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Reading Time: 7 minutesHaving a furry pet is one of the most rewarding responsibilities. But owning a furry pet also means constantly dealing with pet hair. If you don’t stay on top of cleaning your home, clothes and car, chances are you’ll find these hairy bundles all over the place.
So, how do you deal with pet hair everywhere? And, what is the best way to clean up pet hair? Here’s your guide to the easiest ways to clean up pet hair wherever you are in the house.
How To Remove Pet Hair from Floors
On hard surface floors, pet hair typically gathers into little furry tumbleweeds and rolls under furniture or along the edges of walls. On carpet, pet hair can be very difficult to see. But just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Let’s take a look at how to tackle pet hair depending on the type of flooring you have.
1. Use a Pet Vaccum for Carpets
Credit: Bissell
A vacuum is the best and easiest method for removing hair from carpeting. Roll over all surfaces twice in different directions to suck up any stubborn hairs tangled into the fibers of your carpet.
Some vacuums perform better with pet hair, so it’s recommended that you buy one specifically for pet hair. These are the most popular pet vacuums based on user reviews and recommendations:
- Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind
- Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- Dyson V11 Animal + Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
- Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Lithium Ion Cordless Hand Vacuum
Tip: Try a robot vacuum for automated cleaning.
Investing in a robot vacuum is also a smart and hands-off way to keep up with pet hair in between your regular vacuuming as well. With a robot vacuum, you can simply program a schedule and the device will perform its routine cleaning according to the schedule.
2. Use a Pumice Stone for Rugs or Hard-to-Reach Areas
It may be difficult to remove pet hair from short-pile rugs or small, hard-to-reach areas of your carpet. For areas like this, gently rub a pumice stone or portable lint roller on the surface to gather pet hair into a clump that is easier to vacuum up.
3. Use Dry Floor Wipes for Tile, Hardwood or Vinyl
Use a dry mop such as the Swiffer Heavy Duty Pet Products to pick up hair from tile, hardwood or vinyl. These specific cleaning cloths trap pet hair and allow you to get to hard-to-reach areas, especially hair that gets stuck in the groove between tiles.
How To Remove Embedded Pet Hair From Couch and Other Furniture
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Whether you let your pet sit on the furniture or not, chances are your furniture will end up with pet hair all over it.
1. Rub Dryer Sheets on Upholstered Furniture
Dryer sheets can work wonders at removing pet hair from upholstered furniture. Simply rub the dryer sheet around your chair or couch to catch all those stray unwanted hair.
2. Use a Damp Rubber Glove
You can also use a damp rubber glove to remove pet hair from furniture. Lightly wet the glove, then gently rub your hand over the surface of your furniture to gather hair. The damp glove will attract and lift hair from the fabric. It’s also easy to clean because you can simply rinse it off the glove.
3. Use a Dry, Clean Squeegee for Microfiber Couches
If you have a microfiber couch with pet hair all over it, use a dry, clean squeegee on the fabric to loosen the hair. This will bring the hair to the surface, which will make it easier to vacuum up.
How To Remove Pet Hair from Your Bed
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Even if your pet doesn’t sleep in bed with you, there’s likely hair throughout your bedding by the end of the week.
1. Use a Lint Roller
The sticky sheets on lint rollers are a quick way to pick up dog or cat fur stuck to your sheets, pillowcases and blankets. Rub the roller all over the affected areas on your bed and even your clothes while you’re at it.
Packing tape can also serve as a good substitute if you don’t have lint rollers on hand.
2. Shake Your Sheets Outside
Bring your blanket outside and give it a good shake to remove most of the hair. You may not be able to get rid of all the hair, but it should make it easier to get rid of the remaining hair once the bulk of the fur is off.
3. Use a Vacuum with a Brush Attachment
Vacuums will usually have a special attachment that you can use for the bed. A brush attachment will often work best as it can comb through the fabric to loosen any hair and suction it up right after.
How To Remove Pet Hair From Clothes
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If your clothes are already washed but still have pet hair on them, go over your clothes with a lint roller. A standard lint roller may not be sticky enough to grab stubborn hairs. We recommend this pet hair-specific lint roller.
Not interested in using disposable lint roller sheets? Try a reusable lint roller such as the ChomChom Roller Pet Hair Remover.
How To Get Rid of Pet Hair in a Washing Machine
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After washing your fur-covered clothing and bedding, you’ll probably find the inside of your machine is covered in hair.
1. Run an Extra Rinse Cycle While Empty
While you can manually wipe the inside of your washing machine drum with a cloth to remove leftover pet hair, you can also run an extra rinse cycle to wash away unwanted pet hair. This will prevent leftover pet hair from attaching to your next load of laundry.
2. Leave the Door Open to Dry, Then Vacuum
You also leave the door open and wait for the inside of your machine to completely dry, then vacuum the inside.
How To Remove Pet Hair From Your Car
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While this isn’t exactly your house, many consider it an extension of your home. And any pet owner can tell you that their car can easily become the hairiest location their pet has been.
1. Use a Small Vacuum with Attachments
If you don’t own a seat cover and you need to remove pet hair, it’s best to invest in a small vacuum that comes with different attachments. These attachments can help you reach the nooks and crannies of your car. Remember to go over the surfaces more than once and in different directions.
2. Use a Pumice Stone for Floors
Much like for rugs and carpets in your home, a pumice stone can be used to remove pet hair from your car’s flooring.
3. Use a Sticky Tape or Lint Rollers
For those who do not have a handheld vacuum, a lint roller or sticky tape will be able to pick up fur from the carpet and seats just fine.
4. Use Velcro Curlers
This may not be common knowledge, but velcro curlers are actually an effective way to pick up stray pet hair from fabric seats. Simply roll the curlers over the fabric back and forth to comb up the hair.
5. Use a Seat Cover for Prevention
Investing in a quality seat cover can save your car’s upholstery from dirt, mud, hair and other debris. If you have a car seat cover, all you have to do is throw it in the washing machine from time to time to keep it clean.
Tips for Controlling Pet Hair
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While there is no fool-proof way to prevent pet hair altogether other than getting a non-shedding breed, there are ways to reduce the pet hair floating around in your home.
1. Regular Grooming
No matter the breed of dog or cat you have, brushing your pet weekly will reduce the amount of hair in your home. For some breeds, you may need to also take them to the groomer regularly to get a haircut and professional brushing.
Helpful grooming tools include KONG Dog ZoomGroom Brush, True Touch Pet Deshedding Glove, and the Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool.
2. Choose Pet-Friendly Fabrics
When buying new furniture, opt for pet-friendly fabrics such as satin, leather, and other smooth, shiny materials.
Fabrics such as velvet, velour, cotton, and wool will attract and trap pet hair.
3. Run the Humidifier
Low humidity causes static electricity, which makes pet hair stick to surfaces even more than usual. Run a humidifier in your living space or invest in a whole-home humidifier to reduce the static in your home. This will help prevent pet hair from sticking to furniture.
4. Wash Bedding Regularly
Create a regular washing routine for your bedding to keep pet hair at bay. This is true for your pet’s bedding, too.
Simply washing and drying your bedding and your pet’s bedding will remove any pet hair. Don’t forget to empty the lint trap after the bedding is dry.
5. Use a Mattress Protector or Furniture Cover
To avoid getting pet hair on the mattress itself, which would be much more difficult to clean, use a mattress protector between the mattress and fitted sheet.
Pro tip: Invest in a waterproof protector in case your pet has an accident in bed.
Lots of Hair, But Lots of Love
As any fur parent knows, owning a pet can be a lot of work especially if your furry companion sheds a lot. Of course, all the extra work keeping your home clean is worth the extra love and companionship your pet provides you.
Slickdeals Staff
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