5 ways to remove pet hair from a sofa
From vacuuming to using common household items in unexpected ways, these tips take the fur out of furniture. Credit: TNS/Getty Images/Oscar Wong
Keeping pet hair from overtaking the couch can seem like an insurmountable task, and indeed, it does require regular work. Fortunately, there are plenty of inexpensive tools and clever techniques to help keep Fluffy's fluff at bay, with no plastic coverings required!
Understanding your sofa type
Couch manufacturers developed a cleaning code or legend that's important to seek out before you clean your couch in any way. The code appears on the care tag that is sewn onto an inconspicuous area of the sofa and will appear as one of four letter symbols:
- W = Wet/water cleaning only
- S = Dry solvent cleaning only
- SW = Dry solvent and/or wet cleaning
- X = Professional cleaning or vacuuming only
Vacuum for the deepest clean
Vacuuming the sofa will give you the biggest bang for your cleaning buck: A vacuum will pick up loose pet hair and remove dander and other animal body soils that trigger allergies and leave behind odors.
Vacuum your sofa regularly using the upholstery brush attachment. Inexpensive universal attachment sets can also be purchased online or at home improvement and hardware stores. Look for a set that includes an upholstery brush attachment as well as a crevice tool, which can help with seams, where hair can become embedded.
If using a full-size vacuum isn't ideal, a handheld vacuum is a worthwhile investment.
Use hair removal tools for upkeep
Small hair-removing tools like sticky rollers and furniture brushes are another important weapon in your fur-fighting arsenal. These tools can be used in between vacuuming to keep hair at bay.
Traditional sticky fabric rollers are one option, but for furniture, bypass those and opt for a specialty roller. Jumbo sticky rollers are ideal for furniture because they can cover more area with each pass. Another style to look for is an oversized sticky roller with an extendable handle, which can help to mitigate some of the awkwardness of rolling large pieces of furniture.
Reusable furniture brushes and rollers are used the same way as sticky rollers, but they use microfibers. Reusable ones are a more cost-effective solution than sticky rollers and create less waste.
Remove pet hair with common household items
Specialty tools for pet hair removal aren't necessary. Don a rubber household glove and simply run your hand over the surface. Getting the glove slightly damp can help, but be sure to consult the cleaning legend on your sofa to be sure the fabric can be safely exposed to water. Similarly, a slightly damp dish sponge can be used in the same way to pick up pet hair from a sofa.
Remove hair from slipcovers, throw pillows, and blankets before washing
Before laundering, address pet hair buildup. Use a roller, brush, glove or sponge to give the fabric a once-over before tossing in the washing machine.
In-wash products can also help to remove pet hair. Reusable hair catchers for washing machines attract and grab onto fur as it loosens from fabric.
Get some grooming tools
One of the best things you can do is to groom pets regularly. Consult a vet or groomer for recommendations for how often your pet's particular coat should be maintained.
Grooming gloves, which help to reduce shedding by removing the dead coat and straightening hair follicles to help them hold onto the hair longer, can be used the same way as rubber gloves to remove pet hair from a couch.
