How to Remove Dog Hair From Furniture: 7 Easy Ways
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Thankfully, there are some cheap, easy ways to get the job done so we can spend more time loving our dogs. We’ve got some great tips and tricks for removing dog hair from not just your furniture but all the surfaces in your home, so keep reading to see what you can do to keep that dog hair under control.
The 7 Ways for Removing Dog Hair From Furniture
1. Lint Roller
A quick, easy way to remove dog hair from your furniture is by using a lint roller. The traditional stick lint roller will work just fine on certain fabrics, but for others, it may be a better idea to have a non-adhesive lint roller on hand.
These are super handy to have in the house for more than just furniture; you can also use them to get dog hair off your clothes, curtains, and other fabric in the home. They are also great for more than just pet hair, and it’s a great way to manage dog hair in between deep cleans.
2. Vacuum/Vacuum Attachments
Unfortunately, there’s no way of getting around vacuuming; it is a necessity even in homes without pets. When you have a dog, you typically have to bring out this trusty cleaning tool much more often to keep control of all the hair that gathers. As a general rule, you should vacuum at least two to three times a week, if not once every day to keep the hair from piling up.
Make sure you invest in a vacuum that is built to handle pet hair and look for one with specific attachments that can help you more easily vacuum the hair off the furniture. Not all vacuums are built the same, so it’s a good idea to check the reviews to see what other pet parents say about how well a specific model and its attachments work for this purpose.
3. Furniture Brush
Having a furniture brush in your storage closet can be a helpful tool to have in your arsenal when you’re in the never-ending battle against dog hair. They are often very reasonably priced and can be found in most retail stores, pet stores, and of course, online.
Furniture brushes can be a better alternative to adhesive lint rollers because they’ll be gentler on the fabric. Much like a lint roller, it’s a great option that you can pull at a moment’s notice and tackle the hair on the couch between vacuums.
4. Rubber Glove
Buying specific tools for pet hair removal is not always necessary since other items in the home may be able to help you get the job done. One of the simplest, most inexpensive household products that is great against dog hair is a rubber glove.
You can put on the glove and run it across the entire surface of your upholstered furniture, and it will cause the hair to ball up. After you’ve gathered it all, you can just pick up the ball of hair and throw it in the trash.
You can also lightly dampen the glove to make the process easier, but this would be dependent on your furniture. Some manufacturers may suggest that your type of fabric should not be exposed to water, so it’s best to check before you dampen the glove.
5. Tape
If you’re in need of removing dog hair in a pinch but don’t have any tools or a rubber glove on hand, go search for some tape. Tape can work just like an adhesive lint roller, though it’s more inconvenient since it requires a bit more action on your part.
Make sure not to choose tapes with strong adhesives for certain types of fabric, as you don’t want to leave behind the sticky residue or risk tearing the fabric. I personally use packing tape, since it’s wide, clear, and has the right amount of adhesive.
You simply pull off a size-appropriate piece of tape and place it down on the furniture, gently pull it back up, and then move on to another section until the job is done. The clear tape makes it easier to know when it’s time to grab another piece.
6. Damp Washcloth or Sponge
A damp washcloth or sponge can work similarly to a rubber glove for removing dog hair from cloth surfaces. The nice part is that everyone has either a sponge or washcloth in the house, so it’s another cheap, easily accessible household item that can be put to use.
Simply dampen, not soak, either the sponge or cloth, and run it along the fabric in one direction. It will pick up the hair and you can remove it from the sponge as you go across the entire surface. Again, make sure your furniture care instructions are clear and that the type of fabric can handle being dampened with water.
7. Furniture Covers
Furniture covers are a great way to manage dog hair, especially if you allow your pooch to snuggle and snooze on the couch. Furniture covers have their pros and cons, but rather than having to constantly pick the hair up off the fabric, you can simply remove the covers, put them in the wash, then throw them back on when they’re done.
The biggest downfall to furniture covers is that it can be difficult to get them to stay in place, and you will have to wash them frequently if your dog lays on the furniture.
The 5 Ways to Minimize Dog Hair on Furniture
When you have a pup, there’s no way to keep hair from getting all over the furniture, clothes, and surfaces, but there are some things you can do to help control the amount of hair.
1. Train Your Dog to Stay Off Furniture
This is a touchy subject within the pet community, and quite frankly, most of us just aren’t going to listen, but one of the best ways to minimize the amount of dog hair on your furniture is by training your dog to stay off your furniture.
This is something you’ll want to implement early and remain consistent with. Any dog that has been allowed on the furniture in the past is not going to understand why it’s suddenly off-limits. If you train your dog from the moment you bring them home, the better off you will be as opposed to letting them on the furniture and then needing to train them to keep off of it.
Let’s face it, the majority of us like to snuggle up on the couch with our dogs, big or small, for some quality time. There’s nothing wrong with that, you’ll just be cleaning your furniture much more often.
2. Invest in a Dog Bed
Regardless of your furniture rules in the house, you can try investing in a nice, cozy dog bed. Some dogs take to them very well and will spend their lazy time snuggled on their own bed rather than all over the furniture. Dog beds won’t always encourage Fido to stay off the furniture, but it may be worth a try.
3. Groom Your Dog Regularly
Regular grooming is part of every dog’s care regimen, though some breeds require much more grooming than others. You should consider brushing your dog more frequently to minimize loose hair. A good brushing with a de-shedding tool just a couple of days a week can drastically reduce the amount of hair around the house.
While most dogs are bathed about every 1 to 3 months on average, you may consider having less time between baths. That way, your dog is getting a full deep clean. There are some great shampoos and conditioners out there to help with shedding, too.
My German Shepherd loves to be vacuumed with the hose attachments, which is great, especially considering the amount he sheds, though I’d never recommend it unless your dog is a willing participant, as this could strike fear in a lot of dogs.
Does your pet shed a lot? One of our favorite ways to reduce shedding in our pets is by bathing them with Hepper's Oatmeal Pet Shampoo!Â
4. Vacuum Often and Deep Clean Regularly
Daily vacuuming, or even twice daily, if possible, is a great way to keep the hair quantity as low as possible. This can be difficult, especially for those with a busy, active, lifestyle, but the more you vacuum, the less dog hair you’re going to have on your furniture and around the house.
Deep cleans are also an important part of pet maintenance. Not only do you want to get all the pesky hair out of the way, but you also want to ensure you keep control of the pet smells around the home. Using a high-quality enzyme spray can help you tackle those smells, and a furniture and upholstery cleaner is a great appliance to invest in for pet owners.
5. Understand Your Furniture’s Fabric
Furniture is manufactured with many different types of fabric nowadays. Some are more pet friendly, and some are not. When shopping for new furniture, keep this in mind so that you can choose a fabric that is durable and easy to clean pet hair off of.
You also want to be familiar with your furniture’s fabric because manufacturers have developed cleaning codes for specific types of fabric. The codes appear on the care tags that are sewn onto the pieces. They are often located on the underside of the seat cushions, and are as follows:
- W = Wet/water cleaning only
- S = Dry solvent cleaning only
- SW = Dry solvent and/or wet cleaning
- X = Professional cleaning or vacuuming only
Be sure to read all the care instructions for your furniture and do what is recommended for your fabric type. Always check your care tag before clearing or removing dog hair to prevent damage to your furniture pieces.
Conclusion
Dog hair can be pesky to clean off the furniture, and while it’s going to be a constant job, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Thankfully, there are plenty of simple, easy ways to remove pet hair from furniture and you can also implement some of the tips above to help minimize it even more.
Featured Image Credit: smrm1977, Shutterstock
