Tackling Pet Hair and Dirty Carpets: My New Favorite Cleaning Tool

How I Finally Won the Battle Against Pet Hair and Dirty Carpets

When you share your home with two 80-pound dogs and six cats, you learn pretty quickly that cleaning isn’t optional—it’s survival. Pet hair, tracked-in dirt, and mystery paw prints are a daily reality around here. Over the years, I’ve tried more vacuums and carpet cleaners than I care to admit, but recently I upgraded to two new tools that have changed everything.

My Everyday Hero: The Shark Navigator Lift Away XL Multisurface

Back in November, I picked up this Shark Bagless vacuum. Let me tell you, this thing can suck—and I mean that in the best possible way. I’ve tried several other brands over the years, but this one pulled out dirt and pet hair that my old vacuums were leaving behind.

👉 List Price: $199
👉 Sale Price: $150

It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, and powerful enough to keep up with my furry crew.

The Deep Clean Machine: Shark CarpetXpert HairPro

Daily vacuuming is great, but sometimes carpets need a real deep clean. For my birthday, I skipped the jewelry and asked my husband for a carpet shampooer (yes, I sent him the link to make sure he got the right one!).

I’ve used Bissell and Hoover products for years, but when my last one stopped performing, I decided it was time for something new. I landed on the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro, and wow—game changer.

👉 List Price: $329.99
👉 Sale Price: $199.99

The first time I used it, I couldn’t believe how much dirt and grime it pulled up. I wish I had taken before-and-after photos, but I did snap one of our high-traffic entryway. That carpet was practically black from tracked-in dirt. After just one cleaning, it looked so much better, and with one or two more passes, I know it’ll look almost new again.

Final Thoughts

Between the Shark Bagless for daily maintenance and the CarpetXpert HairPro for deep cleaning, my carpets are finally standing a fighting chance against eight furry residents. If you’re a pet parent struggling with stubborn hair and dirt, I can honestly say: you get what you pay for.

Now, if only there was a machine that could stop the shedding in the first place…

Wizard Robe

Spent the day working a wizard robe for a friend. Creating this without a pattern. Here is what I have so far. I will update this as I go. More to come! 

10/3/2025

Update!! Here is a pic of the finished wizard robe and the dress I made for his girlfriend.

 

54in Cat Tree Tower

I have 7 cats. Anyone who has cats, knows they love to look out the windows. I got this and decided to put it in by my front door. We have double doors with glass so one stays closed. My cats LOVE it!

 

We had to replace our front doors. The original doors were double doors so I opted to replace them with double doors. We are still in the process of upgrading the house. It's been a long process but making progress! We are doing what we can as we can afford it. Found these patio doors with the built-in blinds between the panes at Lowes.

If you would like to purchase these items, here are the links

Cat Tree  https://a.co/d/dov1Ee8

Doors http://bit.ly/46PXTGx

The most comfortable pair of slippers.

I received my new slippers today, and they are incredibly comfortable! In the past, I've bought slippers with outdoor soles, but I could feel everything underfoot when I wore them outside. These new slippers have thicker soles, making them much more suitable for outdoor use. From the moment I put them on, I could tell they were constructed more durably than other brands I've tried.

I first saw these slippers on the Walmart app, but they were out of my size in this color. So, I found them on Amazon and ordered them for $19.99 with a 15% off coupon. Some colors are the same price (I got Eggplant), while others are a bit more expensive.

I don't have the best lighting, here's a pic of them on.

Here's the link to get yours:  https://amzn.to/40VnVXf  

• Easy On/Off Design: The convenient slip-on design makes these slippers perfect for quick transitions between indoor and outdoor activities.
• Waffle Knit Upper: The stylish two-tone waffle knit upper enhances breathability, adding a unique aesthetic while ensuring your feet stay comfortable.
• Memory Foam Comfort: Experience the plush feel of memory foam cushioning with every step, offering a luxurious, personalized comfort.
• Durable Anti-Skid Sole: The durable rubber sole features anti-skid properties, providing safe and secure footing on a variety of surfaces.
• Machine Washable: The machine-washable material allows for easy maintenance, keeping your slippers fresh and clean for long-lasting wear.

They are made by RockDove out of California.   

Here is their story as it appears on Amazon:

RockDove was created for five birdwatchers of the Los Angeles Audubon Society in 2002. They were our customers, when we weren't yet a slipper company, but a beachside workshop in Santa Monica, California that resoled hiking boots. For fifteen years we protected the feet of avid adventurers as they trekked punishing terrains across southern California's mountains and deserts. As their local shoe cobbler, when customers had footwear needs, they came to us. And over time they asked for something that was badly missing, not in their time conquering the outdoors but in their lives at home—quality indoor shoes to console their high-mileage, trail-weary feet. So for Christmas that year, we handmade five pairs of slippers for our long time Audubon customers using a low-cut boot last.

The Experiment

Shoe brands in southern California, where sunny beaches and flip flops rule, don't pay much attention to slippers. So we had little to build on. However, we did know how to make comfortable, long lasting footwear. Using mattress memory foam, gel insoles, anti-shock cushioning from hiking boots, and more, we designed slippers with the goal of comforting extremely tired feet. Two months later when we sent out a newsletter about our little experiment, customers responded with 350 mail orders. We named our slippers after the most mundane bird we knew, the rock dove (pigeon) often seen strutting the boardwalks of Santa Monica Pier. They’re a memento of where we’re from and what we represent.

The Sweet Spot Comfort Level

Our quest to get comfort down to a science pushed us to become one of the earliest adopters of high-density memory foam in slippers. In 2004, we reached out to local sleep experts at the Long Beach Mattress Company to source their memory foam toppers, which we then molded into insoles. But mattress comfort didn't exactly translate to slipper comfort. So we obsessively tweaked the density and firmness ratings of our foams to create that “sweet spot” level: one that offers incredible comfort, yet not so much cushioning that you’ll feel like walking in quicksand. Today, at the heart of each RockDove slipper is a multilayered foam construction—a 40-70D memory foam pressure-mapped to every part of the plantar aspect, a support foam that adds firmness, and an anti-shock EVA layer.

Water is Life

We have bottled water delivered to our home by ReadyRefresh. It has been a game changer. They have Perrier, Red Bull, Starbucks, Pure Life, Ozarka and much more.  We get the 5 gallon Pure Life bottles.

I got tired of having bottles in my floor. I found this cart on Amazon. (If you saw one of my other posts, I have ADHD) This helps keep them organized and not on the floor. 

Links are below:

Ready Refresh delivery

Purchase cart here

Lifesaving label maker

I was diagnosed with ADHD last year. I have been working on organizing my home. This handy label printer has been a lifesaver! No longer forgetting what I stored where. I have labeled so many things. 

I am now more organized!

It's actually affordable too!! The one I bought was $19.99 and has a $4 off coupon!

 Get yours here!

Shower upgrade!

I was tired of my old shower caddy. Found this one on Amazon. What a game changer!

You can configure them anyway you like. Here is the photo from Amazon.

And here is what I did!

You can do what you WANT!! They don't have to be used in the shower. The adhesive holds. Those are all full bottles I have on the shelves.

Here are the links to get a new look for your shower.

Get the shower caddy here

Get the shower head here