TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . ABOUT US . CONTACT . CHAT  
Bomis   Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
Household Tips With Critters Involved

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: Hairball Haven (ARCHIVES): Household Tips With Critters Involved users admin

Author Message
Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 9:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I thought it might be good to have a thread for various tips around the house when you have critters.

Like, getting pet stains up, or other cleaning tips.

And of course, to ask questions of the experts.

My first question involves dog hair, and chair casters.

The casters on my computer chair have become completely bogged and clogged up with dog hair. Bomba is a Super Shedder. You can sweep, vacuum, de-hair on a daily basis, and still end up with your light colored carpet looking black the next day (he's the type of dog who sheds in huge clumps).

Anyway, hair has ended up in the casters of my chair. It wasn't noticeable at first, cause my heavy weight in the chair still got the rollers rolling when needed, though I did notice a while back that the chair didn't move as easily any more when I went to push it in when I left the desk.

Yea, I know I should have stayed on top of it. But that's the procrastinator in me. I had to wait until it got real bad to try and do anything about it.

I tried flipping the chair over and going at the casters with a needle nose plier. I pulled some hair out, but the hair is so tightly wound in there, its near impossible. I suppose if I worked and worked and worked at it, I'd eventually get it all out. But....with five casters on the chair, that will take forever!

I thought of getting something like Draino (or something that says it "dissolves clogs"). But how to apply it (if it would even really work) is a problem, especially with the toxic nature of it. I don't want it ending up on the floor where Bomba could get to it. Flipping the chair upside down means the stuff would drip down and off the caster. I was thinking of maybe finding a shallow bowl, filling it with the stuff, and setting the caster down in. But again, too much potential danger to poisoning Bomba.

The casters probably could come out. But I remember having a heck of a time getting them to pop into place when I assembled the chair. So I don't know if I'd be strong enough to pull the caster out (if its even designed to come out once its snapped into place).

So, does anyone have a thought on my ideas? Bad idea? Good idea, but a better way to do it? Do you have a whole different better idea on how to free up the casters on the chair?

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Saturday, October 30, 2004 - 9:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Maybe a very thin file or even dental floss to get into the crevice?? Assuming there is a crevice...

I don't think Drano is a good idea.

hmm do you have a small torch, like for creme brulee.. lol.. or one of Mom's lighters? It would smell but you might be able to burn it out.

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 8:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOL SEA. You should have posted a spew alert.

If I had been drinking coffee while reading your suggestion - coffee would have been all over the monitor. Is it just me that finds setting chair casters on fire funny?

It just might work tho . . .

How about cutting off the hair with a razor blade or box cutter?

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 9:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think it's just you Rosie...

..cuz i think if the casters are metal, the burning thing might work the best. But make sure you are very careful Who! Make sure you have adult supervision!

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 9:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
WD 40 - spray loosens the fibers, lubricates them and makes them easier to remove. Then use the needle-nose pliers.

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 9:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
If you burn, take the chair outside to do it.

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 10:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    


Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 10:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good advice, Rosie!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 12:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i can see the headline now, "Woman sets fire to office chair in Colorado"

Lucy
Member

10-08-2002

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 2:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I would try using scissors or box cutters. Burning it off came to mind, but that would sure make a stinky mess.
a

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 2:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, the fire would be a stinky mess. But the real worry would be, what would melt first, the hair or the plastic casters?

I'll have to try the WD-40 idea. I'd thought of that, but didn't know if it would work.

I can barely get the needle nose pliers into the casters, so I don't think I could get a scissors or box cutter deep enough into it to cut the hair out. But its still an option.

Thanks for the ideas! More ideas are welcome of course!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 4:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
How about just buying a new chair? then of course you'd have to shave Bomba every day!

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 5:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well I was brainstorming and had infinite trust in Who not to torch a plastic or rubber caster, LOL..

Strong dental floss might be able to get in there..

Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 8:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My daughter's long hairs frequently fall to the floor when we brush her locks, and the loose hairs end up wound tightly around the metal spindle-thingy on my upright carpet sweeper, causing the belt to slip. I have to remove the rubber belt from the pulley and cut the hairs away a few at a time with a sharp knife, Whoami, so I can picture your hairy problem with the chair casters.

Honestly, the first thing I thought of was holding a cigarette lighter to the hair, myself. I don't think it's that crazy an idea, but I guess you would have to be careful if the casters are made of plastic! :-)

Lobster
Member

04-13-2001

Wednesday, November 03, 2004 - 7:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Who, isn't your sister a vet? Ask her if she has a pair of tweezers that are thin and come to a sharp point. I have a pair like that and I'm not sure where they came from but I know that they are for medical use. You should be able to get those in the casters.

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 8:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You can buy those sharp tweezers at the store.

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 3:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yes, my sis is a vet, but she lives in San Diego. Wouldn't the needle nose pliers be just as effective? And maybe a little stronger?

Anyway, I'm not sure if getting down into the caster is as much a problem as the hair is so tightly wound around and in, that it won't pull out easily.

When I get a chance to tackle it again, I think I'll try the WD-40 spray, a box cutter blade, and the pliers. And a whole lot of time and tenacity!

Thanks for all the tips! We'll get my chair rolling smoothly again!

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 5:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Who, I use needle-nosed pliers to get my daughter's long red hair out of her sink drain. When I get a good hold, I roll the hair round and round the tip of the pliers. That way you really get a good grip with lots of leverage.

Nansco98
Member

03-06-2003

Sunday, November 07, 2004 - 12:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
How about using that shaving stuff called Nair, would it help disolved some of it. They have different brands out there, maybe one is for really hairy legs or chairs in this case.