How to Remove Pet Hair From Clothes, Couches, Carpets and More

Is Fido and Fluffy's fur all over your home? Get the tips and tools you need to conquer pet hair on your linens, floors, window treatments—everywhere!

By Jamie Birdwell Branson | Updated Jul 31, 2023 1:40 PM

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Ginger Maine Coon cat and lint roller with his fur lying on couch indoors.

Photo: istockphoto.com

While pets bring joy and companionship to our lives, their furry coats can wreak havoc on our homes and our bodies. For one thing, pet hair—or more typically, the dried skin and saliva that it carries—is a common trigger for allergies. In fact, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, pet allergies affect 10 to 20 percent of the world’s population. As well, pet hair tends to accumulate quickly, making it challenging to maintain a clean and tidy home. It also traps odors and emits stubborn scents that may be difficult to eliminate without professional cleaning. Here, we’ve rounded up the best tips and tricks for eliminating pet hair from a variety of surfaces so you can restore cleanliness (and sanity) to your home environment.

Microfiber Couches

Dog sitting on couch looking at the camera

Photo: istockphoto.com

After napping on the couch, dogs and cats can leave behind pesky piles of hair, and sometimes vacuuming alone just won’t cut it. Instead, reach for a clean, dry squeegee and run it across the couch to loosen the hair. After that, you should be able to vacuum it up with ease!

RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Window Squeegees

Carpeting

Cat and golden retriever on a white carpet

Photo: istockphoto.com

Even the best vacuums won’t pick up pet hair that’s embedded in your carpet. Tackle this problem by mixing 1 part fabric softener to 3 parts water in a spray bottle and lightly misting the carpet, then let it dry completely. The fabric softener will loosen up the hair deep inside the carpet, making it easier for the vacuum to pick up. (It also gives your carpet a fresh scent!)

RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Vacuums for Pet Hair

Wooden Furniture

Cat sleeping on a wooden storage bench

Photo: istockphoto.com

If your cats enjoy batting about hair ties, remote controls, and other coffee table regulars, they probably shed their fur all over the wooden surface. Clean the mess by swiping a dryer sheet over the table, which will collect hair and eliminate odor to boot.

RELATED: 10 House Hacks Every Pet Owner Needs to Know

Curtains

Dog looking out the window with curtains behind him

Photo: istockphoto.co

Dogs love staring out the window at passersby, which typically results in your curtains being covered by fur. To remove the fur, take a clean, dry sponge and rub it all over the curtain. The fur should stick to the sponge, which you can throw out after use.

RELATED: Lose the Drapes: 17 Ways to Dress a Window WIthout Curtains

Hardwood Floors

Dog on hardwood floor with tennis ball

Photo: istockphoto.com

If your dog skids across the hardwood floor to chase a ball, you’re probably familiar with the trail of hair it leaves behind. Use a rubber broom like the highly rated GLOYY broom-and-squeegee combo to round up the hairballs; its rubber bristles are effective at picking up even the tiniest strands.

RELATED: 20 Common Household Items That May Be Harming Your Pet

Rugs

Small dog laying on gray shag carpet

Photo: istockphoto.com

A clean squeegee is the best tool for removing pet hair from the fibers in your rug. Just work the squeegee back and forth to loosen the pet hair. If you don’t have a long-handled or telescoping squeegee handy, save yourself from having to get down on your hands and knees by attaching your squeegee to a broom handle.

RELATED: The 10 Most Dangerous Plants for Your Pet

Baseboards

Mother and Daughter Golden Retrievers

Photo: istockphoto.com

Most homeowners don’t have to pay too much attention to their baseboards, but those who share their house with pets don’t have this luxury. Pet hair can rapidly build up on baseboards and other molding, making them appear dingy and dull. Simply sweep a dryer sheet over the surface to remove hair and brighten up the baseboards. To make the job easier, attach the dryer sheet to the bottom of a Swiffer-type mop.

RELATED: How to Clean Baseboards

Washing Machines

Woman holding cat in laundry room

Photo: istockphoto.com

Tired of pulling fur-covered clothing out of the washing machine? A buildup of pet hair in the appliance could be the culprit. Start by leaving the washer door open to let it dry out completely. When the machine is dry, vacuum out the drum using a brush attachment, then remove the drain pump filter (following the manufacturer’s instructions) and clear out any clogged-up pet hair.

RELATED: 14 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Clean in Your Washing Machine

Dryers

Close up of clothing dryer

Photo: istockphoto.com

Even if you diligently clean your dryer’s lint screen after every load, sometimes you still wind up with clothes that come out of the dryer caked in dog fur. When that happens, try cleaning out the dryer itself by wiping the drum with a slightly damp rubber glove to remove fur buildup.

RELATED: How to Clean a Dryer

Coats

Woman holding small white dog both are wearing winter coats

Photo: istockphoto.com

Pet hair sticks out like a sore thumb on dark-colored jackets. While lint rollers certainly work for a quick fur pickup, for a more thorough cleaning, dampen a pair of rubber gloves and stroke the coat with them in a downward motion.

RELATED: 30 Lazy Cleaning Tricks for a Spotless Home

Bedding

Young African American woman and her cute little dachshund sleeping in bed together in the early morning

Photo: istockphoto.com

Bedding (both yours and your furry friends’) can attract loads of stubborn pet hair. To clean it, start by moving a lint roller—a great pet hair remover for laundry and linens—back and forth over the bedding to pick up stray hair and fur. (If you opt for the well-reviewed ChomChom roller, the top pick in our guide to the best pet hair removers, fur and fuzz will be tidily trapped in its built-in receptacle.) When you’re done, remove the bedding and shake it out outside to get rid of any remaining hair. Finally, toss the bedding in the wash—if you’re washing comforters, shams, or bed skirts, check the care label first: You don’t want to ruin your bedding in your fur-removing frenzy. Use dryer sheets or balls in the dryer to help collect any remaining hair.

RELATED: Solved! How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?

Blinds

A pet dog resting on the window sill as it waits for it's owner to return.

Photo: istockphoto.com

As with curtains, Fido’s fur can accumulate on your blinds. To remove it, wipe the blinds gently with a microfiber cloth. For more stubborn hair, use a piece of tape to roll away any remaining strands. Additionally, you can dampen the microfiber cloth with water or a pet-safe cleaning solution and wipe down slats individually.

RELATED: Helpful Hints for Cleaning Window Blinds

Drain

DIRTY DOG BATHING. TERRIER PUPPY ON BLUE BATHTUB WITH PAWS HANGING OVER EDGE.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Yes, pet hair can also pile up in drains! If left unattended, the accumulated hair can lead to clogs and drainage issues, so you’ll want to address it as soon as you notice it. To remove pet hair from drains, put on a pair of rubber gloves, like the Mr. Clean latex gloves, and manually pull out any hair. Then, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain and follow up with 1 cup of vinegar. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then flush the drain with hot water. For stubborn clogs, use a drain snake to dislodge the hair.

RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Drain Cleaners for Hair

Indoor Air

Dog Pug Breed and Air purifier in cozy white bed room for filter and cleaning removing dust PM2.5 HEPA in home,for fresh air and healthy life,Air Pollution Concept

Photo: istockphoto.com

Our furry companions can greatly impact air quality in the home. Their hair attracts dust and other particles and then finds its way into the air around you, which can trigger allergies and lead to respiratory discomfort. To remove pet hair from the air, use an air purifier with a HEPA filter, which can capture tiny hair particles. To reduce the amount of airborne hair in your home, it’s also a good idea to keep your pet clean and well groomed. Vacuum and dust surfaces regularly, too, including furniture and curtains.

RELATED: 8 Myths About Indoor Air Quality—and the Facts You Need to Breathe Easy

Electronics

Bengal domestic cat lies on a laptop keyboard in the living room.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Pet hair accumulates in the crevices of electronic devices, such as keyboards, game consoles, and speakers. To get rid of it, power off the device and use a compressed gas duster like Dust-Off to blow away loose hair from the crevices. You can gently clean the surface with a soft-bristle brush or use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe away any remaining hair. Be careful not to apply excessive pressure or use liquids, as they can damage the electronics.