Sam Gallagher
Owner, Clarity Mobile Detailing
Dog hair stuck all over your car? I have good news: you can get it out!
The short answer is to loosen it first with a rubber pet hair brush, and then vacuum it up. But if you stick around and keep reading, you'll find a much more detailed answer, with step-by-step instructions on exactly how we do it in our clients' cars.
Imagine you purchase a new car, and the best part is it's spotless. You take it home and swear this time will be different. You will keep this car spotless. However, this never truly lasts. You take your dog on multiple drives a month, and the shedding starts building up.
We completely understand. Vet visits, walks, pup cups, and traveling are all part of a pet owner's life. But you don't have to sacrifice your car in the process.
Why dog hair is so hard to remove
Dog hair is hard to remove for three main reasons. The first is static electricity. Dog hair naturally builds up a static charge, and the same way a balloon sticks to your arm, a pet's fur sticks to the carpet.
Second, dog hair has microscopic overlapping scales called cuticles. These act as little hooks that help the fur cling to carpet and fabric.
Lastly, short, stiff dog hair weaves itself into the fibers of carpets and cloth seats. Add in the static and the cuticles, plus the fact that it gets into every nook and cranny, and dog hair can feel impossible to remove.
The best tool for the job
Now that you know why dog hair is so hard to remove, let's talk about the best tool to remove it. Our number one recommendation is a rubber pet hair brush. (Our personal favorite is the Lilly Brush.)
These brushes work because of the static charge pet hair carries. Pet hair becomes positively charged as it rubs against certain materials, while rubbing a rubber brush across the same surface builds a negative charge. Since opposites attract, the hair is drawn to the brush. The grip of the rubber also grabs the hair and pulls it into clumps.
Once you've pulled the hair out of the carpet, simply vacuum it up to remove it from your car for good.
Our step-by-step process
Here is exactly how we remove pet hair from our clients' cars. You may not have every tool we use, but you can follow the same order with what you have at home.
- Pull out the floor mats. We take the mats out, shake them off, and blow them out with our specialized air guns.
- Do a quick vacuum. A fast first pass grabs anything loose.
- Blow out the car. We go over the whole interior with the air gun again. This removes a large portion of the hair.
- Spray to break the static. We lightly mist all the carpet and cloth, where the hair actually sticks, with an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, or a carpet shampoo.
- Brush out what's left. We use either a Lilly Brush or a Fur-eel vacuum attachment to pull out the remaining pet hair.
- Do a final vacuum. We vacuum up all the loosened hair and clumps, then put the mats back in.
Even with the right tools, expect pet hair to add 30 minutes or more to a detail, depending on the car.
When to call a professional
If you have a rubber brush and some patience, you can get a lot of dog hair out on your own. But there are times when it makes sense to call us:
- Your dog is a heavy shedder, and the hair is packed deep into the carpet, cloth seats, or cargo area.
- You've tried brushing and vacuuming, and the hair still won't come up.
- You don't have an air gun or the time to spend an extra 30 minutes or more on your car.
That's where we come in. We bring our air guns, cleaners, and brushes to your home or workplace and follow the exact process above, so you don't have to drop your car off or give up your afternoon. If your car is starting to feel more like your dog's than yours, get a quote and we'll take care of it.
How to keep dog hair out of your car
Once your car is clean, a few simple habits will keep it that way much longer.
- Use a seat cover or cargo liner. A waterproof cover catches most of the hair before it ever reaches your seats or carpet. If your dog rides in the back of an SUV, we like the 4Knines SUV Cargo Liner. It zips apart so you can still fold down part of the back seat, and it doesn't block the seat belts.
- Brush your dog before a ride. A quick brushing outside gets rid of loose hair that would otherwise end up in your car.
- Keep a rubber pet hair brush in the car. A few swipes after each trip stops the hair from building up and weaving into the fibers.
- Get your interior cleaned regularly. The longer hair sits, the harder it is to remove. Our maintenance plans keep your car on a regular schedule, so it never gets out of hand.
The bottom line
The best way to get dog hair out of your car is to loosen it first with a rubber pet hair brush, and then vacuum it up. If you'd rather spend your time with your dog than on your car, get a quote and we'll come to you.
Products mentioned in this post
We don't earn anything from these links. They're just the tools we use or recommend.