If you have pets, you know that as much as they enrich your life, they also generate a good deal of fur and soiling that must be dealt with. If you have a dog that sheds frequently, you can spend less time picking up hair if you devote just a few minutes each day to brushing the dog. Not only do most dogs relish the attention, but brushing the dog can be relaxing for the dog owner. Instead of being forced to pick up hair all over the house, most hair will be consolidated on the dog brush and can be immediately transferred to the garbage.

If you have trouble keeping up with cat hair, purchase a Zoom Groom, a rubber, massaging brush that cats love (after they get used to it). The Zoom Groom will quickly and efficiently remove excess hair from your cat so that you will not need to be chasing hairballs all over the house.

You might consider giving your cat hairball-preventive treatments every week or every few days, depending on the length and condition of your cat's hair. This treatment will help prevent vomiting because of hairballs.

Cats also tend to track litter away from their litter box. If this is a problem with your cat, purchase a special mat at a pet-supply store. You might consider storing two litter boxes in the tub (one over the drain). By the time the cat has jumped out of the tub, litter has been shaken from his feet and you can easily sweep it up with a small brush.