How to clean dog hair from your car's interior quickly and easily.
Key takeaways from this guide:
1. Effective hair removal tools and techniques
Quickly eliminate stubborn dog hair with damp rubber gloves, pet hair brushes, and vacuums designed for deep cleaning.
2. Interior-specific cleaning methods
Discover tailored strategies to safely and thoroughly clean fabric and leather interiors.
3. Proactive hair prevention
Reduce future messes with straightforward solutions.
Calling all pet parents and car lovers! We know the struggle – you’re cruising with your furry sidekick, only to end up with a car full of dog hair that won’t quit.
This guide is packed with paws-itively brilliant tips and tricks for cleaning dog hair from your car’s interior in a snap. Armed with the right tools and techniques, you’ll be ready to tackle even the furriest challenges and turn hair removal from a chore into a fun part of your car care routine.
You’ll make your vehicle clean and fur-free, no matter how much your pet loves to shed.
The products
The following products are either mentioned in this guide or are useful recommendations:
Pet Hair Removal Tool
Foaming Citrus Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo
Leather Cleaner
Leather Conditioner
Hydrothread
Lightning Fast Stain Extractor
Interior Detailing Brushes
Microfiber Towels
Tools for pet hair removal
Tackling pet hair in your car doesn't need to be a major chore. When you have the right tools you can quickly remove stubborn hair from even the smallest space in your car.
1. Damp rubber gloves
Regular household rubber gloves are a fantastic but always underused pet hair remover. Slightly dampen the gloves and run your hand over your seats and carpets.
The static electricity the gloves generate will lift and gather a surprising amount of pet hair. Then simply run your vacuum over the loosened hair. This is a great solution with tools you'll likely already have around the house.
2. Pet hair removal brush
This is a game changer, especially for stubborn fur. The Chemical Guys Pet Hair Removal Brush is lightweight and so effective.
The bristles are designed to grip and pull hair from even the deeper fibres of your car's upholstery. The brush bends and flexes to navigate all tricky spots.
3. Vacuum with pet hair attachment
Wrap up your cleaning routine with a high-powered vacuum fitted with a pet hair or brush attachment. These specialized tools are perfect for extracting even the most stubborn hair. Begin by vacuuming any loose fur left behind and paying close attention to seams, crevices, and carpets for a thorough clean.
The best ways to hoover pet hair
1. Initial clean
Use a nozzle attachment to do an initial sweep with the vacuum, focusing on removing any loose debris and the worst of the pet hair.
2. Targeted cleaning
Switch to a pet hair attachment and work slower. Start at the very top of your seats and work down, paying specific attention to seams and corners. It's often a good idea to have used the rubber pet hair removal brush to lift the hair from fabrics before a thorough clean.
3. Pre dampen upholstery
A top tip is to lightly miss upholstery with water before vacuuming. This will assist in clumping the hair together, which makes it far easier to remove.
Pro tips for hoovering pet hair
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Work in sections - Focus on small areas to ensure a more thorough clean and prevents missed areas.
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Empty the hoover before starting - A full canister can reduce the suction power. Keep it empty for maximum performance.
- Combine tools - Use the pet hair removal brush alongside the hoover to dislodge hair as you go.
Fabric vs leather: The different approaches to pet hair removal
Fabric interiors
Fabric car seats are like magnets for dog hair.
1. Start with hoovering
Use a power hoover with a brush type attachment to loose and suck up as much pet hair as possible. Move in different directions to loosen the hair.
2. Go with the rubber glove method
As mentioned earlier, put on a damp rubber glove and run your hand over the fabric. The friction and static created will loosen hair and clump it together, making it easy to pick up with the hoover.
3. Use a fabric cleaner and soft brush
Apply a high quality car fabric cleaner and gentle apply with a soft interior detailing brush. The will further remove lingering pet hair whilst also leaving the fabric fresh and odor free.
Leather interiors
While less prone to holding onto hair, leather interiors can still be a challenge especially in the seams.
1. Gently hoover
Hover the surface gently with a soft brush attachment to avoid scratching the leather. Although you want to apply enough pressure to dislodge embedded hair.
2. The magic of a microfiber cloth or towel
Dampen a microfibre towel and wipe down the leather surface. Loosened hair will cling to it to make it fair easier to remove.
3. Use a leather conditioner
Once clean apply a premium car leather conditioner or cleaner to nourish the material and prevent cracking where hair and pet fur can settle.
How to prevent dog and pet hair from accumulating in your car
Now that we've gone through some cleaning guides and tricks for cleaning dog hair out of your car, let's take a look at some ways to prevent dog hair.
Consider seat covers
Seat covers would be the first line of defence against pet hair. They'll catch most hair, dust, dirt and fur before it touches your actual interior. Choose covers that are easy to shake clean and wash.
Regularly groom your dog
Prevent dog hair from accumulating in your car starts with the care you take to groom your furry friend. Regular grooming will significantly reduce shedding. You could also take it as an opportunity to bond with your pet, turning a simple yet needed tasks into quality time together.
Pre-journey brush
Continuing on the above, you could consider giving your dog a quick brush immediately before entering your car. This catches the loose fur that would otherwise immediately fall onto your upholstery. You could pair it with a quick treat for the dog so it becomes a routine your dog looks forward to.
