Vacuums are great at loose dirt and terrible at pet hair that's woven into fabric. If you've ever vacuumed a rug twice and still seen a gray haze of fur, this is for you. Here's what works on each surface, from quickest to most thorough.
Rugs and carpet
Rake first, vacuum second
Dog and cat hair works its way down into carpet fibers, where the vacuum's airflow can't lift it. A rubber or silicone carpet rake drags it back up. Pull the rake toward you in short strokes and the hair gathers into a line you can pick up by hand. Then vacuum. You'll be surprised how much the vacuum missed.
Our Fur Rake set has an adjustable handle so you can do this standing up, plus a hand brush for furniture.
Go against the pile
Whatever you use, make one pass with the direction of the pile and one against it. Fur hides on the side of the fibers you aren't hitting.
Don't skip the edges
Fur collects along baseboards and under furniture where air currents drop it. A quick pass with a damp cloth or a rubber brush along the edges takes a minute and makes the room look noticeably cleaner.
Couches and upholstery
Rubber beats sticky
Lint rollers work, but you go through sheets fast on a sofa. A rubber brush, a fur-grabbing glove or a slightly damp rubber kitchen glove pulls hair into clumps with far less waste. Wipe in one direction and pick the clumps off.
Then vacuum with the upholstery tool
Once the embedded hair is loosened, the upholstery attachment on your vacuum can actually pick it up.
Cover the favorite spot
Every pet has one. A washable throw on that cushion catches most of the fur, and it's a lot easier to wash a blanket than to deep-clean a sofa.
Test first
On velvet, silk blends or anything delicate, try any tool on a hidden spot first.
Car seats and cargo areas
Car upholstery is usually tightly woven, which makes pet hair cling even harder. A small rubber scraper or pumice-style pet hair stone works well here. Short strokes toward you, then vacuum. For trips with the dog, a seat cover or hammock saves a lot of time later.
Clothes and bedding
Shake or brush off what you can before washing. Fur that goes into the washer tends to end up stuck to everything else in the load, and in the lint trap. A few reusable laundry fur catchers tossed in with dog blankets and towels grab a lot of what's left. Clean the dryer lint trap after every load of pet bedding.
Reduce the fur at the source
The best cleaning trick is less fur to clean. Regular brushing during shedding season, ideally somewhere the fur gets caught instead of landing on the floor, cuts down on all of the above. Our fall shedding guide covers a simple routine.
Quick reference
- Carpet and rugs: rubber rake, then vacuum in two directions.
- Sofa: rubber brush or glove, then upholstery tool.
- Car: rubber scraper or pet hair stone, then vacuum.
- Laundry: shake out first, fur catchers in the wash, clean the lint trap.