3 Fixes for Fur-Covered Furniture

The house may not be a home without a furry friend, but that doesn't mean you have to live with the unpleasant mess caused by shedding. Try one of these quick and creative solutions to keep your clothes, carpets, and furniture hair-free.

By Jill Lawrence O'Hara | Updated Dec 18, 2015 12:41 AM

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Pet Hair Removal - Cat Hair

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If you’re the proud companion of a four-legged friend, you understand the pain of finding pet hair everywhere—clothes, furniture, shoes, carpet. The struggle is real. While there’s not much you can do to stop your dog or cat from shedding, there are methods for getting this particular pet peeve under control. Try a few of these easy techniques to help solve this hairy problem.

 

RUB-A-DUB-DUB

Pet Hair Removal - Rubber Gloves

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Ditch the lint roller! While its sticky sheets are handy for a last-minute clothing cleanup, it’s no match for this genius—and inexpensive—solution. Pull on a pair of rubber gloves and run your hands over your carpets, furniture, or clothes to gather up pet hair. The rubber creates a static charge that will attract your pet’s shedded fur like a magnet. When you’re done, simply dip your hands into a bowl of water. The hairs will release from the gloves and float to the surface. If you choose to rinse off in a full sink instead, just be sure to skim the hairs off the top and discard them in a waste bin before releasing the stopper—otherwise, the next item on your to-do list will be unclogging the drain.

 

SQUEEGEE CLEAN

Pet Hair Removal - Carpet

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A surprisingly simple method for gathering up pet hair relies on a humble window-washing product you probably already keep in supply: the squeegee. Drag a squeegee over your surfaces and watch as the rubber blade loosens and attracts hair that’s hiding deep in the fibers of your fabrics. (A short-handled squeegee is ideal for upholstery, while a longer-handled model will work wonders on carpets and floors.) This approach may be a bit time-consuming, but it’s well worth the effort to get rid of fur once and for all—or at least for a while.

 

DRYER CHEAT

Pet Hair Removal - Dryer Sheets

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Sometimes the best cleaning solutions are hiding in plain sight—this time, specifically stacked neatly on an appliance in the laundry room. A dryer sheet’s softener coating can help break the static bond that causes pet hair to cling to surfaces. Dampen and toss a sheet into the dryer with your clothes, blankets, or slipcovers for 10 minutes, and it will loosen the clinging hairs so they can become trapped in the lint screen. Then finish by running the load through the wash with a dollop of fabric softener to ensure that your items emerge fur-free.

You can also use these laundry necessities to wipe down and pick up hair on furniture, floors, and draperies. A word of caution: Dryer sheets may leave behind a shiny residue on some fabrics and upholstery, so rub one on an inconspicuous spot before you tackle the whole piece to make sure that you won’t leave unsightly stains.