

PetSugar Street Team: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser

PetSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:00:31 -0700

As a prize for winning Cutest Dog at the Worldwide Fido Awards, Samson (and family) got to take home a brand new vacuum: the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. How appropriate! Coincidentally, LilPeaPod's Dirt Devil was on the fritz, so getting this vacuum ended up being a lifesaver in more than one respect:

My trusty Dirt Devil vacuum that we've had for a few years was on its last leg. We were considering buying a new one, but once we got to the Fido Awards, we found out that we got to take home a brand new Bissell vacuum! I was never so happy to get a cleaning appliance – this thing is a monster!

To see her review, just read more.

I knew the Bissell would be much larger than my old model, but I had no idea how cool it would look out of the box! This thing is pretty big, but for the power it has, the size is just fine with me. Putting it together was easy (you have to attach the handle and hoses, and secure all the cool attachments), and the bagless feature is awesome, since all you have to do is flip a switch to empty the container. As for cleaning? This baby rocks! It comes with a powerful attachment to suck up all the pet hair left behind on your furniture, and my carpets look shiny and new. The only downside I could find was that it tends to tip over really easily when you're using the tube and attachments, but other than that it's a dream. Lightweight for its size, it almost seems to push itself! This is one vacuum that's definitely worth the price.

You can get your hands on the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser online or in stores for $150 dollars.

I Need Your Help Recap . . . Best Vacuum For Pet Hair!

PetSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:30:23 -0700

I've already shown you how well my Dyson DC16 Animal handheld worked (as I've only got hardwood in my home), but thanks so much for all your great vacuum suggestions when I asked you which brand you'd recommend for cleaning up after your furry friends.

In addition to your results below, there's a new model coming out, the Eureka Boss 4D Pet Fresh with Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh technology built right in ($138.88). I definitely like the idea of helping with hair elimination and pet odors with one device – the model isn't available online yet but should hit Wal-Mart stores sometime this month. Remember, just because you love animals doesn't mean you need to wear their castoffs – good luck!

Bissell PowerSteamer ClearView ($149)	Kenmore Progressive Bagless Upright with Inteli-Clean System, Purple ($369)
Dyson DC17 Animal Vacuum ($549)	Dirt Devil Vibe Swivel Glide ($79)
iRobot Roomba 580 ($499)	Bissell PowerSteamer ClearView ($149)
KIRBY G SIX G6 LIMITED EDITION 2001 Vacuum Cleaner - eBay	Vorwerk Kobold	Dyson The Ball DC15 Animal Vacuum ($599)

I Need Your Help . . . Best Vacuum for Pet Hair?

PetSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:15:28 -0700

It's not so fab to have clothes covered in pet hair, and breathing in that fur and dander can make it all too easy to be wheezy! For those of you who share a home with furry friends, I wanna know how you keep them clean and (relatively) hair-free. Since this allergy affects so many people, and makes pet owners like reeyacha all snuffed up, please share your recommendations for the best vacuums (or other cleaning methods) to remove those flyaways in the comments below!

Source

Does Your Pet Hate Your Vacuum?

PetSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:00:07 -0700

Since North freaks out at about everything from the doorbell to when the mop comes out of the closet, I'm not surprised by this video featured on the Wall Street Journal Online about how dogs react to the vacuum. I can see how an unmanned moving object that makes strange noises like the Roomba could be scary (or lunch) to a confused pooch.

Although you gave some great advice about how to clear up the brutal battle between your pets and the vacuum, it seems that pets and technology just don't always mix! Does your pet hate your vacuum?

Source

Pet Peeves: The Monster Inside the Vacuum Cleaner...

PetSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:30:18 -0700

Q: My dog is terrified of the vacuum cleaner. He comes up really close as if he's going to bite it, then backs up quickly with his mouth still open. Although it does make a chore more entertaining, I wonder if he truly thinks he is rescuing me from a monster. How can I help him adjust so I can vacuum without feeling like I am torturing him subconsciously?

A: There is much speculation about pets' reactions to the vacuum cleaner. Some behave as if the world is ending and others barely bat an eye. But, unless pets can suddenly speak, we'll have to focus on a solution regardless of the problem's origin. First, gauge whether it's the sound or movement that bothers him more. Put a treat on the vacuum while it's off and encourage him to eat it. Next, do the same thing but move the vacuum around (still off), stopping to let the dog get the treats. If he's fine with both of those, continue by turning the vacuum on, placing treats on it, but not moving it. You should remain near the vacuum through this whole process, bending down on your pet's level and talking in a calm, reassuring voice. Yelling "no" or "stop" while he is barking at the vacuum will likely stress him out even more. Repeat this process with lots of praise and rewards. Eventually, your pup (or cat) should become desensitized.

And now I wanna hear from you! To learn how to post your own solutions (or challenges) in my new group, "Pet Peeves,"read more

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Pet Peeves
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page
Choose "Blog" and “Regular Post”
Give your story a Title
Fill in the “Body” with a picture of your pet and some fun facts about him or her.
Click “Next"
Choose the audience for your story to “Pet Peeves” in the drop down menu
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this post was "Pet Peeves")
Change channel to “Pets”
Fill in tag field with relevant tags
Click “I’m done” to submit content

So join the Pet Peeves and start sharing questions and concerns. Who knows, your problem (or solution) might make it on to the PetSugar homepage!

Source

No Nature's Miracle? Try This All-Natural Method Instead

PetSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:34 -0800

I can't rave enough about the wonders of Nature's Miracle when potty training or cleaning pup's playthings. However, truthfully, I haven't stocked a bottle since my pet was a wee babe since he's got the peeing thing down pat. However, many dogs (North included) can have a repeat problem with stuff coming out the other end.

Yesterday morning, my poor pooch threw up on his bed and then hid in my bedroom, looking as embarrassed as this doxie. Since I didn't want to deal with laundry right before rushing to work, but also didn't want to let the stain (and smell) set in, I went into my kitchen and grabbed two staples.

Find out what they are and what I did when you read more.

Instead of tap water, I scrubbed the area with a small amount of club soda and let it dry while taking a shower. When I got out, I sprinkled the spot with baking soda and headed to work, crating my pup. When I got home, I used my handy Dyson Animal to immediately vacuum up all the excess powder before letting North back in. Good as new and stink-free, too.

Source: Flickr User TheWellSpokenOne

New Product Alert! Neko Habitat

PetSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:20:14 -0800

Dish up a sweet resting spot. New from Neko Habitat are three bed styles, all featuring reversible cushions in a rainbow of options.

Fitting cats or small dogs, the transparent acrylic frames wipe clean and pillows can get the once-over with a pet-safe vacuum. Sleek and stylish, the designer duds don't come cheap. Consider the Wave ($235), the Cradle ($250), or the Pan ($245) to be a real investment in your furry friend's sleepy-time future to last for years and years. Still, is the pretty product worth the investment or will you take a pass on these loungers?

Dyson Animal The Ball DC25 Upright Vacuum - $549.99	Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum - $199.99
Bissell® Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum - $149.99	Miele Dog & Cat Canister Vacuum - $799.00
Rug Doctor® Mighty Pro Carpet Machine and Cleaning Products - $6.99	NEW! Raycop Anti-bacterial Hand Vacuum - $349.99
iRobot® Scooba Floor Washing Robot - $249.99	Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo Sweeper - $50.00
Rotho Twin Wet & Dry Vacuum - $1,695.00	Hoover® TurboPower EmPower 4600 Bagless Upright and Filters - $99.99
Hoover® WindTunnel Bagless Upright Vacuum Anniversary Edition - $169.99