5 Pet Hair Removal Hacks You Didn't Even Know Existed

Whether guests are on their way over or you're late to an event, pet hair can be a big problem. Couches, clothing, floors, and more can easily attract pet hair through the power of static electricity, which can make it difficult to keep things clean on a consistent basis. A lint roller and vacuum are great to have on hand when you need to clean pet hair, but there are also a few handy hacks that can help you remove pesky pet hair in a pinch.

The following five hacks can help get pet hair off surfaces fast, and you only need a few items you probably already have in your home. These include a pair of kitchen gloves, sticky tape, a shower squeegee, and dryer sheets. Additionally, a few pet brushes can help remove pet hair directly from your pet before it ends up on the couch.

If you're looking for an easy way to remove pet hair from fabric surfaces, look no further than your kitchen. Rubber gloves normally used to clean dishes can also aid in removing pesky pet hair. This hack works due to the static buildup between the glove and the hair, which lifts it away from the fabric.

@neat.caroline

How to remove pet hair with a rubber glove! #fyp #cleantok #cleaningtips #pethair #pethairremoval #homehacks #hometips #catsoftiktok #catlover

♬ original sound – Neat Caroline

To try this at home, dampen your glove under some warm water. Next, run the glove over any pet hair on the surface you're cleaning. It's a good idea to roll all the pet hair in one direction, so it gathers in an easy-to-grab clump that can be thrown away when you're done cleaning. Be aware, though, that not every fabric will easily allow the hair to pill, and some heavily textured surfaces may be harder to clean. It's best to test the glove on a small section first before running it over the entire surface.

If you don't have kitchen gloves handy, you can look to another room for a solution: the office. You might already have a roll of duct tape that can help remove pet hair from surfaces and clothing tucked away in a drawer. Simply roll some tape up, and wrap it around your fingers, sticky-side out. Then, use it as you would a lint roller on fabric surfaces. Some people even just lay the tape on a surface, press it down, and rip up the hair like a leg getting waxed.

Some caution should be taken, though. Make sure you first test the tape on a small portion of the fabric to ensure it doesn't damage the surface or leave residue. You may also need to use a different technique for some surfaces (for example, when getting dog hair out of Velcro). What's more, tape can be more expensive than a lint roller, so if you have a roller handy, it may be better to use it. That said, if you're in immediate need of pet hair removal, this hack works quite well.

There are many ways to minimize dog shedding. Using a regular brush doesn't seem like much of a hack, but it's all in what type you use. While removing the pet hair directly from your pet may seem like common sense, how you do it can make all the difference. Different styles of pet brushes exist to tackle loose hair on a variety of coats. This makes it so more hair ends up directly in the trash or compost, and less ends up on your clothes and couches. 

The slicker brush is a square brush with wiry tines that's the all-around best option for removing loose pet hair and tangles. If you have a dog with a long or silky coat, a pin brush has a similar shape but is tipped with rubber or plastic to glide more easily through the fur. Meanwhile, bristle brushes are ones that look the most like human hairbrushes and are best for short or wiry-coated dogs. Lastly, shedding combs (or a shedding brush kit like Augwind's 3-piece set) is perfect for removing large amounts of hair, especially from double-coated breeds.

Squeegees are great for getting water off of shower walls to prevent soap scum buildup, but this tiny tool can also be great at getting pet hair off of the couch, too. It doesn't require any additional tools or techniques to work.

To use a squeegee on surfaces, gently swipe the squeegee along the fabric of the couch in one direction. The hair will start to pill up over time at the end of the swipe. You can also wipe down the squeegee between swipes with a cloth to remove any hair stuck to it. Once the surface is clean, use a vacuum or your hand to remove the balled-up pet hair. It's important to remember that this works best on smooth, fabric surfaces, as pet hair may get stuck on bumpy or textured materials with this technique.

If you've ever tossed your clothes in the wash only to have them come out still covered in hair, this trick is for you. Using the dryer, as well as special dryer sheets, can help remove pet hair, leaving your laundry fresh and clean. When it comes to selecting the best dryer sheets, the Bounce Pet Hair & Lint Guard Mega Dryer Sheets are a fast way to remove pet hair from your laundry because of their size and proprietary technology that works specifically on pet hair. 

Just tossing your clothes in the dryer directly for a few minutes can also help, as the movement of the dryer drum helps loosen pet hair that's then deposited into the dryer's filter. Using a cool or low heat setting is recommended to help keep the clothes from getting damaged.

Now, if you're looking to clean specific surfaces, you can also check out our list of the best pet hair removers for furniture, car interiors, clothing, and more.