How to Remove Pet Hair from Furniture and Carpets

Pet owners know how stubborn pet hair can be. It clings to upholstery, works its way deep into carpet fibres and settles on car seats and clothing no matter how often you clean. With the right methods, though, you can keep the whole house – and the car – fur-free.

1. Vacuuming with pet-specific tools

Vacuuming is the most effective way to remove pet hair from carpets and furniture.

• Use a vacuum designed for pet hair, with strong suction and specialised attachments.
• Vacuum carpets at least twice a week, especially in high-traffic areas.
• Use the upholstery attachment on cushions, crevices and armrests.

2. Lint rollers for quick clean-ups

Lint rollers are the fastest way to lift hair from furniture and small surfaces.

• Adhesive rollers pick hair off cushions, throws and blankets effortlessly.
• For larger surfaces, a reusable lint brush saves time and waste.

3. Rubber gloves and squeegees

This is the one most people are surprised by, and it works better than almost anything else on upholstery.

• Dampen a rubber glove – ones with a raised grip work best – shake off the excess water, and run your fingers over the fabric in short scraping strokes. The hair gathers into clumps you can lift straight off.
• It’s particularly good for nooks, crannies and down the back of a sofa, where a vacuum attachment can’t reach.
• A rubber squeegee does the same job on carpet, lifting embedded hair a vacuum leaves behind.
• A dampened sponge, rubbed in one direction, works on chairs and cushions too.

4. Packing tape or duct tape

When you don’t have a lint roller to hand, wrap packing or duct tape around your hand with the sticky side facing out and pat it over the furniture. It’s a quick fix rather than a deep clean, but it works.

5. Fabric softener to break the static

Much of what holds pet hair in place is static, and fabric softener breaks it.

• Wipe furniture with a dryer sheet to lift hair and reduce static.
• For carpets, mix a small amount of fabric softener with water in a spray bottle and apply a fine mist – don’t saturate the carpet. Let it dry completely, then vacuum. The hair lifts far more easily than it would from a dry carpet.

6. Pet hair rakes, rubber brooms and stiff brushes

Some breeds, particularly short-haired ones, shed hair that works into carpet like fine needles and simply won’t vacuum out.

• A rubber broom works through static – the hairs jump onto the bristles.
• A pet hair rake penetrates carpet fibres to lift what standard vacuums miss.
• Sweeping with a stiff-bristled brush before you vacuum makes a noticeable difference.

7. Getting pet hair out of the car

Car interiors are harder than the house: the fabric is tightly woven, the spaces are tight, and there’s nowhere for hair to go.

• The damp rubber glove method is the most effective thing you can do to car upholstery. Work in short strokes across the seat.
• Use a stiff brush along the seams and where the seat back meets the base, then vacuum.
• Do the boot as well if your dog travels in it – hair migrates from there back into the cabin.
• A rubber squeegee works on car carpet and mats. Take the mats out and do them separately.

8. Getting pet hair off clothing

Every method above works on clothing, but there’s one that’s easier than all of them: put the item in the tumble dryer for around 20 minutes and let the lint filter do the work. You don’t need heat – a cool cycle works just as well, so it’s safe for most fabrics. Clear the lint filter afterwards.

9. Regular grooming to reduce the problem

The most effective approach is to stop the hair reaching the carpet at all.

• Brush your pets daily to reduce shedding and catch loose hair before it lands.
• Use a deshedding brush for breeds that shed heavily.

When it’s time for a professional clean

Pet hair that’s been trodden into carpet over months, along with the dander and odour that come with it, needs more than a vacuum. Households with pets generally benefit from professional carpet cleaning every 6 to 12 months – see our guide on how often carpets should be cleaned.

See our carpet cleaning in London, or get in touch for a quote.