How to Get Dog Hair Out of Your Car: 15 Proven Tools & Hacks That Work
Introduction: Pet Hair and Car Interiors Don't Mix
You love your dog—and how could you not? Those cute, fluffy faces are always sure to lighten the mood and bring us joy. 99% of the time, dogs are our best friends. But, what about that 1%? Well, as every dog owner knows, once our furry friends have to take a ride in the car, it can be a pain to clean up. Dog hair is not easy to deal with the car, and it's hard to argue otherwise. It gets stuck everywhere—in the seats, in the carpet, and even in the headliner! So, how do you get dog hair out of your car then?
As a professional mobile car detailer, I see distraught dog owners all the time—they’ve tried everything, but nothing works. I’ve heard horror stories of spending hours scraping at the carpet, just for no progress to be made (I’m sure every pet owner knows the feeling). That’s why I’ve compiled this, a comprehensive list of a wide range of tools, hacks, and strategies that’ll put your pet hair problems to rest. I’ll go through some fast & effective methods for cleaning every area of the car from top to bottom, and show you step-by-step exactly how I do it to provide my clients the best results possible.
Why Dog Hair Is So Hard to Remove from Cars
Before we go into all of our tools and methods, it’s important to explain why dog hair is so hard to remove in the first place. The first of these reasons is static electricity—yes, the same stuff that makes your hair stick up if you rub a balloon or shocks you every once in a while. This static electricity, unfortunately for us, likes to bind dog hairs in carpets and seats, making a vacuum alone largely ineffective for removing dog hair. Carpet quality and material also plays a big role in how stuck the hair can get, as lower quality carpet is more prone to trapping dog hair. Again, unfortunately for us, the trunks of many modern cars have much lower quality carpet compared to the rest of the interior, making removing hair from that area that much harder. And, the final factor working against us is time. A general rule of thumb is that the longer the pet hair is in the car, the more difficult it is to remove, as the hair only has time to get pushed down deeper and deeper into the fibers of the carpet as the car is used.
Essential Tools for Dog Hair Removal
The Lilly Brush
Starting off strong, the Lilly Brush is our personal favorite when it comes to most pet hair situations, even as a professional. While it may cost a few bucks more than its competition, the price is well worth it, as the rubber surface is great for pulling up lots of pet hair at once. And, the tool doesn’t wear out over time or damage the carpet, which is a common issue with other tools. However, the brush requires a lot of elbow grease and time to get the job done, especially in situations where there are only a few pieces of hair left that are really stuck.
The Fur-Eel
As the leading vacuum attachment for pet hair removal in the detailing industry, it’s easy to see the appeal of the Fur-Eel. Compatible with most shop-vacs, the Fur-Eel can make quick work of a lot of pet hair, all while the vacuum takes it all away. However, there are a few drawbacks, like the head of the tool wearing down and becoming ineffective after a few uses. It also requires a strong vacuum for maximum effectiveness, so in situations where a vacuum isn't present, it becomes mostly useless.
The Pumice Stone/Pet Hair Brick
One of the more old-school products here, the Pumice Stone is the definition of a high-risk, high-reward tool. On the good end, the Pumice Stone can tear through pet hair like there’s no tomorrow, depending on the condition and type of carpet the hair is stuck in. But, for the bad, the tool is known for damaging carpets over time, and leaves a chalky residue that needs to be vacuumed out of the carpet after, which can be a pain at times. Similarly, the plastic Pet Hair Brick that is common on Amazon has similar properties, as it only works some of the time, and can quickly wear down with heavy use.
The Rubber Glove
Looking for the best tool to get into those tricky cracks & crevices? Surprisingly, a normal rubber or latex glove can be an easy remedy, even as a professional. Just put it on, and use your fingers to get into wherever the hair may be. However, for the downsides, the gloves can be easy to break with heavy use, and generate a lot of heat on your finger quickly, so make sure not to overuse it!
The Drill Brush
One of our favorite detailing tools when it comes to cleaning carpet is the drill brush, and that is also true when it comes to dealing with pet hair. Using the “toilet brush” attachment as we call it, the brush is able to trap and remove pet hair from the carpet, which is especially useful for higher quality & thicker carpet. However, for cheaper, thinner carpet (like that in most SUV trunks), it will not be as effective compared to other tools.
The Tornador
This one is a more professional-grade solution, but it's what we use on a daily basis, so it's worth mentioning. The Tornador hooks up to an air compressor, and creates a vortex of air that quickly agitates pet hair out of the carpet without any physical effort from you. However, without a very high-quality and powerful air compressor, the tool cannot function effectively, which puts it out of the question for most non-professionals.
Anti-Static Spray
To fight off the static electricity that holds the dog hair in the carpet, anti-static spray can make removing the hair using the other tools listed here much easier. Similarly, in a pinch, glass cleaner can provide similar properties!
Balloons
This one might sound crazy, but the thought process behind it is the same as the rubber glove—the rubber pulls the hair right out of the carpet! Again, just be careful, as these can break easily.
Duct Tape
Duct Tape is a more unique way of removing pet hair, but it works in a pinch. Just take a fresh piece of Duct Tape, wrap it around your hand with the sticky side facing outward, push down hard, and see how much hair comes out. When the tape isn’t sticky anymore, just replace the tape and continue until you hit your desired results.
Tweezers
This tool is last because it's only useful for those absolute perfectionists out there. If you want every single piece of pet hair removed, tweezers are just about your only option. Just pull each hair out individually, and place it outside of the vehicle or in a pile to vacuum up. Yes, this is very, very tedious and time-consuming, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you want an absolutely pet hair free vehicle.
Preventative Measures to Take
Seat Covers
Seat covers, and especially those that completely cover the backseat, are very effective in containing all of the pet hair into one spot that can be easily removed. It also prevents the dog from stepping on the hair and pushing it further into the carpet.
All-Weather Mats
Similar to the seat covers, all-weather mats do a great job of containing lots of dog hair from getting on, and stuck in, the carpets. Any brand will help, of course, but getting a set of laser-measured floor liners will be more effective.
Humidifiers
A dog with dry skin is a dog that scratches and sheds easier, which is what we want to avoid. Even a small, in-car humidifier can go a long way in terms of preventing hair from moving from the dog to the hard-to-reach spots in the car.
Consistent Cleaning
This fits into the aspect of time, where the longer the hair is in the car, the worse. With regular cleaning and keeping up with maintenance of the interior, it gives hair less of a chance to build up, making it easier over time to clean.
Dog Grooming
And finally, this one may seem simple, but it is surprising the best way to keep hair out of the car to begin with. Using a simple dog brush, brush out any loose hair from your furry friend before they get into the car, dramatically reducing the amount of hair that is shed during your journey.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Dog Hair Out of Your Car
Now that we know the tools at our disposal, I want to walk through a full, step-by-step guide on how we, as professional detailers, revitalize interiors and free them from dog hair, using only the tools above.
Removing dog hair from carpets
Start off with a quick pre-vacuum to get rid of any big debris or loose hair from the carpet. If you have an air compressor and Tornador tool, follow up the vacuum with a full blow-out to loosen up the hairs in the carpet. After this, take your desired pet hair tool and start working the hair out of the carpet, going in small sections and working the hair into big clumps. It’ll take a lot of elbow grease, but eventually, you’ll make steady progress to getting the hair out. After a few passes, try a variety of different tools, and see what works and what doesn’t. Occasionally, use a misting of anti-static spray to further loosen any hair that’s very stuck, but be sure not to soak the carpet, as it’ll reduce how effective the other tools are.
Removing pet hair from cloth seats
Other than the carpets, cloth seats can grab onto pet hair as well, and be equally, if not more, difficult to get cleaned up. As a rule of thumb, start with less aggressive tools, like a light vacuuming, air compressor blowout, and rubber pet hair scrapers, before moving onto any more aggressive solutions. Also, it is recommended to steer clear from those anti-static sprays, as they can easily stain the seats that you’re trying to clean. And, keep your vacuum on hand at all times. Unlike on the carpets, pet hair on cloth seats won’t clump together nicely, and will instead become airborne. So, to keep that dog hair off of other surfaces, vacuum it up quickly.
An important reminder for dog hair removal
Now, here’s the make-or-break part—setting expectations. Even with unlimited time, stamina, and can-do attitude, it's unlikely that you’ll get absolutely 100% of the hair out (unless you choose to use the tweezers). As a professional mobile detailer, our pet hair removal service promises about ~90% coverage of pet hair removal, as getting that last 10% is exponentially more difficult. That’s why preventative measures are so important—it saves you time in the long run.
An example of carpet that will never be 100% pet-hair free.
FAQs: Pet Hair Removal in Cars
Can dog hair damage my seats?
Yes, it can. Any pet, including dogs, can easily damage and scratch up your car’s interior upholstery, door panels, carpets, and more. And, when there is too much dog hair that’s woven into the carpets, the best way to remove it all might be to replace the carpet itself. So, cover those seats!
Best vacuum for pet hair in cars?
Any vacuum will work, but, in general, the more suction, the better. A handheld vacuum will work in a pinch, but a shop vac with pet hair specific attachments will always be more effective.
Do detailers remove dog hair?
Yes! Many detailers offer pet hair removal services as an add-on to an interior detailing service, including us. Just keep in mind, this will come at an additional cost, ranging anywhere from $50-$300 depending on the severity of the dog hair situation.
What Material Does Dog Hair Not Stick To?
There are a few easy and affordable options for repelling dog hair, including leather, plastic, denim, silk, and more. With all the options available, it only makes sense to cover up your carpets and seats before a journey with your pet.
Final Thoughts: DIY vs Professional Dog Hair Removal
Now that you know all the tools and methods for removing dog hair from your car, it’s time to give your car the refresh that it’s been asking for. If you have some time on your hands, and if the hair hasn’t built up too much, go give it a try for yourself, and see what difference you’re able to make. If the situation is just too hairy for you to handle, consider letting a professional detailer handle it. And, if you happen to live on the South Shore or Cape Cod in MA, give us a shout and we’ll get you a quote.
