By Michele Kadison

Where have I been?  I have had pets all my life and it has been a constant struggle between my love for them and my antipathy towards the fur and dander they leave behind.  Vacuuming, dusting, and mopping becomes a constant with a dog and several cats in the house, as all of you pet lovers know.  Pillows scoured with lint rollers that barely do the job, carpets that need going over and over to remove imbedded hairs, it’s a never-ending cycle.

Only recently did I find the miracle sponge known as the Gonzo Pet Hair Lifter.  This is a dry sponge that needs no water or chemicals in order to work like a dream.  With this sponge, you don’t need to vacuum or dry clean to remove pet hair and dander.  Just wipe any surface and all the debris rolls up into a ball that is easy to pick off and toss into the trash.  There is no trace of residue and you can use the sponge on any type of surface, including clothing, bedding, drapers, upholstery, lampshades, carpets, wallpaper, and wood.  It’s also great for cleaning regular dirt and dust, as well as pollen.  I’ve been cleaning my window screens, Venetian blinds, and the inside of my car with it and getting amazing results.  You can even use it on lights, ceiling vents, baseboards, acoustical tiles, as well as for cleaning your computer screen.

Once the Gonzo Pet Hair Lifter gets dirty, all you have to do is wash it with soap and water, let it dry, and its ready for reuse.  Because it is made of all natural materials, it’s toxin-free and environmentally safe.  So if you have pets, whether they be dogs, cats, horses, or lions, take my advice and get yourself this magical sponge, which takes the headache and backache out of keeping your surroundings clean.

Recently, while working on the GoVacuum Video Series, I came across a hilarious ad, advertising the strength of the Miele canisters.

While I have always applauded Miele engineering, I have to tip my hat to whoever put together such a funny and effective ad.

Check it out here:

Who knew cat vacuuming was so popular? Certainly not me. I thought Peter’s question would be a rare one, but some people have practically made a sport out of it! Check out the YouTube video below; you can also watch the video on YouTube’s site, and check out other cat vacuuming videos while you’re there. (Yes, there are more.)

I would like to get a small vacuum to use on the cat. I have used my big vacuum with a long hose and a soft brush on the end on the cat and that was acceptable to the cat ;-) so I would like to get a small QUIET hand held one that wouldn’t freak the cat out. I tried a Shark? one that was advertised as quiet but it was everything except quiet! Obviously I only need one with fairly low suction, don’t want the cat stuck to it.. /Peter

Dear Peter,

Well, believe it or not, you probably already found the best handheld vacuum for your needs. There are a few quieter ones, but they are also somehow much stronger, and would probably only serve to anger your cat. As an alternative, I recommend something that is sort of an in-between option: the Sanitaire SC3683A. It’s not a full-sized vacuum, and is meant more for quick and easy kitchen clean-ups, in the car, etc. That means it won’t be as loud as a full-sized beast, nor will it be as strong. It has a very light touch, especially when used with the brush attachment. Plus, since it has a longer hose than comes with most standard uprights, you can place the machine on the ground away from the cat and bring just the hose and brush attachment near. That’s gotta be way less intimidating than even a small and quiet handvac (the loud motor is that much further away) and less suction and noise than a full-sized vacuum. Especially useful is the variable suction control — if kitty starts complaining, you can just turn it down a notch and keep cleaning. After you’re done, it’s actually useful as a regular vacuum for cleaning around the house, around the litter box, in the garage, in your cat’s car, etc. I hope that helps! Let me know how it goes with Princess.

And for the other readers out there who don’t believe Peter is actually vacuuming his cat, Peter was kind enough to send us a link to a video of Princess being vacuumed. Enjoy!