1. Vacuum
Nothing beats using a good quality vacuum cleaner at least once a week to keep pet hair from gathering in the carpet pile. One with an extendable, angled brush attachment allows you to clean deep into the carpet fibers, even in that awkward-to-reach corner your cat or dog loves to snuggle up in. Go over the area twice to catch any stubborn strands. And don’t forget to regularly empty the canister and clean the filter to maximize the vacuum’s longevity and effectiveness.
If your furry family member is a super shedder, it’s worth investing in a pet-specific model.
2. Rubber Gloves
If your vacuum is on the fritz or there’s a hard-to-reach area full of embedded fur, try teasing the pet hair out with a pair of rubber gloves. The static the rubber generates on the carpet fibers acts like a magnet for pet hairs.
This low-cost strategy is best for patches of carpet where the hair gathers most or on the area rug your dog loves to sleep on. Cleaning an entire carpet with this method would be a back-breaking task. And it’s most effective on low-pile designs. Rubber gloves are also great for removing pet hairs from sofas.
3. Squeegee
Long-handled squeegees aren’t just convenient for cleaning shower doors and windows. They also do a pretty good job lifting pet hair out of low-pile carpets. Get into a rhythm, using long, forceful strokes, and watch the pet hair gather in clumps you can easily lift. This technique is better for your back than relying on rubber gloves.
4. Carpet Rake
Carpet rakes dig deep to loosen pet hairs tightly woven around high-pile fibers. However, if you’re thinking about adding a rake to your repertoire of tools, there are a few things to consider:
Choose one suitable for your fiber type—the last thing you want is for it to damage your heirloom antique rug.
These tools aren’t the best choice for delicate, looped rugs.
Use it before vacuuming so any loosened debris is fully lifted afterward.
Using a rake after vacuuming is best for helping to make the carpet look fluffy and full.
5. Pumice Stone
If you’ve got a scratchy pumice stone hanging around your bathroom, it’s handy for grabbing hold of hairs and loosening them before vacuuming. However, this hack is only suitable for low-pile carpets in targeted areas where your pet loves to lounge.
6. Lint Roller
Sticky lint rollers or brushes are go-to pet hair removers for clothes, but they can also be a quick fix for carpets. While these can lift a lot of hair, they won’t pull out the fur stuck deep down in high-pile materials. Plus, it would take hours of elbow grease and a lot of tape to roll over each inch of an entire living room carpet or area rug.
7. Fabric Softener Sheet
Another practical tip for removing pet hair from low-pile carpets is to grab a damp fabric softener sheet and smooth it over the surface of your carpet before running the vacuum over it. This can help loosen deeply embedded hairs so it’s easier for the vacuum to suck them up. Alternatively, mix 1 part fabric softener with 3 parts water in a spray bottle. Lightly mist your carpet. Once it’s dry, go at it with the vacuum.
Always test the mixture on a less visible corner of your carpet that is covered with furniture before spraying it all over. A bonus of this hack is that the fresh fabric softener scent is ideal for covering up pet odors.
