pet hair

Are You An Ultimate Shopper?

Is Amazon Prime Day like Black Friday to you? You know how it is on Black Friday. Many savvy shoppers – especially those who LOVE shopping – are armed with their lists, cell phones charged up, laptop ready in case of a cell phone failure, favorite beverage in hand and an alarm clock. Is this you? You may want to plan on going to bed early the night before just to be at your very shopping-best.

And no one had better get in your way. NO INTERRUPTIONS! The Ultimate Shopper is in her groove. Yes, shopping for some is like an Olympic sport. First out of the chute wins!

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links – lots of them! ♥

When I think about it, I am kind of envious of all the excitement you will have. I am serious. Some gals, especially, tackle Prime Day as a challenge to be conquered! I will be looking for great deals Tuesday and Wednesday July 16 & 17, too, but I’ll bet you will be the winner!

SHOPPING TIP: Know the calendar. For gift buying, write birthdays and family events on a special calendar for this shopping purpose. Reminder: I don’t want you to get nervous or anything but Back to School is pretty much moments away and there are about 145-ish days till Thanksgiving’s Black Friday on November 22nd! So there is a lot going on.

STRATEGY: If the amount of shopping you have to do is overwhelming, only buy what you really are excited about this time and hold onto what can wait for November 22^nd 145-ish days from now. It is important to get our heads around what may pay off …think of the reasons to buy before Prime Day begins. I always look at what I am going to have to buy anyhow and try to do it on Prime Day.

Reasons to buy!

Anniversaries
Automotive Needs
Back to School
Beauty
Birthdays
Books
College Essentials
Health Essentials
Holiday Giving
Home Décor refreshing
I Love You Gifts ♥
Kitchen
Lawn & Garden Supplies
Life’s Essentials (i.e. STUFF FOR YOU!)
Office Supplies, Calendars, Planners
Party planning (stock up!!! )
Pet food and supplies
Showers – baby
Showers – wedding
Sporting Goods
Teacher Gifts
Toys
Weddings

CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON SEARCH! ☑️ Super Quick Access!

“SECRET” SHOPPING TIP: Amazon is running some really GREAT SALES even now! Often you will find highly customer-recommended items for 25 – 40% off!

Teachers, Buy Yourself a Gift!

Cute Teacher Pencil Coquette Bow Back To School Teacher Life T-Shirt

I bought this cute t-shirt for myself and it comes today. Can’t wait!!!

Skechers Women’s Hands Free Summits Dazzling Haze

Is Pet Hair around the house driving you crazy???

I’ve been there. Read about the BEST pet hair vacuum I’ve ever had or just go over and get one right now! Hint: it’s a Shark Navigator!

I would like to personally apologize to CAT OWNERS everywhere. I have always had dogs for pets. My quest for a great PET HAIR vacuum burst forth from sheer frustration from the abundance of white dog fur from my Yellow Labs Blondie, Lexi, Troy and Sadie. I could have BUILT A NEW DOG out of all that shed fur.

Little did I know that the CAT PARENTS OF THE WORLD also have a big pet-hair challenge on their hands. I assure you that the Shark navigator upright vacuums will also be YOUR dream come true!

Best Cat Hair Vacuum Ever!

Enjoy!

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

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It’s time for our latest blog party! Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop appears every week on 8 different blogs. Many bloggers stop by to share their latest creations and, by having the party show up on so many blogs, it is seen by lots of visitors. What a great advertising tool! There are also people who come to our party just looking for new ideas; they look forward to seeing what our guest bloggers share.

Do you love crafts? How about nifty home décor ideas? Are you into DIY projects? Interested on finding some new yummy recipes? We have it all!

First, before we start this party, let’s start out by admiring some of the most viewed posts from our previous party!

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links♥

Featured Posts

Maple Pancake Bread from Lou Lou Girls

Patio Living and Inspiration Ideas from My Life Abundant

Pasta Cobb Salad from Comfort Spring Station

Baked Rigatoni from Homemade on a Week Night

Father’s Day is June 16th!

This one, from Ducks ‘n a Row, was appreciated by our party guests!

17 Themes for DIY Gift Baskets by Ducks ‘n a Row

SHARK NV752 ROTATOR POWERED LIFT-AWAY TRUE-PET UPRIGHT VACUUM WITH HEPA FILTER, LARGE DUST CUP CAPACITY, LED HEADLIGHTS, UPHOLSTERY TOOL, PERFECT PET POWER BRUSH & CREVICE TOOL AD

GREAT FOR PET HAIR PICKUP, TOO!

MEET THE HOSTS

Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.
Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties, please.
Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.
If you are NEW, let us know in the comments so that we can follow you back. ♥ Help us find your posts – tell us what number they are.
Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries will be seen no matter when you arrive.
Please SHARE our party and invite others to join. ♥

Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular, 41MM) – Blue Aluminum Case with Abyss Blue Sport Band (Renewed Premium)

Happiness is Homemade

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Welcome to the Happiness is Homemade Link Party!

Welcome to the Happiness is Homemade Link Party number 533. We are excited about another month of sharing, linking, reading, Pinning and inspiration.

Linda is our host, from the blog A Labour of Life. She has come up with some fun ideas shared by our guests to get ready for everyone to celebrate the Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada and, next week, Memorial Day in the USA!

So let’s see our features of the week and then, bloggers, please come dazzle us with what you are making, baking and creating this week!!! We can hardly wait to see what you have been up to!

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ♥

Happiness is Homemade 533 Features

Easy DIY Flag Wreath

If you are looking for an easy wreath craft to show your patriotic pride this summer for the holiday, give this patriotic wreath a try! A fun wreath from Ann’s Entitled LIfe. It is a no-sew craft, simple to do, and goes very quickly.

Berry Cheesecake with Coulis

An easy, quick, and oh-so-delicious Berry Cheesecake with Berry Coulis from Esme Salon. Perfect for an easy afternoon coffee or teatime treat. A must-add to your recipe list!

Choosing the Right Deck

Choosing the right deck for your home renovation can be daunting. A deck is more than just an outdoor space; it’s an extension of your home, a place for relaxation and entertainment. The Dedicated House has some great advice for us.

DIY Graduation Cap Cupcake Stand and Cake Plate

Graduation season is here and with multiple parties happening in the next month Creatively Beth wanted to help her nieces and nephews celebrate in style with a DIY Graduation Cap Cupcake Stand and Cake Plate!

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*** Somebody graduating? Check out this GRADUATION PHOTO BANNER for the celebration! ***

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Tropical Bird Tablescape

Life is Better Lakeside is sharing a fun Tropical Bird Tablescape. How fun is this theme heading into the summer season

BONUS Feature DIY Toddler Bed

Charleston Crafted created a fun and exciting new big girl bed. They wanted something that looks more like a real house, with siding, roof and doors and windows. So now she can even play in here like it’s a real house.

Shark ZU503AMZ Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum with Self-Cleaning Brush Roll, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Pet Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pets & Multi-Surface, Teal ad

This upright, lift away vacuum is perfect for pets – self-cleaning brush roll!

Sinea’s Featured Pick of the Week

Flower Pretzel Bites – from Walking on Sunshine

Memorial Day Sale on Amazon – May 17-May 27 ad

On to the Party!

Thank you for joining us this week whether you are a blogger sharing your latest posts OR a reader enjoying all of the inspirational shares! Don’t forget to drop by and say hello to all our hostesses, they always appreciate your visit! Here are all of our hostesses at Happiness Is Homemade!

Linda @ A Labour of Life Sinea @ Ducks ‘n a Row Beverly @ Eclectic Red Barn Katie @ Love My Messy Messy Mess Mel @ Décor Craft Design Niki @ Life as a Leo Wife

Would you like to be a part of Happiness Is Homemade? We are looking for hostesses to join our team. If you are interested, please email any one of the Happiness Is Homemade hostesses and let them know. We would love to have you join our party.

Gardening time is here!

Set up a workspace for your gardening projects and have FUN! ad

Pet hair problems? Keep the dog and get a SHARK Stratos pet hair vacuum! ad

My goodness, isn’t this little guy cute?

The Best Vacuum For Pet Hair I Have Ever Used

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Those who have followed this blog for any time know the struggle I have had getting pet hair off my carpeting, floors and furniture. It has been a hot topic for me.

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ❤️ This is NOT a sponsored post. It is simply my unsolicited story.

I love my dogs and I love their fur–when it stays on them. I do NOT love dog fur when it is on everything else. So, I have been on a quest for ☑️ THE BEST PET HAIR VACUUM for a long time – and I finally found it! This is the wonderful one that I own in 2025 and have used, now, for years. Still operates like its NEW!

2025 UPDATE: THIS ONE has LED lights added so you can really see everything that needs to be picked up! Interested in the one with a SELF CLEANING BRUSH ROLL? Click here!

2025 BEST Pet Hair Vacuum I have ever used

Before I found this amazing vacuum, I did get a couple of tools that truly helped minimize the problem. I bought a Furminator -which is great for grooming your dog and de-shedding some of its excess fur. I also discovered Arm & Hammer’s Pet Fresh powder for carpets. This product does a really good job lifting the pet fur from the carpet as you vacuum it. The powder deodorizes the carpet, too. Bailey, my most recent dog, is a bit sensitive to products – her eyes react – so I have discontinued using it for her sake. Lexi and Sadie were always A-OK

For the longest time, though, I did NOT have a great vacuum cleaner to use. In fact, the various vacuums I had tried were mediocre, at best. Though they were top filling and “HEPA filtered,” they lost their suction power early in the game. Lint and fur were left behind no matter how many times I passed that vacuum over the same area. Have you ever had that problem? It is so frustrating.

Before I Found the BEST Vacuum, Wait Till You Hear What Happened to the One I THOUGHT I Liked!

Next, in my journey to finding this TRULY best vacuum cleaner, I did find one that I really liked. When the first one became hopelessly clogged with dirt and debris, I bought another of the same kind because, when it worked, it worked well.

That second one actually CAUGHT ON FIRE! I am not kidding. Blue smoke started coming out and it was seconds from flames, I am sure of it. I unplugged that baby really fast and never tried to use it again. In fact, before discarding it I cut the cord to render it inoperable. I didn’t want someone taking this dangerous vacuum cleaner out of the garbage, thinking they’d found a treasure. Having learned my lesson, I never bought another one of that unnamed brand of vacuums again.

The Best Vacuum For Pet Hair

So, that is when I started to ask around. I was hearing very good reports about the Shark Navigator Liftaway Vacuum from some of my friends. They told me that they were thrilled with the results. I became very hopeful. This one is the basic model, which I still use.

Then I discovered that my own sister-in-law had one! She hadn’t even used it yet. She was going out of town and wouldn’t be using it for a while so I asked the unthinkable–could I borrow her brand new Shark vacuum for a day? She said “yes.” I love my sister-in-law!!!

I didn’t even have the directions but it was so easy to assemble that I figured it out on my own. I first tried it on my NAVY BLUE carpeting. Well, at least my carpet should have been navy blue. It was covered in white fur from my beautiful yellow lab, Sadie the “fur-making-machine,” so you wouldn’t know what color it really was. Labs shed like crazy! At the time, my floor was covered and EMBEDDED with lots of white dog fur!

So, I vacuumed it. Within moments, the carpet was totally clean. It was the completely restored to that gorgeous navy blue color I loved. Wow! I was excited!

Now, this part really sold me: emptying the canister!

My happiest discovery was the PLEASURE of emptying the canister, which was now filled with dirt, lint and fur. (Got to really test it so I vacuumed till it was super full!) With the flip of two latches and press of a button, the canister released from the housing, and popped open as I held it over a trash can. “WHOOSH” — all the debris swept out into the trash. NO DIRT GOT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CANISTER. No cloud of dust in the air. Just clean, clean, clean! And the canister opens from top and bottom so nothing gets left inside. It all goes!

yellow lab puppy

Yellow labs make LOTS of fur!

The Shark Upright Navigator Lift-Away Vacuum is:

Lightweight
Easy to maneuver
Simple to use
Thorough in cleaning
Never loses suction
Internally sealed–no dirt escapes it
Stores easily
Empties brilliantly! What a great design!
Various styles available. All are very reasonably priced in a range from about $149.00 to $340 retail.

. …

2025 Update=> This one has LED Lights, HEPA filter and easy to maneuver!

Do you love your vacuum cleaner? What kind do you have? Share your experiences with us in the comments!

The very BEST vacuum cleaner I have ever used for pet hair! #cleaningtips #vacuum #dogs #cats And wait till you empty it! A dream come true. Share on X

Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Large Dust Cup Capacity, LED Headlights, Upholstery Tool, Perfect Pet Power Brush & Crevice Tool, Bordeaux

Enjoy!

Pet Hair – Tips for Dog Owners On How To Keep Your House Clean

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Shedding pet fur is such a nuisance. It sticks to everything: clothes, carpets, furniture. It can seem like an unending process to keep it cleaned up.

So, what’s the solution? Not have a dog? What are you kidding? No dog-lover will ever agree to that!

Note: this post contains affiliate links.

Life without a dog is…

No one to greet you at the door with a wagging tail and big “smile” on his face
No one to follow you eagerly from room to room, wanting to play. (He wins!)
No one to beg for treats. (He wins!)
No one to want a walk when you are too tired. (He wins?)
No one to ask for a ride in the car when you just want to sit down and do nothing. (He wins!)
No furry-someone to cuddle with on the couch while you’re reading a good book? (You both win.)

Sweet little lab puppy #labradorretriever #puppy #dog Ducks 'n a Row

Who can resist this sweet little face?

No, there HAS to be another answer to the pet hair problem.

Surprisingly, it isn’t always the long-haired breeds that produce the most. Some of the short haired dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers, have two coats. An outer and an inner coat. This serves as insulation from extreme heat and cold. However, as the seasons shift, the lower coat also does…all over your house.

Shedding is an important part of the natural process for dogs and cats, too. Dogs, especially, can produce enough excess fur that you’d think you could build a whole ‘nother dog from it. Really! Shedding, especially for the shorter haired dogs, happens all of the time to a degree and in abundance at the change of the major season. Resource: Why Dogs Shed

Keep your dogs well groomed! #doggrooming #pethair Ducks 'n a Row

There are some methods and products that will help you control the unwanted pet hair in your house.

First, keep your dog groomed. Occasional shampooing (don’t overdo it lest you dry out their skin) and frequent brushing, especially in shedding season, will help. Plus, your dog will love the attention. Resource: Caring for Your Dog’s Coat
Tip: the Furminator (pictured below) is an excellent dog grooming tool. Gently removes fur before it sheds! Makes your dog’s coat look so nice, too,
Next, stay on top of the project. If you let your house go for days, the build-up may seem insurmountable. It’s not but it’ll be a much bigger job.
Vacuum the house frequently. If there is a lot of fur on the carpets, or it is stubbornly sticking to the carpets, carpet powder does wonders.
Vacuum Tip: the Shark Liftaway Navigator Vacuum is the best I’ve ever used. Removes ALL pet hair with ease. Empties like a dream! Click here for my Shark Vacuum review.
Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh Odor Eliminator for carpets with “vacuum booster” is like a magnet. This by far is my #1 choice for getting up pet hair from carpet. Sprinkle it on. Wait up to 30 minutes. Vaccuum it up. The pet hair clings to the powder and pulls it all into the canister. It works great and does remove the pet smells as well.

Three tools that I have found to work well…not perfect, but pretty good, are:

Magik Lint Brush— though created for clothes, this little tools works great on upholstered furniture in removing pet hair. Gets 99% off with ease (nothing’s perfect!).
Pet Hair Sweeper — the Pet Hair Sweeper does a very good job on sofas and other fabric-covered furniture. It is disposable but each one lasts quite a while. I’ve heard that some people have found a way to edge the fur out from inside and get more use out of it. That’s up to you if you want to try it!
Libman Precision Angle Broom — I had my angle broom for the floors in my house but, in desperation, decided to vigorously sweep the stairs and see what would happen. My stairs are navy blue and the white dog-fur from our yellow labs gets thick. Using back and forth strokes, the fur was literally “flying” off the stairs and onto the floor below. Then it was so easy to just vacuum it up!
A Clean, Damp Sponge — yes, simply swipe a clean damp sponge across the surface of your sofa’s and upholstered chairs to remove hair. If there is a lot of fur, bring along a pan of clean water to rinse and squeeze the sponge out.
My Favorite Vacuum Cleaner is a Bissell <- – > gets pet hair up beautifully and empties with ease!

Got to get the #pet hair out of your house but don't know how? #cleaningtips #dogs #cats Share on X

So, how have you been taking care of your pet hair problems?

Dog grooming tool: the Furminator #dogs #dogrooming Ducks 'n a Row

Enjoy!

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Any purchases made from Amazon through Ducks ‘n a Row will result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you” for your business…Sinea

Photo Credits:

Girl and Dog by marin on freedigital photos

Yellow labs Lexi & Sadie, on sofa by Sinea

Yellow lab puppy dreaming by on flickr creative commons

Puppies being washed by winthaya phonswat on freedigital photos

Time For You To Consider Doodymaster

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By Sinea Pies
When autumn arrives and it gets dark earlier, it’s time for me to put in another plug for you to consider trying Doodymaster.

yellow labs, Labrador Retriever, dog, puppy www.ducksnarow.com

This little gal will grow real big, real soon.

Owners of big dogs, especially, will understand what I mean. Poop scooping, which is a necessity but absolutely NO FUN, requires time and light.

I love a clean lawn but I don’t want to come home from work and grab a flashlight to try to find the poop to clean it up. Not my favorite way to end the day. Even in spring and summer, I’d much rather not have to do it myself.

Plus, anyone with trees that shed their leaves knows that in the fall everything on that lawn will start to look alike. Where’s the poop? Oh, it’s out there somewhere but try to find it.

Labrador retrievers, lab puppy, dogs www.ducksnarow.com

Our Lexi with little Sadie.

Then there’s the winter. Winter is how I finally found Doodymaster. Our dog, Blondie (a beautiful big English yellow lab) was a big pooping machine! I used to think “If there only was someone who wanted to buy this stuff. I’d be rich!”.

Anyhow, we had a particularly hard winter. Layer upon layer of snow. For the time being it was great. She’d go out and do her business, then it’d snow and “voila”…no poop! Yeah, right. Then came the spring thaw. The lawn became an historical record of “all that had gone before”. Thank the Lord that, at just the right time, we heard about Doodymaster. We called them and they came to the rescue. Do you need rescued too?

For more about their company, read “Five Reasons You Don’t Poop Scoop” and visit their website: Doodymaster

Are you a DOG LOVER? There is no hiding it, dog lover that I am, Labrador Retrievers–especially yellow labs– are my all-time favorite dogs!
More about Labrador Retrievers here.

Labrador Retrievers, dogs www.ducksnarow.com

Lexi and Troy

Lexi is an English Yellow Lab. Troy is an American Yellow Lab

Previously on Ducks ‘n a Row (and other places)