If you’re a pet owner, you know the struggle of removing pet hair from your vehicle’s carpets. Whether it’s fine strands or thicker hair, pet hair can weave into the fibers of your carpet, making it hard to clean. Fortunately, with the right tools and techniques, you can restore your vehicle’s interior to a fur-free zone. Below, we'll explore some of the best methods to remove pet hair.
1. Preparation: Start with a Static Removal Spray
Before diving into the mechanical removal of pet hair, it’s important to tackle the issue of static electricity. Pet hair often clings to car carpets due to the static build-up, making it much harder to remove.
What you need: A liquid product designed to reduce static cling (A homemade mix of water and fabric softener works great)
How to use it: Lightly mist the carpets with the static removal liquid, being careful not to oversaturate the area. This will reduce the clinging effect of the pet hair and make it easier to extract from the fibers.
2. Loosen Hair with a Pumice Stone
A pumice stone is a bit old-school nowadays but it's still an affordable and effective tool for loosening embedded pet hair from carpets and upholstery.
What you need: A smooth-surfaced pumice stone (specifically designed for automotive use or pet hair removal)
How to use it: Gently rub the pumice stone in short, sweeping strokes over the carpet. You’ll notice that the stone grabs onto the hair, pulling it to the surface. Use light pressure to avoid damaging the fabric. This method works best on tougher carpets found in vehicles, rather than delicate upholstery.
3. Brush Away Hair with the Analan Pet Hair Brush
Once you’ve loosened the hair with the pumice stone, follow up with a pet hair brush like the Analan. This tool is designed specifically to target pet hair, with rubber bristles of varying depth that grab onto even the most stubborn hairs.
What you need: An Analan Pet Hair Brush, designed with three different sides to help you find the one that works best for your vehicle's carpet type.
How to use it: Sweep the brush across the surface of the carpet in small sections. The rubber bristles create friction, grabbing hair that’s been loosened by the pumice stone and collecting it in clumps that you can easily pick up. The Analan brush also works well for cleaning tight spaces, like around seat edges and in crevices.
4. Deep Clean with the FUR-eel Vacuum Attachment
This is one of our FAVORITE tools to use at GreenTree and, often, if there's only a mild amount of pet hair to remove, this ends up being the only tool needed to get the job done.
What you need: A Shop-Vac style vacuum and the FUR-eel vacuum attachment.
How to use it: Attach the FUR-eel to the end of your vacuum hose and go over the carpeted areas where pet hair remains. The attachment helps to lift any remaining hairs embedded deep in the fibers, allowing the vacuum to suck them up efficiently at the same time you're brushing it. Go over the same areas in different directions to catch all the lingering hair.
Pro Tips for Preventing Pet Hair Build-Up in the Future:
Use seat covers: Invest in pet-friendly seat covers or blankets to minimize hair build-up in the first place. These are easier to wash and replace than trying to remove hair embedded in carpets.
Regular grooming: Regularly brush your pet’s fur to reduce the amount of shedding that occurs in your car. Less shedding means less cleaning!
Frequent vacuuming: Keeping up with vacuuming and brushing on a regular basis (especially after long trips with pets) will make the overall cleaning process much easier.
By using a combination of these tools, you can ensure your vehicle’s carpets stay fur-free. These methods make the task much easier and faster, even for the most persistent pet hair problems. So, the next time your furry friend leaves their mark in your car, you'll be ready to handle it like a pro!
