Pets are great company, but their hair gets everywhere: car seats, sofas, carpets and clothes. With the right tools and a little routine, you can keep it under control without spending hours cleaning.
Start with the pet
Regular brushing removes loose hair before it lands on your furniture. Brush outdoors when you can, a few times a week, and more often during shedding season. Grooming gloves make this easy, and most pets enjoy the attention.
In the car
- Remove floor mats and shake them out.
- Loosen embedded hair with a rubber glove or a rubber squeegee, wiping in one direction to gather it into clumps.
- Vacuum with a handheld vacuum, using a crevice tool along seams and a brush tool on fabric.
- Finish with a lint roller on headrests and seat belts.
- Use a washable seat cover or hammock for future trips.
On the couch
- Run a slightly damp rubber glove over the cushions to roll hair into clumps.
- Vacuum with an upholstery or motorized brush attachment.
- Use a washable throw where your pet likes to sleep, and wash it weekly.
On carpet and rugs
- Vacuum slowly with overlapping passes, in more than one direction.
- A rubber carpet rake loosens hair that a vacuum misses.
- Clean the vacuum's brush roll often, as hair wraps around it and reduces suction.
Tools that help
- A cordless handheld vacuum with a motorized pet brush
- Rubber grooming gloves for both the pet and the furniture
- A lint roller for clothes and quick touch-ups
- Washable covers and throws for the car and sofa
Combine regular brushing with a quick weekly clean, and pet hair becomes a small chore rather than a constant battle.
