Now that the temperatures are starting to climb, it's about time to ditch the winter wardrobe for something lighter. And any pet owner will tell you it's not only humans who like to shed some excess layers for the summer months.

Indeed, dogs shedding shaggy fur in order to keep cool is one of the biggest challenges facing the house-proud pet owner, and it can often feel like you spend more time cleaning up loose hairs than you do lazing in the garden.

However, as a veteran pet-owner will tell you, there are a few simple but effective tricks you can use when trying to keep your home a fur-free zone.

Some people swear by cutting the problem off at the source – that is, catching the loose fur before it has time to cover your carpets (or curtains, or cushions or duvets). If your dog is sufficiently docile, use the nozzle of the hoover and suck up any loose fur. It may even be a treat for them and a time-saver for you.

If, however, this isn't an option, then you will have to get busy removing hair from your furnishings. Of course, there are plenty of products on the market promising to do just this. But none are more effective than simply wrapping some tape around your hands, sticky side out, and then patting away on your couch or carpets and picking up hairs as you go along. The wider the pieces of tape, the more effective this will be, and get ready to rip off more pieces if you have a particularly hairy hound to clean up after.

And, of course, nothing beats calling in the professionals, with their specialist cleaning tools capable of blitzing even the most fur-infested home, leaving you free to concentrate on enjoying the summer.

Copyright @ FastKlean