How to remove dog hair from your car

There’s nothing cuter than having dogs in the car: the excitement of a trip out with your best friend, the wind whipping their fur around, with all the promise of adventure that it brings (that is, unless the trip happens to be to the vet). Oh boy!

But there is one giant furry downside: dog hair. It gets everywhere, and before you know it, there’s enough to construct a fur snowman. You don’t need to forgo trips with Fido to have a clean car, though. Just use the tricks and cleaning tips below for a happy dog and a fur-free car.

Tips to remove pet hair from the car

If your pup is leaving the back seat covered in fur, chances are, your next human passenger will also be left covered in it, so you’ll probably want to keep on top of its removal. Dog hair can also become a problem in the car and can clog up your cabin filter, or your lungs— not to mention the smell can build up, so removing it will help you breathe easy.

A few things that can really help prevent pet hair build up are to lay down a towel, invest in a dog seat cover, or have a dedicated dog seat that your pooch can scooch into. This means you’ll minimise the fur that gets onto items that can’t be removed, and you’ll also avoid dirty paws getting all over your seats. Just shake it off periodically or give it a quick wash and you’re good to go!

Start prepping before you’re even in the car. Brushing your dog right before a trip will get rid of any loose fur that would have otherwise littered the car. It also means your dog gets a good scratch, which they’ll love you for!

If your dog has already decorated your car, it can be tricky to remove from the carpet and car seats. The fur easily becomes embedded in the fibres, making it hard to shift. You’re going to need some clever ideas to get rid of it.

How to get dog hair out of carpet

Here are some quick tips for getting those pesky hairs out of the carpet.

Rubber: You probably already own a squeegee to clean your windscreen, but did you know you can also use it as a pet hair remover? The hair sticks to the rubber as you run it along the carpet, you just need to periodically remove the fur by rinsing or wiping it off so you don’t spread it around. Having it slightly damp will make it even more effective. The same principle applies with a rubber dishwashing glove, or pet deshedding mitt, so use whatever you find the easiest.

Pumice stone: This works great as it’s naturally rough and easily traps the dog hairs as you brush it along the carpet. You need to be careful of any vinyl or plastic surfaces that sits alongside, as the pumice stone can scratch it or leave marks. Given it’s quite a coarse tool, it’s not recommended for car seats as it could snag the fabric, but it’s great for automotive carpets.

Fabric softener: The idea here is to loosen the hair and make it easier to remove from the carpet fibres. It also leaves your car smelling fresh! To try it, mix fabric softener and water in a spray bottle at a 1:4 ratio. Lightly spray down your carpet or car mats, leave it for a few minutes, and finish off with a rubber glove, a vacuum, or a squeegee.

Vacuum: If you really want a deep clean, you can’t go past a vacuum that’s specifically designed for pet fur. If you don’t have that though, using the above rubber method either before or while you vacuum the carpets will do a really great job of getting rid of any stubborn dog hairs.

How to get dog hair out of car seats

The carpet in your car is made to take a beating, but if you have fabric seats you’ll want to be gentler when cleaning them. Try these methods:

Lint roller/brush: A sticky lint roller or fabric lint brush will work wonders for removing dog hair, just run them over your seats as you would your clothes. The beauty of a lint roller is it also removes dirt, although you’re best to give the area a good vacuum to really get down into the fabric.

Dryer sheets: These make your clothes smell nice when they come out of the dryer, but they also work a treat for removing dog hair. They don’t need any water, you simply wipe them over your seats and dashboard for a dog hair-free, fresh smelling car.

Now that you know a few easy ways to keep your car dog hair free, we hope that you and your pooch can enjoy those rides together even more. And make sure to check out our other articles for more great car care tips!