Almost one in two UK households own a pet. Cats and dogs are the preferred companion – that's around 7 million of each.

Let's not forget our other furry friends too – pet rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, rats total around 0.3 million.

Q: That's a lot of pet hair being molted in our homes – and it's not the easiest of things to remove from the carpet or sofa. With families wanting a healthier home environment, pet hygiene is a key area, so what's the best way to remove pet hair and those little pet mishaps on the carpet?

A: Now, it need not be a 'hair-raising' experience. BISSELL, the originator of deep cleaning, has developed an extensive new portfolio of pet-cleaning specific products to help.

Developments of its previous appliance formats, its 'pet family' comprises these new machines - Lift-Off Pet Spin Power, QuickWash Pet, Pet Hair Eraser, Pet Pack, supported with an armoury of pet cleaning formulae.

New BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser This flagship appliance features '2X' cyclonic action providing superior suction for even more thorough dirt and pet hair pick-up. Plus, the HEPA media filter ensures better cleaning, capturing 99.9% of pet dander, dust mites, pollens.

The machine's Clean Zone features the Pet Hair Lifter, which grabs pet hair, so it's more easily removed, and a flexible Pet Contour Tool which bends and flexes to loosen pet hair stuck on curved surfaces such as stair edges, suite arms, cushions.

While, the Pet Turbo Brush with its rubber 'teeth/fingers' efficiently grabs pet hairs, loosening them so they can be removed and sucked up by the rotating power brush.

Available from around £149.99.

More info/to purchase visit: www.bisselldirect.co.uk -ends- Media enquiries, images/Jpegs from: Victor Wheeler 020 8441 2021; Fax: 020 8440 4070 victor@ceruleancom.co.uk Note to editors

Pet stats (quoted above) Source – PFMA/TNS – www.pfma.org.uk.

BISSELL's Pet family portfolio

Pet Hair Eraser Spec • Scruff resistant bumper – edge-to-edge cleaning. • All surface cleaning – seven height adjustments. • Easy empty dirt container, filter check indicator. • 14 ft 'twist & snap' reinforced stretch hose. • 35 ft power cord with easy release mechanism. • Large, easy to manoeuvre wheels. • Washable pre-motor filter. • Ergonomic loop handle. • Accessories – extension wand, crevice tool, dusting/upholstery tool.

ProHeat 2X Select With its two sets of brushes and Turbo Brush, this machine in striking aubergine is also ideal for removing pet hair. The two sets of brush heads with 12 rows of bristles significantly outperform all other methods - doubling the cleaning performance ie '2x'.

The dual heat process heats up hot tap water to 25 degrees, effectively warming the cleaning formula, driving deep cleaning performance to new heights.

Surround suction with its powerful edge-to-edge brushes efficiently removes from the carpet deep down dirt and water for a thorough clean.

Spec • Dual brush heads with 12 rows of bristles • Scotchgard post treatment protection • TurboBrush – for pet hairs and stairs • Bare floor tool for hard floor cleaning • 30 foot cord Available from around £299.99.

New QuickWash Pet Ultra-light upright carpet and bare floor cleaner, ideal for quick cleaning-up after your pets.

Specially effective on spots and spills on rugs, for high traffic areas and bare floors, it comes supplied with the cleaning formula you need for pets - BISSELL's Pet Odour Wash and Protect, Pet Stain and Odour Remover trigger spray, plus Hard Floor cleaning formula.

While the DirtLifter Power Brush lifts deep down dirt, gently grooming the carpet for a cleaner, thorough job, the bare floor tool cleans hard floors like tiles and lino (though not wooden/laminate surfaces).

Features easy to fill and empty clean two-litre water/solution and dirty water tanks. Spec • Ergonomically designed handle. • Quick release cord wrap. • Eight metres of cord, plug/cord grip. • Large, easy to manoeuvre wheels. • Foot operated pedal on/off switch.

Available from around £129.99.

New Lift-Off Pet SpinPower The patented bagless upright with detachable cylinder vacuum cleaner. Its large, easy to manoeuvre wheels make it ideal for cleaning up after pets. The detachable cylinder means the appliance allows you to 'grab and go' anywhere in the home to remove that difficult pet hair. It's specially handy on stairs.

Its new Air Spin system extends suction power providing enhanced filtration and more power for effective dirt pick-up.

Spec • Powerful 1,800w upright vacuum with two motor system. • Power-driven rotating floor brush with auto agitator cut-off. • Quick release Easy Empty dust cup. • Seven height adjustments (pile to hard floor settings). • Three stage filtration (with HEPA media filter). • 30 foot power cord. • Wire-reinforced triple stretch anti-clog hose. • Wide Power Trak foot with window. • Grab and go easy cylinder release. • Motor protection system – thermal cut-off. • Tools include: stair cleaning tool, bare floor vacuuming tool, Turbo Brush. • Special hard floor cleaning feature.

Available from around £179.99.

New Pet Pack (universal) This clever new innovation turns any – it fits all major brands - vacuum cleaner into a handy pet vacuum.

It's a whole house solution pet pack featuring specially designed tools for cleaning up after pets, particularly removing pet hair. The extra wide Pet Turbo Brush makes cleaning faster and is great for beds and the pet's favourite spot on the couch.

Complete with Pet Contour Tool, you use the two universal adaptors supplied. to simply and quickly attach the Pet Pack tools to the vacuum cleaner's stretch hose – you're then ready to clean up after the pets.

Available from around £19.99.

Pet cleaning formulae OxyKICPet - highly effective dual-chambered system taking spot/stain cleaning to new heights, this special OxyKICPet formulation combats those mishaps pets make from time to time.

Available at around £9.99, it efficiently removes tough pet stains.

Pet Odour and Soil Removal – one formula with deep cleaning performance and Scotchgard™ protector that revitalises soil and stain protection for carpets. This machine formula is for anyone with a pet in their family. It penetrates fibres and breaks down difficult pet odours, cleaning away tracked-in dirt and stains, while adding stain and soil protection. Available at around £14.99 (1.5 litre size).

BISSELL Pet Stain and Odour Remover Trigger Spray Formula – for tough to remove pet stains, the formula contains special enzymes that will break down the stain. Enzyme Cleaning Action™ combines with cleaning agents to eliminate difficult pet odours and stains eg urine, faeces, blood, and vomit leaving a clean, fresh scent.

Available at around £5.99 (650 ml size).

About BISSELL BISSELL is a well-established brand in floorcare, renowned for its innovative deep cleaning appliances and formulae. As the inventor of the world's first carpet sweeper, BISSELL's heritage spans over 130 years. It produces the world's best selling vacuum cleaner and is the originator of deep cleaning.

BISSELL has been operating for over 115 years in the UK. Its UK arm is based in Old Windsor, Berkshire.

The US parent company is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the business originated. BISSELL is still a privately owned, family run enterprise (now in its fourth generation). Mark Bissell is its president and CEO.

More BISSELL information: phone 0870 2250109 or check out: www.bissell.com www.bissell-allrounder.com www.licensetospill.com www.the2x.com WE MEAN A HEALTHIER CLEAN! PROHEAT ALL ROUNDER – THE ALL-ROUND HOME CLEANER. CLEANS AND WASHES ALL KINDS OF FLOORS IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS BISSELL 2X PERFORMANCE – TWO BRUSH HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE! BISSELL – '2WICE' THE CLEANER, ONLY MORE SO! BISSELL – WE MEAN CLEAN! Media enquiries, images/Jpegs from: Victor Wheeler 020 8441 2021; Fax: 020 8440 4070 victor@ceruleancom.co.uk