Need to know how to get dog hair out of car upholstery and or carpet? We give you the steps here.
After taking your pooch on a car ride, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll find plenty of dog hairs stuck to the car seats and the carpets, especially if your dog is a heavy shedder.
Removing pet hair from car seats can be a tricky task. However, there are plenty of simple methods that are very effective in removing these hairs with relative ease!
In today’s guide, we’ll show you how to get dog hair out of car carpets and upholstery in 12 easy methods. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
12 Effective Methods to Get Dog Hair Out of Your Car
There’s a wide variety of methods to help you remove dog hair from your car carpets and upholstery.
In this section, we’ll discuss the most effective techniques that work on both loose and deeply embedded hairs:
1. Vacuum Cleaner
Let’s start with one of the easiest ways to get rid of pet hair in very little time. Vacuum cleaners, especially newer ones, have enough suction power to detach loose pet hairs from soft surfaces.
Also, many vacuum cleaners will come with a unique attachment designed specifically to get rid of pet hair to make it even easier. This one is shaped like a brush and has rubber bristles to catch lightly embedded hairs.
For that method, you can use any type of vacuum cleaner you have, such as:
- Home vacuum cleaners
- Portable (handheld) vacuum cleaners
- Shop vacs
Despite their speed, vacuum cleaners may not work best on deeply embedded hairs, so you might want to combine them with other methods for the best results.
Take your time while vacuuming each section in the car and don’t press very hard to prevent the hairs from getting embedded deep into the fabric.
2. Dog Slicker Brush
Pet hair brushes come in many shapes and forms. Since these brushes are specifically designed to pick up dog hairs, you can use them to remove the hairs from the car rather than your dog.
For this method, you’ll need a rubbed-tipped de-shedder brush with gentle bristles to avoid damaging your car fabrics.
Simply run the brush in one direction over the seats and watch it as it collects all stray hairs, then dispose of them.
These brushes are also small enough to reach difficult areas that other methods may not reach. However, it can be a little time-consuming.
3. Lint Roller
Using a lint roller to remove pet hair is another inexpensive method that works very well for a lot of people. It’s also portable, versatile, and easily stored in the glove box for quick cleanups.
To use a roller, you only need to run it over the surface of the car seats a few times. This way, the hairs get attached to the sticky tape after a few rounds.
The main downside to this simple method is that the sticky tape is a consumable, so it’ll continue to cost you money the more you use it.
Also, more hair and mess tend to waste the sticky tape quickly. This makes it unsuitable for heavy shedders and for cleaning carpets because they’re usually very dusty.
4. Rubber Gloves
Rubber gloves at not only effective at removing hair from your pet, but you can also use them to pick pet hair off car seats
Rubber creates static energy that collects pet hair easily. Also, more hairs will clump together as you sweep your hand across the seats and carpet, which pile into a fur ball.
For this method, you can use de-shedding rubber gloves or any normal rubber gloves you have.
The secret here is to do a sweeping motion in one direction to collect loose hairs. For stubborn hairs, you can wet the glove with some water and rub it vigorously on the seats. Once you’re done, allow the seats to air dry before locking the door.
5. Duct Tape
Duct tape is a handy and reliable solution if you don’t have a lint roller around. It’s also a more affordable alternative if you want to remove embedded fur using the sticking method.
Of course, all kinds of duct tape will work for this method. However, some types may leave some sticky residue on the seats.
To avoid that, you should opt for packaging sticky tape. Here’s how to use this method:
- Wrap the duct tape around your hands (sticky side out)
- Press the tape gently on the parts you want to remove
- Continue pressing and lifting the tape until you’re finished
- Remove the tape and dispose of the hair-tape combination
6. Rubber Squeegee
If you have a squeegee in your car, you can use it to remove stray hairs and loosen up the deeply embedded ones.
This works due to the rubber blade of the squeegee, which uses static charges to collect and push the hairs into one pile, which makes it very easy to remove by hand or by a vacuum.
Remember to move in one direction from top to bottom and remove the hairs stuck to the squeegee to improve its performance.
7. Velcro Hair Curler
Velcro hair curlers are a better version of the lint roller because they’re very easy to use and you don’t have to waste sticky tape while using it. Instead, you’ll only need to remove the hairs stuck to the velcro loops, and you’re good to go!
Additionally, you can bend the curler to make it easier to reach every nook and cranny in your vehicle.
Here’s how to use the velcro hair curler to remove dog hair in your car:
- Roll the velcro hair curler back and forth over any solid surface, such as car seats or car carpet
- Once it collects all the hair strands, remove them by hand, and repeat if necessary.
8. Balloons
We’ve previously established that static electricity is the go-to method if you want to loosen up the hair strands stuck in the fabric. If you want to take that to the next level, you should give the balloon a try!
This one is a very simple method and it’ll help you collect a lot of fur with very little effort. Here’s how to do it:
- Start by blowing some air into balloons and tying them up like would normally do
- Hold the balloon and rub it back and forth on any fabric in your car. This will develop the charge necessary to loosen up the hairs.
- Once the balloon is ready, bring it near the area where you want to remove pet hair and sweep it across.
- The pet hairs will start sticking to the balloon
- Remove the hairs and get rid of them, and repeat if necessary.
9. Fabric Softener Solution
Fabric softeners are one of the easiest tricks to loosen up the hairs embedded in your car upholstery and carpets.
Those softeners contain certain chemicals that remove the static electricity responsible for making the hairs stick. This makes them easily removed using a paper towel or by vacuuming.
Before using the solution, you’ll need to dilute it and test it on a small part of the car to make sure it’s safe. Here’s what you need to do:
- Mix 1 part fabric softener with 7 to 10 parts of water, and put it in a spray bottle.
- Test it on a hidden part and make sure that it doesn’t leave a stain
- Spray the solution on the target spot and let it sit for 30 seconds
- Wipe the hairs with a clean paper towel
10. Pumice Stone
Although pumice stones might be the last thing that comes to some people’s minds while removing pet hair, they surprisingly work!
Pet hair strands will cling to the rough edges of the pumice stone, allowing you to remove the deeply embedded ones!
You can use the stone on your car floor and mats as well. However, you’ll need to test it out gently to ensure that it’s compatible with your fabrics.
A good solution here is to go for the Fur-Zoff Pet Hair Remover, which is a non-abrasive pumice stone that does a great job at removing pet hair without damaging the fabric.
11. Steamer with Bristle Attachment
As previously mentioned, extra moisture can improve the performance of rubber bristles dramatically, especially for removing pet hairs.
If you have a steamer with a bristle attachment, you can use this combination to quickly and easily push the stuck hairs into a pile.
Steamers also come with the added benefit of disinfecting your car seats as high temperatures can kill a lot of germs and microbes.
If you like this method, you can find plenty of handheld steamers that you can store in your car, such as this one.
12. Wire Brush
If all else fails and there are still some hairs stuck to your seats and carpets, you may use this method as a last resort.
Wire brushes are highly abrasive and can easily damage the fabrics in your car if you’re not careful enough.
For that reason, you have to be very gentle while running the wire brush over the fabrics to do the job.
5 Tips to Reduce Dog Hair Sticking to Your Car’s Upholstery
Although there are plenty of methods to get rid of dog hair in cars, things can get a bit tedious with time.
Luckily, there are several techniques and tips that can help you reduce the hairs getting stuck to your car’s upholstery. Let’s check them out:
1. Brush Your Dog Before Getting in the Car
Although your dog will shed its hair daily, the number of hairs that fall off every day is usually quite limited. (Except for some breeds that blow their coats twice a year and shed at a higher rate in certain seasons)
In fact, some of the hairs that your dog leaves in the car may have been loose from some other day.
To reduce the number of hair strands that your dog sheds in the car, you should brush their coat thoroughly before hopping in.
This reduces the number of hair strands that your dog might lose during the journey and make the cleaning process a lot easier!
2. Use Seat Covers
Putting a protective cover on your car seats may not be the most attractive solution, but it works like a charm if you want to keep them clean.
Luckily, there are various car seat covers that you can use for that purpose. Yet, the hammock-type covers are usually the best because they’re removable and easy to clean.
Alternatively, you can also use any old blankets or sheets you have. This method is also perfect for protecting your car from any other accidents, such as drooling, vomiting, bowel movements, etc.
3. Apply Anti-Static Spray
Static charges are responsible for getting hairs stuck to some fabrics, making them very difficult to remove.
If you don’t want to use abrasive materials or tedious methods to clean them out, you should try this one.
Those sprays break up the static charges and prevent the hair from getting stuck. You can use them as a protective layer or make the hairs easier to remove.
4. Install a Portable Humidifier
Humidity is a safer alternative to anti-static sprays and makes the hairs easier to remove with any rubber objects.
Using a portable humidifier in the car extra perks, such as improving air quality and reducing airborne allergens
5. Keep Your Dog in a Travel Carrier
Restricting your dog’s movement in the car will prevent the hairs from blowing everywhere in the car.
This may not be the best solution but it can work well for short trips, especially if you don’t have the time to clean or apply covers.
Wrap Up
Removing pet hair from your car can be a little tedious, especially if your dog is a heavy shedder. However, it’s a decently manageable process and there are plenty of methods to do it!
Of course, you can always seek professional help to clean your car if you’re too busy. That also comes with the added benefit of removing stubborn stains and disinfecting your vehicle.
