How to Rid Your Car’s Interior of Dog Hair

Dogs are man’s best friend, and we want to take them everywhere with us. From road trips to playtime at the park to the dreaded visits to the vet, your dog will be no stranger to the back seat of your car. But if you don’t have leather seats, your dog’s fur will be sticking to the fabric like burrs.

As much as we love our dogs, their fur is an unwelcome decoration in our vehicles. Not only that, but it’s also inconsiderate to any potential passengers, especially those who don’t have dogs. We wouldn’t want them getting their clothing covered in dog hair after a trip in our car.

Dog hair clings stubbornly to our car seats, making it tough to remove. Luckily, there are a number of tools and tricks that can help you get as much of it out as possible. We’ll also discuss how you can reduce the amount of fur your dog sheds onto your seats.

Deep Cleaning

If you’re looking to remove dog hair from every inch of your car, then you’re going to need a method that not only works, but is time-efficient. These are the tools you’ll want to consider when doing a deep clean.

1. Pet Hair Remover Roller

This item may seem like a gimmick you would see on an infomercial, but it actually works. It’s a pretty clever invention, and there are a few different brands available on Amazon. It looks like a larger version of a lint roller, but instead of being sticky, it has two rubber strips.

As you roll it back and forth, fur gets collected into the back of the device. When you’re done, you can open the back and dispose of the fur. Not only does the device work well, but it’s environmentally friendly.

The size of these rollers is usually about double that of a basic lint roller. They’re a decent size for use on car seats and should help you get the job done in a reasonable amount of time.

2. Dog Hair Brush

Brushes made for grooming dogs can also work well for grooming your car seats. Shedding blades, in particular, work quite well for loosening dog hair. You’ll want to test a small section of your seat first just to make sure the tool won’t damage the fabric. This isn’t likely, but shedding blades do have pointy teeth.

If you don’t have a shedding blade, other grooming tools may still work. Whatever brushes you use, test them out to see if they work to free hairs from your car seats. If not, we have plenty of other dog hair removal methods for you to try.

3. Vacuum

The vacuum is the age-old solution to cleaning fur off of anything. However, vacuums tend to only suck up what is already loose, leaving behind the stubborn hairs that seem to be interwoven with the fabric of your seats.

Using a vacuum with more suction power than the average carpet cleaner is a good start. A Shop Vac is a great choice if you have access to one, or you can try the vacuums at gas stations and car washes.

A regular vacuum can be more effective with the right attachment. Some brands make attachments specifically for cleaning pet hair off upholstery. Attachments with rubber bristles typically work well for removing pet hair.

4. Squeegee

Squeegees work similarly to the pet hair remover rollers; they just don’t have a compartment in the back to collect fur. As you slide them down the seat, they’ll collect all the hair into a pile that you can vacuum up. Squeegees are cost-effective and well-sized for the job.

5. Rubber Gloves

You know those rubber gloves people wear when washing dishes or cleaning toilets? They can also help you remove dog hair from your car. Gloves with textured hands or fingers work best, so use those if you can.

If the fur in your car is especially stubborn, use a little bit of water in tandem with the glove. Wet hair is heavier than dry hair, so it will clump together better and be easier to remove. We also like gloves for awkward or hard to reach places. Your fingers can go where bulkier tools cannot.

You can also use nitrile gloves if you prefer them over rubber.

6. Fabric Softener

Fabric softener can help loosen hair that is deeply entrenched in your car, whether it be in the seats or the carpeting. You’ll want to mix it with water in a 7 to 1 ratio (the one being the softener).

Spray it onto the areas you’re looking to clean and let it sit for about 15 seconds. Then, use whatever method you like most for removing the hair.

Spot Cleaning

Some methods for removing dog hair from your car aren’t going to be the best option if you’re trying to clean the whole thing. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t work. Let’s look at some dog fur removal methods that are great for spot cleaning on the go.

1. Lint Roller

Lint rollers are a classic tool for getting hair or fuzzies off clothing and upholstery. They work just as well for removing dog hair from your car. The downside to them is that they’re pretty small so it may take you a long time to de-fur all the surfaces in your car. Furthermore, they’re a bit wasteful.

2. Duct Tape

If you don’t have a lint roller, you could opt for duct tape (or any other wide tape, like packing tape). Again, trying to clean your whole car with this method would take forever, but it certainly works in a pinch.

3. Velcro Hair Curlers

This may seem like a strange suggestion, but velcro hair curlers, or really any velcro for that matter, does a great job of removing dog hair. Dog hair sticks to velcro like no one’s business, and unlike lint rollers, velcro will never lose its stickiness. It’s also less wasteful.

4. Balloons

If you thought the hair curlers were an odd suggestion, then this one may seem even weirder. However, balloons can be effective at removing dog hair. If you’ve ever played with balloons as a kid, you’ve probably noticed that your hair sticks to them.

The same is true of dog hair. Balloons have an uncanny ability to create static electricity which causes hair to cling to them. Simply rub the balloon over your seats to collect hair. Unfortunately, this trick probably won’t work for hair that is embedded in the fabric of your seats, but it could be a fun way to trick kids into cleaning dog hair out of the car.

Prevention

If your dog is riding in your car, then it’s inevitable that you’re eventually going to have to work on removing fur from your carpet and seats. However, preventative methods are still worth it as they can reduce the frequency with which you’ll need to clean your car.

1. Seat Covers

If your dog is often riding with you in the car, then it’s definitely worth it to invest in some seat covers. Not only will they keep fur off of your car’s upholstery, but they’ll also save your interior from mud and other messes. Many are machine washable, making them much easier to clean.

If your dog doesn’t ride in the car all that often, or you just don’t want to shell out the cash for seat covers, you can use blankets instead. Towels will also work, but old blankets are better because of their size. Make sure to tuck them into the seat best you can so that they don’t come loose.

2. Grooming

Most dog breeds should be brushed at least once per week, though many pet parents tend to brush their dogs only when they are shedding profusely. However, if you do make the effort to brush weekly, it will reduce the amount of hair your dog leaves in the car (and it’s also healthy for her coat!).

To go one step further, you can brush your dog before you take her someplace in your car. If you pair this with weekly brushing, you’re certain to see a reduction in the amount of fur your dog leaves behind in your vehicle.

3. Bathing

When it comes to bathing your dog, the rule of thumb for breeds whose coats don’t need special care is that you really only have to do it when they smell bad. However, it is safe to bathe your dog once a month (bathing too often can dry out their skin and coat).

Bathing your dog is a great way to loosen clumps of fur that are ready to fall out. If you’re looking to reduce the amount of fur your dog is leaving behind in the car, don’t forget her monthly bath. In tandem with grooming, this is a great way to deal with a shedding dog.

4. Crate Your Dog

If you have enough room in your vehicle, consider crating your dog in the car instead of letting her lay on the seats. Crating is actually one of the safest ways to transport your dog. In the event of a crash, the crate can keep your dog from being flung around the car, or worse, through the windshield.

Crates should be kept in the back seat, as the airbag in the front could injure your dog. They also should be secured in place with straps that clip into the seat buckles. These are relatively easy to find and inexpensive.

Not only are crates safer, but they isolate your dog from the rest of the vehicle. This means that any hair they lose will be found in the crate, not all over your car.

No More Hairy Seats

Our dogs may be our favorite companions, but their fur is not. Dog owners know the struggle: it gets all over your clothes, your furniture, and sometimes you’ll even find it in your food! Your car is no exception. You may love taking your dog to the park or for hikes, but getting dog hair out of your car is no easy task.

Luckily, there are a number of tools and tricks you can use to make removal a breeze. Many of them are items you already have at home, like rubber gloves, squeegees, and fabric softener. These are great for cleaning the interior in its entirety. However, if you just need something for a quick spot clean, lint rollers and duct tape are perfect.