How to remove pet hair from bedroom furniture

To remove pet hair from furniture, start dry and grippy: run a slightly damp rubber glove or a rubber pet-hair brush across the fabric in one direction so the hair rolls into clumps. Pick those up, go over the piece with a vacuum upholstery tool, then finish with a lint roller on the last strands. Fabric bed benches, headboards and chairs take about five minutes each this way.

Why does pet hair stick so hard to upholstery?

Two things hold it there. Fine hair, like a cat's undercoat or a retriever's, weaves itself into textured fabric when an animal lies on it. And friction builds static, which keeps the hair pressed flat. A vacuum alone struggles because the hair is tangled in the weave, not sitting on top.

Rubber fixes both problems. It grabs the hair and drags it out of the weave instead of sucking at it from above, which is why the first pass should be rubber, not suction.

What do you need?

• A pair of rubber dish gloves, or a rubber pet-hair brush
• A vacuum with an upholstery tool (the flat one with a fabric strip or short bristles)
• A lint roller
• A spray bottle with plain water
• A window squeegee, for low-pile fabric and rugs

How do you remove pet hair from a bed bench, headboard or chair?

1. Mist the glove, not the furniture. Dampen the rubber glove lightly. On very dry fabric, one light mist of water over the surface from arm's length helps too. You want it barely damp, not wet.
2. Wipe in one direction. Short strokes, all the same way. The hair gathers into a line of clumps. Pull them off by hand and drop them straight in a bag.
3. Rinse the glove under the tap when it stops picking up, and keep going.
4. Vacuum. Go over the whole piece with the upholstery tool, then use the crevice tool along the seams, the tufting buttons and where the headboard meets the mattress. That's where hair packs in.
5. Lint roll the last strands. A roller is a finishing tool. Used first, it fills up fast and wastes sheets.

On low-pile fabric, a dry window squeegee pulled toward you does the same job as the glove and pulls up a surprising amount.

Check the care tag on the piece before using any water at all. Some fabrics, like many velvets and silks, are dry-clean only and can water-spot. On those, skip the mist and use a dry rubber brush.

What about the bedding and the dog's favorite blanket?

Shake everything outside first. Then put the bedding or blanket in the dryer on a no-heat or low setting for about 10 minutes before you wash it. The tumbling loosens the hair and the lint trap catches it, so it doesn't spread through the wash and onto everything else. Clean the lint trap, then wash as usual.

For the mattress itself, vacuum it with the upholstery tool whenever you change the sheets. Our guide to deep cleaning a mattress covers the rest.

What doesn't work well?

• Dryer sheets rubbed on furniture. They loosen some hair but leave a waxy film on fabric. Keep them in the laundry.
• Duct tape. It works on a small spot and leaves sticky residue on velvet and microfiber.
• A wet cloth on upholstery. It turns hair into a damp mat and can leave water rings.
• Vacuuming first on heavy shedding. The hair clogs the brush roll and you end up cutting it out with scissors.

How do you keep pet hair off bedroom furniture?

• Brush the pet outside a few times a week in shedding season. Every hair in the brush is one less on the bench.
• Give them their own spot. A washable throw folded on the bed bench or the end of the bed is easier to shake out than upholstery is to de-fur.
• Wash pet bedding weekly. It's where loose hair and dander collect.
• Vacuum the floor around their spot more often than the rest of the room. Hair on the floor gets kicked back up onto the furniture.
• Pick tightly woven fabrics if you're buying. Leather, canvas and tight weaves let hair sit on top, where a quick wipe takes it off. Loose, nubby weaves trap it.

How can a house cleaning help with pet hair?

On Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, floors are vacuumed and mopped and reachable surfaces and furniture are dusted.

If there's a pet in the house, add the Pets add-on when you book a Standard House Cleaning or a Deep Cleaning. It accounts for extra time and pet hair, and removes pet hair and dander. It doesn't include pet waste cleanup.

See what's covered at House Cleaning.

FAQ

What is the fastest way to get dog hair off a fabric bed bench or headboard? Run a slightly damp rubber glove or a rubber pet-hair brush across the fabric in one direction. The hair rolls up into clumps you can pick off, and a vacuum upholstery tool takes what's left.

Do dryer sheets remove pet hair? A dry sheet rubbed over fabric can loosen some hair, but it leaves residue on upholstery and does less than a damp rubber glove. Keep dryer sheets for the dryer.

How do you get pet hair off bedding and blankets? Shake them outside, then run them through the dryer on a no-heat or low setting for about 10 minutes before washing. The lint trap catches the loose hair so it doesn't end up stuck to everything else in the wash.

Can a house cleaning help with pet hair? On Standard House Cleaning and Deep Cleaning you can add the Pets add-on when you book. It accounts for extra time and pet hair, and removes pet hair and dander. It doesn't include pet waste cleanup.

Book a house cleaning

We clean homes across South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.