Remove Dog Hair From Cars Quick Tips
- Vacuuming is the first step of how to remove dog hair from car upholstery and then using a dog hair remover brush.
- Remove dog hair from car fabrics using a specialty brush with rubber bristles to pull embedded strands from the upholstery or carpet.
- Some hacks regarding dog hair removal for car interiors are effective, while others are more of a novelty than suitable substitutions.
Removing dog hair from a car is a straightforward process that can be incredibly time-consuming. Getting all the strands out of the cloth upholstery can take hours, especially if it’s been a while since the previous cleaning.
There are countless ways to get pet hair out of a car; some methods are better than others. Keep reading for recommendations for dog hair remover tools and tips on how to remove dog hair from car fabrics, carpet floor mats, and cloth seats.
- General Dog Hair Removal Tips
- Dog Hair Removal Tools
- Dog Hair Removal Steps
- Hacks to Remove Dog Hair From Car
- Preventing Dog Hair Buildup
Tips for Dog Hair Removal
Vacuuming the car’s interior should always be the first step in dog hair removal, regardless of the additional methods and tools you use. However, don’t spend too much time on the initial vacuum because you’ll want to save plenty of strength for brushing the dog hairs from the fabric surfaces. For best results, brush the fabric in one direction repeatedly to remove dog hair and vacuum it up before changing directions.
The fabric must be brushed in multiple directions to remove the most dog hair possible. After the initial pass, there should be considerably less dog hair, but there is a good chance a few stragglers are left behind. If you don’t regularly transport dogs in your car or are selling your car, getting out the tweezers to remove every last hair might be worth it.
Dog Hair Remover Tools
The best way to get dog hair out of a car is to use one of the many specialty hair removal brushes. Dog hair remover brush designs may vary from brand to brand, but one common design characteristic to look for is rubber teeth or bristles. Analan and Lily Brush are two makers of the more effective dog hair removal tools. While Analan and Lily Brush tools may be smaller than run-of-the-mill rubber bristle brushes, they do a much better job removing embedded dog hair from the carpet.
Household products may work when removing a few stray pet hairs from a car, but they aren’t practical for deep cleaning.
Analan Mini Pet Hair Remover
Each edge of the triangle-shaped Analan Mini Pet Hair Remover features different-sized rubber teeth. The serrated rubber edges are highly effective at removing dog hair from various fabrics (carpet, mats, upholstery) without causing damage. The size and shape of the tool make it ergonomic and easy to use for extended periods.
- Large Teeth – Removing long dog hair and cleaning large areas
- Medium Teeth – Removing short dog hair
- Small Teeth – Removing embedded dog hair
The rubber teeth are replaceable when they wear out, which is excellent for your wallet and helps keep additional waste out of the landfill.
Lily Brush Mini Pet Hair Detailer
The Lily Brush Mini Pet Hair Detailer is one of the most compact dog hair removal tools. It features a solid rubber blade similar to a squeegee and excels at removing trapped hairs woven into any fabric. Cleaning the rubber blade with a light mixture of soapy water during and after use helps maintain maximum cleaning power.
Its compact design makes the Lily Brush a perfect pet hair remover to keep in your car for quick cleanups between more in-depth car detailing.
Rubber Bristle Pet Hair Brush
Rubber bristle pet hair removal brushes are very common, and they all share a similar bristle design. You will find differences in handle style and overall size. There are handheld rubber bristle brushes that work great for cleaning most cars and larger brushes that resemble a broom or rake that are useful for cleaning out the cargo area of larger vehicles.
Rubber bristle brushes are often available at local retail stores, compared to the other brushes that are usually only available online.
How to Remove Dog Hair From Car
No matter which pet hair removal method you choose, the first step should be vacuuming. Removing as much loose hair as possible early on will allow you to focus more time on problematic areas using your preferred dog hair remover. Wearing a pair of lightweight work gloves can be helpful to prevent carpet burns on your hands from accidental contact during the hundreds of swipes it takes to get all of the dog hair out of a car.
Step-By-Step Dog Hair Removal:
- Vacuum fabric surfaces (carpet, mats, seats) to remove loose dog hair.
- Brush the fabric in one direction to remove additional dog hair.
- Vacuum freshly loosened dog hair.
- Brush the fabric in another direction and vacuum additional dog hair.
- Repeat the fourth step multiple times until no more dog hair remains.
Dog Hair Removal Hacks
Removing dog hair from a car’s interior can be difficult, but a few household items might help make that job more manageable. We’ve compiled a list of 10 household products that are frequent suggestions for dealing with pet hair. Some cleaning hacks are effective. Others are more of a novelty than suitable substitutions for a pet hair removal brush.
The list of dog hair removal hacks is in alphabetical order and not representative of their effectiveness. We usually rely on and recommend specialty brushes for thorough cleaning.
- Balloons
- Fabric Softener
- Lint Roller
- Nylon Brush
- Pumice Stone
- Rubber Gloves
- Squeegee
- Tape
- Tweezers
- Velcro
Balloons
Perhaps the most novel dog hair removal hack is using a balloon to lift hairs using static electricity. Are we throwing a birthday party or detailing a car? Rub the balloon over the fabric surface to build a static charge, and the dog hair will stick to the balloon.
Expert Tip: I’ve been detailing cars for over a decade and have never used a balloon to remove dog hair. Despite how often it’s mentioned as a pet hair removal hack, I’ve never considered it worth the hassle.
Fabric Softener
Mixing an ounce or two of fabric softener with water in a spray bottle can help loosen dog hairs from fabric by reducing static. After lightly misting the fabric, use a rubber or nylon brush to remove the hair. Use multiple brush strokes in the same direction before vacuuming the hair pile and changing direction for additional cleaning passes.
Lint Roller
Using a lint roller to remove a light accumulation of dog hair can be a great time saver. Since the adhesive sheets remove and trap the hair, there is no need to use a vacuum when using this method to pick up a small amount of hair.
Nylon Brush
A nylon brush is a versatile tool in a car detailer’s arsenal. It can effectively remove dog hair and also agitate fabric cleaners. Brush the fabric in one direction multiple times before vacuuming loose hair and repeating the process. Using a fabric cleaner after removing dog hair will help the car’s interior smell fresh.
Pumice Stone
The porous surface of the pumice stone grabs hair as it’s gently pulled over the fabric. Pumice stones are available at many retail stores in different sizes. Some larger pumice stones are sold as pet hair removal tools.
Expert Tip: Unlike most other cleaning methods in this article, pumice stones are abrasive and require extra care around nonfabric surfaces. Pumice stones can easily scratch plastic, vinyl, and leather.
Rubber Gloves
Rubber gloves are an inexpensive way to remove dog hair from car interiors. The downside is that friction may make them uncomfortable on your hands during vigorous cleaning. Like the other cleaning methods, make multiple swipes in one direction before removing loose hair and changing directions.
Squeegee
A squeegee designed for cleaning glass can also excel at removing dog hair from fabric surfaces. Make multiple passes in one direction to concentrate the loose hair in a pile before vacuuming and repeating the process in another direction.
Tape
The strong adhesive on duct, masking, or packing tape will capture and remove hair, similar to the lint roller. The tape method can clean a small amount of dog hair from a small area but isn’t efficient for large-scale hair removal. Using tape is less convenient than a lint roller, but the cost is typically lower.
Tweezers
If you only occasionally transport dogs or you’re preparing to sell your car, use multipurpose household tweezers to remove every last hair. However, if a dog will be in the car again within a few days or weeks, it’s probably best to throw in the towel around the 90% clean mark.
Expert Tip: Getting a car’s interior perfectly clean can significantly increase the time to detail a car. In some cases, the extra time removing 100% of the dog hair would be better spent performing more frequent cleaning.
Velcro
Velcro is another dog hair removal hack that isn’t entirely up to par. Using it to capture hairs and pull them from car upholstery can cause premature wear. Also, the fact that you have to use a lot of Velcro or spend time cleaning the hair from the hooks is wasteful and counterproductive.
Preventing Dog Hair Buildup
The old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” rings true when removing dog hair from cars. Something as simple as laying a towel or sheet down before transporting your four-legged friend will do wonders to prevent the accumulation of dog hair. There are even waterproof dog blankets that cover the entire back seat and protect your car from pet hair and other less-than-desirable accidents that make hair seem like a minor nuisance.
Frequent grooming will not only help keep a car’s interior cleaner, but it’s vital for a dog’s overall health. Brushing a dog’s coat for a few minutes a week could save you hours of vacuuming when it comes time to detail your car’s interior.
