Pet hair is a pain to remove from a car. We've got you covered with these tips.
Own a pet dog, cat, or another furry friend? Chances are they've made their presence known in your car, leaving hair all over the seats. But how can you get it out?
The inside of a car needs to be kept clean just as much as the outside. A car wash gets the job done on the exterior of the vehicle; tackling the interior takes more elbow grease and tools to reach every nook and cranny. Getting rid of pet hair involves the same effort.
How can you remove pet hair from the car?
The American Kennel Club suggests regularly grooming dogs to prevent a build-up of hair in the car. That involves both washing and brushing the animal often.
A seat cover can be another preventative against built-up hair, but hair can still get trapped in the seats. Once that happens, the AKC said that when pet hair is embedded in seats, it's best to start clearing the fur in larger spots and then move to small crevices in a car.
Home cleaning brand TruEarth recommends using multiple tools and methods to completely remove pet hair. Dry methods included running a lint roller or brush over the upholstery to remove some loose hairs. For wet methods, the brand recommends mixing one part fabric softener with three parts water in a spray bottle and misting the interior before wiping with a dry cloth.
"The fabric softener helps to relax and release the hair from the fabric," according to the website.
What other tools will remove pet hair?
Washington-based car detailer Big's Mobile Detailing called the vacuum "one of the best ways" to remove pet hair. Most vacuums are fit for the job with an attachment suited for getting into small crevices.
"Using a lifting motion when vacuuming automobile carpets will help to lift loose hairs up and out of the carpet fibers," according to the company. "Avoid using hard plastic vacuum heads to scour the carpet, as this could harm it."
Beyond the vacuum, an ingenious tool many pet owners should have is a handheld cleaning brush or pumice stone for pet hair.
The cleaning brush creates static allowing pet hair to cling to it and be pulled from seats. Some have a rubber side that can remove surface hair. The hair cleaning stone, like a generic pumice stone found in the plumbing aisle, is optimal for removing stubborn pet hair, the detailer added.
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What breed of dogs and cats shed the most?
For cats, pet food company Purina said the Persian, Birman, Himalayan, and Turkish Angora cats shed the most out of all breeds. For dogs, 50 different breeds are considered heavy shedders, which include Afghan Hounds, German Shepherds, and Huskies.
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Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to remove pet hair from your car: Tips to keep your ride clean
