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Living with a furry animal means having to deal with certain amounts of pet hair on a more-or-less daily basis. And while most pet owners have grown to accept this fact, tackling the pet hair buildup can still be quite tiresome. If only our pets were adept at cleaning up after themselves!
Wishful thinking aside, let’s take a look at the best ways to remove pet hair from your clothes, furniture, carpets, and other parts of your home and person.
How to Remove Pet Hair from Clothes?
The best ways to remove pet hair from your clothes are to use a lint roller or sticky tape, to throw them in the dryer before you wash them, and to actually throw them in the wash.
Depending on the fabric of your clothing and the quality of your pet’s hair, you may need to employ more than one method, and even then you may discover some stubborn hairs are still embedded in there.
Try these methods and see how they serve your pet-hair-removal efforts:
Use a Lint Roller
A lint roller is a great tool for removing pet hair from your clothing. You can find them at very low prices, and they are easy to carry with you and stash around the house. Keep a couple of them on hand in the home, strategically placed: by the bed, the sofa, and near the front door.
Make sure that the tape is not too strong and sticky before you use it on some of your more sensitive items, as you don’t want to inadvertently snag on a fabric.
Lint rollers should also be used to remove pet hair before you throw an item into the wash: it will come out even cleaner, and the fur won’t clog up your washer.
Use Some Sticky Tape
If you don’t have a lint roller on hand, you can also use sticky tape to remove pet fur from your clothing. Don’t use strong, industrial tape, as you may damage the item: choose a gentler piece of tape that will not leave any glue residue on your items.
Wrap the tape around your hand for easier handling and control (sticky side out), and pick up as much of the pet hair as you can.
Throw Your Clothes in the Dryer
If you have a dryer, you can use it to get pet hair off your clothing before you wash it. This will ensure it isn’t lodged in the fabric too deep.
Set the dryer to a no heat or a low heat cycle, and add a couple of dryer sheets. Throw your clothes in and run a short cycle, or just terminate it after 10 or so minutes. The dryer sheets will reduce the static in your clothes, repelling it into the dryer’s lint trap.
Once your clothing is pet hair-free, you can wash it as you usually would. You can use a lint roller to remove any left-over fur, if needed.
Make sure to only do this for clothing that are dryer-safe.
Wash Your Clothes
You can of course just wash the clothing that is covered in pet hair to get it off. However, bear in mind that some (if not a lot) of it may still stick to the fabric, and may even become embedded even deeper.
The stray hair you pick up as you share your space with a furry feline or canine will most likely be removed in the regular wash. All your more hairy items, so to speak, should first be treated with one of the methods outlined above.
How to Remove Pet Hair from Furniture?
The best ways to remove pet hair from furniture are to vacuum it, use a rubber glove, a dry sponge, or spray some fabric softener or anti-static spray on it.
The more regularly you clean your furniture, the easier it will be, as there will be less hair buildup on it. If you don’t have the time or the energy to clean the entire house, make sure to at least tackle the spaces your pet uses most often: around their food and water bowls, their bed or crate, and their favourite place on the couch.
Start by Vacuuming
Your best ally in combating pet hair in the home is the vacuum cleaner. Newer models also often come with special pet hair removal heads or attachments, so investing in one could save you a lot of effort.
A handheld vacuum cleaner is another good investment for tackling those everyday cleanups, as it will save you the trouble of getting the big boy out every time.
Before you do anything else in the pet hair removal department, crack out the vacuum cleaner, and get rid of the majority of the fur.
Use a Rubber Glove
A rubber glove can also be a great way to get rid of unwanted pet hair from furniture, upholstery, even curtains.
Just rub the rubber glove over the couch or the armchairs, and watch as it rolls off in nice tufts you can pick up and dispose of. Make sure to only rub in one direction, to make good use of the static cling.
While it does sound like a term only Tesla would understand, the principle itself is simple. The friction between the rubber of the glove and the fabric of the furniture creates static cling, causing hair, lint, and other debris to stick to the conductor (in this case, your magic glove).
Getting the glove damp can sometimes enhance its fur-attracting properties, so if you aren’t quite satisfied with the results, dry adding a bit of water into the mix.
Use a Dry Sponge
You can also use a dry kitchen sponge to get rid of dog or cat hair from your couch and other upholstery. Make sure it’s clean and completely dry, and just slowly run it over the pieces of furniture you want to clean.
If the fabrics of your items allow, you can use a slightly damp sponge too: but make sure you don’t do so on sensitive materials, and check the care instructions that came with the pieces.
Use Old Nylon Socks or Stockings
If you have a pair of nylon socks you aren’t likely to wear again, you can use them to get rid of pet hair from your furniture as well.
Just wear the sock (stockings will work just as well) like a glove, and run it over your armchairs, sofa or bed. The hair will stick to it rather well, so you will likely want to throw it out afterwards.
This is a great method for getting rid of the more stubborn hairs, if you don’t have a lint roller on hand.
Spray Some Fabric Softener
Mixing some fabric softener with water and spraying it on your furniture can also help you get rid of pet hair. All you have to do is wipe it off with a cloth, and the fur will be lifted off the fabric.
This trick will also make the room smell nice and freshen your furniture up. Just make sure you don’t use smells that are very harsh, or products that may be harmful to your pet. Always check the label before you expose your pet to a cleaning product.
Spray an Anti-Static Spray
You can also use an anti-static dusting spray, especially on any wooden furniture, to prevent the hair from re-sticking. It will eliminate the electric charge that causes it to cling to the fabric in the first place, making cleaning that bit easier.
You can also use furniture polish, as long as it is safe for your pet.
Make sure you get a good cloth to wipe the hair away afterwards: something made out of microfiber can work well.
Use a Roller or Some Tape
You can of course also reach for a lint roller or your DIY tape glove. Masking tape will work well on furniture, as it’s strong enough to get rid of the pet hair, but the glue won’t stain the fabric.
How to Remove Pet Hair from Carpet?
The best ways to remove pet hair from the carpet are to vacuum it, use a window squeegee, a pumice stone or a hair brush.
When trying to get rid of pet hair from a carpet, always start by vacuuming it, to get rid of the loose fur. You can then use one of the following tricks to get rid of the more stubborn bits.
Use a Window Squeegee
A window squeegee can be your best ally in getting rid of pet hair from the carpet. All you need to do is rub it through thoroughly, and watch as the hair turns into balls you can easily get rid of by hand.
You should also do another round of vacuuming, just to catch any stray hairs that have remained at large.
Use a Pumice Stone
A pumice stone can also be a great aid in getting rid of stubborn, pesky cat or dog hair from your carpets. All you have to do is gently rub it along the surface, and it will catch the offending hairs.
Make sure it’s clean and dry before you start using it on your carpet, as you don’t want to transfer any shower product residue.
Use a Hair Brush
Hair brushes (or pet hair brushes) can also help you get to those hard-to-get strands of pet hair that have taken firm hold of your carpet. They will work especially well with shaggy carpets.
Make sure the brush has metal bristles, and just run it through your carpet. Use even strokes, and direct them all in the same direction: towards you. You want to gather all the fur at a common point of collection, so you can easily get rid of the hair balls your end up creating.
You will also likely need to get rid of the buildup of hair that accumulates on the brush. And you may want to stop using it on your own hair.
How to Remove Pet Hair from Floors?
The best ways to remove pet hair from your floors are to use a rubber broom or a microfiber dust mop.
You can of course also use a vacuum cleaner or wash your floors with a regular mop, but some pet hair might still manage to escape your efforts, so having a rubber or a microfiber, anti-static tool in your arsenal will help.
Use a Rubber Broom
A rubber broom will work well on both tile and wood floors. Since rubber has electrostatic properties, it will attract the pet hair like a magnet, and you won’t just be kicking up a lot of dust: you’ll actually be getting rid of the fluff.
A rubber broom will also help you get into those tougher areas: corners, cracks in the floor and other nooks.
Note that a regular broom won’t work nearly as well: it absolutely has to be a rubber one.
Use a Microfiber Dust Mop
You need to either create or eliminate static to get rid of pet hair. When you get rid of static, the pet hair will be easy to mop up. When you create it, like with a rubber broom, it clings to the object you are using to wipe.
This is why a microfiber or an anti-static mop will work better than the one you use to mop your kitchen and bathroom floors. A microfiber mop will also attract plenty of dust, so you will be doing some “regular” cleaning as well.
Make sure you also give your floors a wash after getting rid of the pet hair, and not before.
How to Remove Pet Hair from Car?
The best ways to remove pet hair from the car are to either vacuum it, use a lint roller or some hair curlers, or reach for a rubber glove. You can also try the balloon trick.
If you have a handheld vacuum cleaner, take it with you to the car and get rid of the pet hair that has built up on your back seat. You can also equip yourself with a lint roller and keep it in the car, or try out the rubber glove tactic.
Of course, the very best way to get rid of pet hair in the car is to have it professionally cleaned. Since this is also the most expensive method, you may only want to reach for it a couple of times a year. In the meantime, try these tricks:
Use Some Velcro Hair Curlers
If you happen to own some velcro hair curlers, they can be a simple and very effective way to get rid of pet hair from your car seats. Just run them over the upholstery, and watch the pet hair accumulate.
This can be a simpler way to de-fur the car, as you won’t have to keep changing the sheets on a lint roller. On the other hand, you will have to keep cleaning the curlers.
Use a Balloon
You have most likely never thought of using a balloon to get rid of pet hair, but the basic science that governs static electricity makes this a super effective hack.
Blow a balloon up (or get the kids to join in), and rub it over the car seats. Most of the fur will stick to it, and you can easily wipe it off (at a safe distance from the open car door, as you don’t want it to be blown back in by an interfering wind).
You can then use a roller to pick up any leftover hairs.
Do note that you might get a bit of a static shock yourself when using this method, especially if you happen to be a good conductor at the time too.
How to Remove Pet Hair from Washing Machine?
In order to remove unwanted pet hair from your washing machine, you will need to wipe the tub, clean out the filter, run regular cleaning cycles, and deep clean your washer every couple of months. You can also use a floating lint trap in a top-loading machine to catch the hair that gets dislodged from your clothing in the wash.
If you are the owner of a furry pet who loves to snuggle, you will need to take extra care of your washing machine as well.
First, use a paper towel to wipe the inner tub and the rubber seal after every wash, to get rid of the pet hair that has stuck there. You don’t want to transfer pet hair from the previous cycle to the clothes you are about to wash. You can use a slightly damp cloth, if the paper towel doesn’t do a good job.
You should also run regular cleaning cycles: this might mean you simply run an empty cycle, preferably using hot water and washing machine cleaner. Deep clean your washer every couple of months as well, just to make sure the pet hair doesn’t damage it and clog it up.
If you have a pet, you also won’t be able to get away with not cleaning your washer’s filter. All of the debris off your clothes gets trapped there, and if you don’t get rid of the pet hair, it will certainly make the washer much less effective.
You can also try using a floating lint trap that will collect some of the fur and other lint as the clothes get washed. Note that it will only work with a top-loading machine.
How to Remove Pet Hair from Dryer?
To remove pet hair from your dryer, you should regularly clean and vacuum your lint trap, and regularly wipe the inside of your appliance.
When you notice any pet hair inside your dryer, grab a slightly damp cloth and wipe it all away. Clean the lint trap after every cycle, and use your vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean it every month, or if you notice there is pet fur in there you can’t remove.
Your dryer should also be deep cleaned at least once a year, to ensure it keeps working at its best, and that no pet hair clogs it up.
Wrapping It Up
Removing pet hair from your clothing, furniture, carpets and floors doesn’t have to be as big of a challenge as you think. All you have to do is arm yourself with the right tools, and regularly tackle this task to prevent too much of the fur your pet sheds from accumulating in your home.