A cute, fluffy pet is one of the most adorable sights for animal lovers. However, that pet hair can quickly turn your home into a furry nightmare. Those pesky little hairs find their way everywhere, from couches and chairs to beds and rugs. I’ve even found it in my morning coffee!
But fear not, pet owners. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can keep your furniture looking its best and enjoy a hair-free home while still sharing your space with your best friend.
In this guide, I’ll explore a variety of methods to keep your furniture pet hair-free. From regular vacuuming and lint rolling to specialized pet hair removers and preventative measures, I’ll cover everything you need to know to keep your home looking its best. It’s time to learn how to banish pet hair for good…
Why is Pet Hair on Your Furniture Such a Concern?
For many pet parents, the idea of pet hair being found all over the house is a given. We often refer to it as “puppy glitter” in our home. However, that collection of loose hair building up in the corner of your room or on your dog’s favorite couch may introduce both practical and health concerns.
If your pet’s fur is allowed to collect around your home, it could be doing long-term damage to your belongings. Pet hair can become trapped and embedded in many fabrics, contributing to early wear and tear. It may also clog your vacuum when trying to clean larger amounts. This damage may not seem like a big deal at first, but the cost of replacing these items can add up quickly!
Additionally, pet hair may negatively impact your and your family's health. The fur can collect and harbor bacteria, allergens, and other contaminants, contributing to potential respiratory problems. By staying on top of the cleanliness of your home, you can ensure it’s a safe and healthy place for family, friends, and other guests.
How to Prevent Pet Hair in Your Home
If pet hair can cause so many problems, it makes sense to try to reduce or eliminate the risk wherever possible. Of course, the only way to completely prevent pet hair would be to shave your pet down and remove all pet hair from coming into the house. I don’t know about you, but I like the soft fur and unique markings my pets each have.
Here are a few other steps that will help reduce the amount of pet hair collecting around your home:
Keep Up with Grooming
First (and most importantly), committing to a pet means agreeing to keep up with their grooming needs. What this looks like will vary from dog to dog. For example, double-coated dogs like Siberian Huskies, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and German Shepherds shed considerably more than other dogs of their size due to their undercoat.
There are two effective ways to keep up with your dog’s grooming needs – by setting up (and sticking to) regular appointments with a professional groomer or maintaining your dog’s coat completely at home. (Spoiler: Even professionally groomed dogs should be brushed between appointments).I love using a traditional undercoat rake with my double-coated dogs to gently remove all the loose hair that builds up, especially during shedding season. Other dog parents swear by a deshedding brush or a deshedding tool like the FURminator.
Don’t forget the cats! While our feline friends essentially take care of their own grooming needs, you can help ensure they are always looking and feeling their best. This is particularly important if you have a long-haired cat, like a Persian or Maine Coon, a senior cat, or a young kitten.
Prioritize Good Nutrition
Another important consideration as a pet parent is the current state of their diet and nutrition. Are you feeding a well-rounded diet that meets your pet’s needs? If not, you may be experiencing higher shedding levels due to deficiencies. The more fur your pet sheds around the house, the more likely you will find it gathering on your furniture.
You can also use your pet’s diet to boost their health and support a healthy coat and skin with supplements. There are commercially available supplements formulated for skin and coat benefits. Alternatively, experts recommend natural supplements to reduce shedding, including fish or flax oils, extra virgin coconut oil, and brewers yeast, in addition to a balanced diet.
Our pets (both dogs and cats) get Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil on every meal as a tasty boost of omega-3 fatty acids.
Choose Your Furniture Strategically
When shopping for new furniture, take a moment to consider whether your new couch or chair is going to add to the problem. Many fabric options commonly used on furniture, like velvet, chenille, suede, tweed, corduroy, and silk, attract and trap pet hair. Not only does this make the pet hair in your house appear like a bigger problem, but they are also more challenging to clean.
Instead, consider choosing a fabric that repels pet hair, such as leather (or faux leather), microfiber, or canvas. These materials are more tightly woven, preventing hair from getting trapped in the fibers. Most can be wiped clean of any fur with limited effort.
Another thing to consider is the color of the furniture. The fur will stand out if you have dogs that shed dark fur and choose a white chair or couch. On the other end of the spectrum, if you have a white cat and decide to buy a dark-colored couch, the fur will be very noticeable. Choosing a color closer to your pet’s coat will help hide hair.
Vacuum Regularly
None of the tips above will magically remove any and all pet hair from your home. You will inevitably find yourself cleaning this magical pet glitter up each day. As you shop for that perfect vacuum for your home, there are two things to consider. First, many cats and dogs are afraid of the vacuum cleaner. While you will need to manage the situation, keeping your pet in a separate room when vacuuming or going through the counterconditioning process to help them overcome their fear, you can start by choosing a quieter vacuum cleaner.
Secondly, not all vacuums are created the same when handling pet hair. Take time to read reviews and speak with other pet lovers to find out what vacuum options are up to the job. As a multi-pet homeowner, I have used and swear by the Shark Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum for years.
Use an Easy-To-Wash Slipcover or Throw
If you have a couch or chair in your living room that is a pet hair magnet, buying a new couch may not be in the budget. That’s okay! Another solution is to purchase a slipcover or throw that can be used to protect the couch from excess pet hair. Choose a cover that is made from an easy-to-clean fabric.
I prefer using a pet-friendly waterproof (or water-resistant) slipcover on all furniture that can be tossed in the washing machine when it’s time for a refresh. Not only does this help remove any pet hair, but it also makes it easy to clean up other pet-related messes like bathroom accidents, vomit, muddy paws, and other pet-related odors.
Tips for Removing Pet Hair from Furniture in Your Home
Despite your best efforts, bringing a pet into your home means you will inevitably need to clean up pet hair occasionally. Here are a few tips to make removing the unwanted fluff from your home a little easier:
Start By Removing Loose Hair
Before tossing your couch covers, blankets, and throw pillows in the washer, take a moment to remove all loose hair. Much of the fur hasn’t become stuck in the fabric at this stage. However, running through a load in the washing machine can cause pet hair to bond with the fibers, making removing it far more challenging.
Quickly go over the fabric with a basic lint brush like the Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover to take care of anything that can be addressed easily.
Use a Pet Hair Remover in the Wash
When you throw these items into the washing machine, there are tools that can help to remove the pet hair more effectively. The FurZapper Pet Hair Remover is a small, reusable tool that collects hair during your washing load using its sticky surface.
Another option is to use an agitator-type tool like the Pet Parents FurBall Pet Hair Remover, which is designed with a shape that works to loosen the fur as the fabric is washed, preventing it from getting caught in the fibers.
Try Pet-Specific Dryer Sheets or Dryer Balls
Just as there are tools specifically designed to help remove pet hair in the wash, there are also tools that will work in the dryer to eliminate unwanted fur. Wool dryer balls help to reduce static cling and loosen up any leftover pet hair naturally and without chemicals. That is my preferred solution.
For pet parents who are more comfortable with a traditional dryer sheet, I recommend trying the Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets, which have been created with pet-friendly homes in mind.
The Rubber Glove Trick
One trick many pet parents use when removing pet hair from couches, chairs, and carpets is the rubber glove trick. This trick uses friction to create static electricity, allowing them to gather pet hair as you rub a rubber cleaning glove over the surface in question. For better results, dampen the glove slightly before starting to help clump the hair together and gather it on the glove.
When you’re finished, you can rinse the glove into a paper towel before disposing of it (versus allowing it to clog up your drain) or gather the fur off the glove and dispose of it in the garbage.
Use an Anti-Static Spray
Are you struggling with high volumes of pet hair on your furniture due to excessive static cling? This is common in environments with dry air, whether that’s from the climate of the area where you live or due to indoor air conditions from running a fireplace or furnace excessively during the colder winter months. Static Guard Spray helps eliminate the static cling, making removing pet hair easier during your cleanups.
Hire a Professional
There is no shame in admitting that you need a little help! If you're struggling to remove the pet hair from your home, consider contacting a local professional cleaner to come in and help you get ahead. This may be an ongoing appointment to continue managing fur in your home or a one-time clean-up to help give you a solid starting point to take care of the ongoing care yourself.
Final Thoughts: Keep Pet Hair Under Control
While there is no magical solution to keep your home 110% pet hair-free, the above tips can help you significantly reduce the amount of fur in your home and keep your furniture looking its best. Remember, consistency is key! Regular grooming, vacuuming, and using preventive measures will go a long way in combating the pet hair problem.
For those times when the pet hair tumbleweeds seem to be winning the battle, don’t give up. You may just need a little help to get ahead and win this war! Professional cleaning services are available that specialize in pet hair removal and have stronger and more capable cleaning tools at their disposal.
With little effort (and maybe a little help), you can share your home with your furry friend and still enjoy a clean, hair-free environment.
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