Remove Pet Hair from Carpets and Furniture

Pet hair can be a nuisance, clinging to carpets, furniture, and clothing. Here are some tips for effectively removing pet hair from your home.

Regular Vacuuming

Vacuuming is the first line of defense against pet hair. Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture at least twice a week to get rid of surface pet hair before it has a chance to work its way deeper into the fibers.

Upright vacuums with brush rolls are ideal for pulling pet hair out of carpet. I personally use a Dyson Animal vacuum which has a motorized tool specifically designed for removing pet hair. Canister vacuums like the Miele C3 Cat & Dog also work very well, especially for hard to reach areas.

Handheld vacuums like the Dyson V8 Animal are perfect for quickly cleaning up pet hair on furniture between deep cleanings. I keep mine fully charged so I can grab it and use it anytime my cat leaves fur behind on the couch or chair.

Frequent Washing of Fabric Surfaces

Washing fabric furniture covers and throw blankets that your pets lay on can help reduce clinging pet hair. I try to wash these items at least every 2 to 3 weeks if my cat has been using them a lot. Washing bed linens weekly also helps keep pet hair under control.

Use the highest water temperature recommended on the fabric care tag and add an extra rinse cycle to remove more hair. Machine drying on a low heat setting helps lift any remaining hairs off the fabric surface.

Rubber Brooms and Lint Rollers

Rubber brooms like the Evercare Pet Hair Removal broom are great for quickly removing pet fur from carpets and rugs between vacuuming. Just sweep it across the carpet and the rubber bristles grab the hair. They work best on short, tightly woven carpets.

Lint rollers let you quickly roll up pet hair from furniture, curtains, clothing, and more. Keep disposable sticky rollers all around the house and car so you can always tackle pet hair quickly. Reusable, self-cleaning lint rollers like the ChomChom Roller save money on sticky sheets.

Baking Soda as a Carpet Cleaner

To freshen carpets between deep cleaning, sprinkle baking soda liberally over the carpet. Let it sit for at least an hour to absorb odors and loosen pet hair from the carpet fibers. Then vacuum thoroughly to lift up the baking soda along with dirt, hair, and other debris. The baking soda leaves carpet smelling fresh. I like to do this once a month on high traffic areas.

Deep Cleaning Methods

About twice a year, do a deep clean of carpets and upholstery to remove deeply embedded pet hair and refresh these surfaces.

Rent a carpet cleaning machine like those available at hardware and grocery stores. Use the hottest water setting and multiple dry passes to get carpets very clean. Professional carpet cleaning services can also deep clean your carpets and rugs if you don’t want to rent a machine.

Have furniture professionally cleaned. Companies like Stanley Steemer offer truck-mounted extraction systems that deep clean upholstered furniture down to the base of the furniture where pet hair collects.

Deep cleaning keeps carpets and furniture hair-free longer between regular vacuuming, washing, and quick cleaning sessions.

Prevention Between Cleanings

There are some steps you can take to prevent pet hair from collecting between full cleaning sessions:

• Use mats and runners to catch pet hair at entryways and the doorways between rooms. Shake them out frequently.

• Close doors to areas you want to keep hair-free, like bedrooms.

• Cover furniture with washable slipcovers or throws to protect upholstery that can be removed and washed frequently.

• Place cushions and throws your pets lay on in the freezer for an hour before cleaning. The cold temperatures help release pet hair from fabrics.

• Brush your pet frequently to remove loose hair before it ends up all over the house.

With vigilance and the right tools, it’s possible to keep pet hair under control and live fur-free even with shedding cats and dogs!