At one time, I once had 7 cats. Luckily that was decades ago, but learning how to get rid of pet hair in your home can be a real challenge.
After doing some research, here’s what I figured out:
Toss clothes & bedding in a dryer on a no-heat setting for 10 minutes before washing, use vinegar in the washing machine, vacuum regularly, consider washable throw rugs & furniture covers, but also use a HEPA air filter to purify your air & remove excess dander and hair from the air in your home.
So in this article, we’re diving deep into the world of pet hair and the challenges it presents. We’ll explore what works, what doesn’t work and answer all the top questions.
Specifically, we’re looking at the very best ways of how to get rid of pet hair in your home.
That way we can get back to loving our pets and excess dander and cat or dog hair will be a thing of the past.
So, grab a snack and read on!
Co-authored with pet owner & lover Shawn Richards of the pet website FeedFond, edited by Jeff Campbell
How do you control dog hair in the house?
Ultimately, a certain amount of pet hair in the house is the price we pay for owning our loving pets. But there are a number of things that can help keep the dog (or cat) hair under control in your home.
For starters, you’ll want to make sure you groom your dog regularly.
That means taking them to the dog groomer about every 6 weeks but brushing their hair frequently yourself. How often you should brush your dog depends on the breed and length of hair. But minimally once a week and every 2-3 days for longer haired dogs.
Beyond that, you can also:
- Cover your couch – A nice looking sheet that’s easy to throw in the washing machine is a great way to keep dog hair off the couch. It removes easily for when company is coming over too.
- Use machine-washable rugs (even if you have carpet) – Smaller throw rugs you can throw in the washing machine are a great way to keep excess dog hair off your carpets or flooring.
- Consider a cute shirt for your dog – A cute shirt that easily slips onto your dog (and can easily slip off into the washing machine) is a fun, but effective way to keep dog hair at bay. Just make sure your dog isn’t getting too hot in it or that it’s neither too loose or too tight
How do I get rid of cat hair in my house?
I love our cat Ozzy, but I don’t always love drying my face with a towel only to find his cat hair on it.
So for cat hair on clothing or bedding, one great tip is to toss them in the dryer for 10 minutes on a low or no heat setting before throwing in the washing machine.
This can help loosen the pet hair and most of it will end up in your dryer’s lint trap and not end up just stuck to your clean clothes after washing. It can also extend the life of your washing machine too!
Beyond clothing and bedding, the other major way cat hair shows up is on carpet and furniture.
For this, you’ll want to vacuum regularly, using the upholstery attachment on your furniture, but a little hand vac might even be easier for getting into nooks and crannies and maneuvering around your house.
This little hand vac I got from Amazon did wonders on my house!
Well over 15,000 reviews back that up too. Ultra long battery life (holds a charge up to 18 months), slim, lightweight design, free Prime shipping, and a 2-year warranty are even better reasons to check it out!
Just click the link to see the current price on Amazon, but I got mine for around 50 bucks.
Do air purifiers help with pet hair?
Yes is the short answer.
A true HEPA Air Filter (click to see my comprehensive guide on how to choose one and what to avoid) will make a big difference in terms of collecting both pet hair and pet dander.
The really nice thing is not only are most HEPA air filters quiet, but they also help with air quality in other ways too.
For instance, they can also remove dust, pollen, or mold spores from the air. They are also great for helping control odors. So if you have issues with pet urine in carpet or if you have a smoker in the house, a HEPA air filter can be hugely beneficial.
How a HEPA air filter works to control pet hair is by sucking air in and forcing it through a mesh trap. The mesh trap collects contaminants in the air filters. Change the filters as directed, or about once a year.
How do you remove dog hair from clothes?
1. Use baking soda on your carpets
Did you know that baking soda aside from being a teeth whitener and a legendary baking ingredient is also an excellent carpet cleaner?
Well yes, it is! If your carpet floor or area rugs are filled with tangled pet hair, fret not. Just dust some baking soda and you’re good to go.
Baking soda both detangles pet hair and deodorizes. Cool, isn’t it? Who would have thought that a simple kitchen ingredient could be that handy?
Just sprinkle down and then vacuum up.
Also, if your pet has left a terrible stain on your carpet, you can also add some vinegar with the baking soda.
Together it forms carbonic acid which helps break down tough stains.
Moreover, if you’re not comfortable using baking soda, you can also use a rubber broom or squeegee instead.
Or you can do some more research since there are a bunch of excellent carpet cleaners in the market today.
2. Use wet rubber gloves
If you’re wondering about how to get rid of pet hair on the nooks and crannies of your house, we’ve got an answer!
Most of the times our usual cleaning tools don’t reach the carpet corners and edges.
Sometimes too much hair build-up can darken the carpet edges. If yours are similar, be prepared for some icky manual work. Put on some rubber gloves, wet your forefinger and drag the accumulated hair.
3. Match your home décor to the color of your pet
This may sound weird but if you only vacuum once a week, this can be a good trick. While it doesn’t get rid of the pet hair, it does make it less noticeable and the home will feel cleaner.
Just when possible, try and buy furniture and bedding that is close to the color of your cat or dog.
4. Use an electrostatic dust mop
Try using electrostatic dust mops when cleaning hard floor surfaces.
Although most people use vacuums or brooms for this they aren’t very effective since they fail to catch all the loose hair.
Instead, the pet hair flies all over the place, getting you back to square one. Electrostatic dust mops trap and lock loose hair or any sort of dirt.
So, anyone learning how to get rid of pet hair must get one of these!
CleanAide makes a fantastic Electrostatic Duster (click to see current price on Amazon) with a 3 section extension pole. Use the pole compacted for normal dusting or extend it to 72″ inches for hard to reach places.
It’s an Amazon’s Choice product on Amazon Prime with hundreds of great reviews and well under 20 bucks!
5. Use lint rollers or clean sponges
For furniture, try wetting a clean sponge and rub it along the fabric. But a lint roller, which is basically just masking tape on a roller, works even better!
Amazon’s Choice for lint rollers is a 5-pack of Scotch-Brite lint rollers (click to see current price on Amazon). Thousands of great reviews and free shipping to boot!
6. Use a microfiber cloth
If your furniture is made of wood, glass or other non-upholstered finishes, try using a microfiber cloth. Like the electrostatic dust mops, a microfiber cloth also has an electrostatic charge which traps pet hair in its place.
Make sure to moist it with water for adhesiveness and clean it every once in a while so that you don’t redistribute all the hair again.
Amazon is to the rescue yet again here with their 24 pack of AmazonBasics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (click to see current price on Amazon).
It’s a #1 bestseller with almost all 5-star reviews and thousands of them and well under $15 with free shipping available.
7. Change the air filters often and clean ducts and vents
Pet hair or dander can get accumulated in air and furnace filters. Make it a point to clean the air ducts and change the furnace filters to prevent the spreading of unwanted pet hair.
Change your disposable air filters frequently too; at least every 3 months, and more frequently in months where the heat or AC is running more often.
Also, consider getting a HEPA air filter for your home for the ultimate in air quality.
Check out the best HEPA Air Filters (click to read my in-depth guide on this site) today and get a cleaner house tomorrow!
8. Wash your pet bed frequently
If your pet likes to rest on your bed, then lay a pet bed beside it.
Purchase beds with washable covers and try washing it at least once a week. This will prevent odors and over-accumulation of tangled pet hair.
If you’re unsure about how to clean the covers, just follow the instructions on the label or consult a fellow pet owner.
The Best Friends by Sheri Luxury Shag (click to see current price on Amazon). Faux Fur Donut Cuddler is an amazing cat and dog bed on Amazon.
2 color choices and a wealth of size choices make it the perfect pet bed for any household pet.
Near-perfect reviews on Amazon, free shipping and well over 1,300 reviews!
9. Keep your clothes in drawers or closets
Don’t keep your clean clothes laying out in the open.
Pets are hardly ever still and keep moving around all over the place. They love resting in places they’re not supposed to and a stack of neatly folded clothes is exactly that.
Keep the laundry basket away from your pet’s reach and put away your clothes as soon as they’ve been dried or folded.
10. Use vinegar in the washing machine
If you forgot to put away your stack of clean clothes as most people do and your pet has attacked it, frown!
After you’re done dissing yourself and wondering how to get rid of pet hair from clothes you’ve just washed, get in line. (Like you have a choice!)
First, try loosening the pet hair on your clothes before you put them into the washer. Do this by putting it on a heat-free-only cycle for about 10-15 minutes to further loosen the hair.
Before adding the clothes to a washing machine, give them a good shake and add a half cup of vinegar to the washing machine to remove excess hair. Dry again in the tumbling mode.
11. Use dryer balls
You can also use dryer balls which is a non-toxic alternative of fabric softeners. Just load them onto the dryer with your laundry and relax.
These cute balls help reduce creases and knotting of clothes. They also help eliminate static cling which causes clothes to get stuck against each other.
They also reduce drying time, saving you on your time and energy bills.
But most importantly, in this case, they are also a great solution for how to get rid of pet hair. Just toss some pet hair covered clothes in the dryer with 1 of these.
SmartSheep makes a 6-pack of wool dryer balls (click to see current price on Amazon) on Amazon Prime with a truly stunning 4.5 stars out of over 15,000 reviews. It’s also an Amazon’s Choice product and well under $20.00.
12. De-shed your pets regularly
Try using de-shedding tools on your pets on a regular basis.
This will eliminate loose hair without injuring the coat or cutting the skin of your beloved pets.
Try doing it outside so that your pet hair doesn’t circulate all over the place. If you’re doing it inside, do in the washroom or in an open space laying your pet on top of a rug or towel.
13. Invest in good dog food and a house cleaner
If you can afford it, invest in good quality dog food.
Premium brands like Wellness Core Natural will provide your dog with good nutrients reducing the amount of shedding significantly.
You can also hire professional services to clean your house every 2-3 weeks. It can make a huge difference.
Can’t afford professional cleaners?
No problem! While you’re learning how to get rid of pet hair, also check out our amazing tips on How to Get Rid of Dog Odor (click to read on this site).
Did we cover all you needed to know about how to get rid of pet hair?
In this post, we dove deep into the world of pet hair.
We love our furry friends, but sometimes the dander, hair, and mess are more than we can handle. So we broke down the steps to clean it up and bring back the cleanliness to your home.
Specifically, we looked at how to get rid of pet hair in your home.
All it takes are a few changes and some conviction. However when in doubt, grab your trusted vacuum cleaner with bag, lint roller or a damp sponge and get in action.
Of course, if you have dogs, the more they’re outside the less hair in the house, but that’s only 1 of the benefits of walking your dog (click to read on my site).
Check them all out and see how the others might help too!
About the co-author of this post:
Shawn is a content writer at FeedFond. He’s a doting father not only to his two children but also to his two Golden Retrievers. Check out more of his articles at FeedFond.com.
Want to write for Middle Class Dad too? Check out everything you need to know on my Guest Blog Page.
