Owners should always be ready to deal with the inconveniences of pet ownership as much as they enjoy the sweet nudges, hugs, and affectionate kisses from their pets. That said, fur on carpets can be particularly frustrating! But animals shed hair, and it’s inevitably going to get into the carpets.
Even if you take pride in cleaning your home regularly, you must admit that cleaning a carpet entrenched with fur and dirt is nerve-racking. Fortunately, there are plenty of DIY tricks that you can employ on virtually any mess during a carpet-cleaning spree to make your life easier.
The 9 Ways to Remove Pet Hair From Your Carpet
The good thing about cleaning a carpet full of pet hair is that you don’t need special detergents and solvents to get the work done. With just a few ingredients and this list of tried-and-true pet hair removal tools, you can have an easier time getting fur, whether short or long, out of your carpet.
1. Lint Rollers
Lint rollers are must-have tools for picking up cat and dog hair from the carpets. Whether it’s a routine cleaning day or the dreadful shedding season, lint rollers will get the job done.
One of the best lint rollers you can use is the ChomChom Roller Pet Hair Remover. This inexpensive tool has sheets that peel off in layers, exposing a new sticky sheet for each use.
When the lint roller is no longer sticky, unwrap the sheet, toss it, and use a new one. Roll and remove the sheet when full until the dirt is out.
2. Rubber Gloves
Do you want a chemical-free way to clean your carpet? Rubber gloves offer a way out of the expensive carpet cleaners on the market. Also, a latex glove, just like the typical rubber gloves found in the cleaning aisle, can work on your carpet—no additional cleaning supplies are needed. A rubber glove creates static power that helps the fur on the carpet stick to the glove.
Here is how to use rubber gloves for carpet pet hair removal:
- Put on the rubber glove, and rub your hands all over the rug. The friction between the hand and the carpet will create static energy that will lift the fur and lint pieces and stick to the glove.
- Before rubbing the carpet, submerge your hands in water and then proceed to give your carpet a good rub down. The damp glove will lift the hair from the carpet and cause it to stick to it. However, ensure that you rub in one direction to help collect a lump of hair at a common spot.
- Collect the gathered hair, dispose of it elsewhere, and rinse off the gloves by plunging the hand in a basin with hot water. The hair will unstick from the gloves and float away. Repeat the process until the rest of the hair is out of the carpet.
3. Fabric Softener
This doesn’t have to be an expensive cleaning detergent. All you need is a regular fabric softener that you use for your laundry, water, a spray bottle, a vacuum, and a brush. Here is the procedure you can follow:
- Create a solution of liquid fabric softener and water. Dilute the fabric softener and the water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the carpet lightly with the solution. Be careful not to spray too much; a bit of the solution on the surface will do.
- Wait for a couple of minutes for the solution to dry. It shouldn’t take long if you’ve sprayed a light mist.
- The fabric softener allows stubborn pet hair to loosen up such that you can easily vacuum or brush the fur out of the carpet.
4. Carpet Rakes
This broom-like tool works like a charm on carpet by combing through it, unearthing the most hidden pet fur. You can get one with a long handle, removing the need for going down on your knees when cleaning.
The tiny metal or plastic pins at the rake’s head dig deep into the carpet’s fibers, pulling and trapping the hair from the rug with each stroke. Here is how to use a carpet rake:
- Ensure the head is clean and adjusted to the handle.
- Secure the handle to a comfortable height of operation.
- Press the head onto the rug and rug, and apply light pressure as you pull it down the fabric using short strokes. You can use longer strokes as you pull upward if the carpet has long fibers.
- Clean a small area, and move on to the next spot once you feel the fur is out.
- Remove the build-up from the rake, and dispose of it once the head is full of hair.
5. Hair Brushes
A hairbrush is a handy tool when retrieving the hard-to-get strands of pet hair from a carpet. Ensure that you use a brush with stiff metal bristles.
When brushing, you can use both short and long strokes in various directions to ensure that you are getting deep into the carpet’s fabric. However, ensure that all the strokes lead toward you and to a common collection point where you can pick up the pet hair lumps that form.
The fur will periodically stick and clog the bristles on your brush. Therefore, you may need to regularly stop and pull out the hair strands before you continue brushing. Brush repeatedly until no more hair sticks to the brush.
6. Rubber Squeegees
You can squeegee a carpet the same way that you would a window. The rubber part is essentially a hair magnet, so it works well for extracting stubborn pet hair.
The friction between the rubber and the carpet creates a magnetic effect that pulls and sticks hair onto the tool. To avoid bending your back or kneeling, use a long-handle brush squeegee when cleaning. Now, you just have to bring the window technique down to your floor.
Here is how to use a squeegee to clean carpet of pet hair:
- Pull the squeegee along the carpet in your direction with a bit of pressure. Ensure that you do it in sections. Although it might require effort, it is worth the trouble. The rubber will pull out tumbleweed-like balls of fur, freeing the fabric from pet hair.
- Pick up and dispose of the hair clumps that accumulate after a few strokes. Repeat the process until you get rid of all the pet hair.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the hair rolls or stubborn fur out of the carpet.
7. Baking Soda
Unlike other far-fetched pet hair removal tools, this method requires only a packet of baking soda and a vacuum cleaner. You can likely find baking soda in your kitchen.
Start by spreading a light coating of baking soda all over your carpet and allowing it to sit for a few minutes. Now, vacuum the rug thoroughly to remove the hair strands. Baking soda not only helps loosen pet hair from the rug’s fabric but also deodorizes the carpet. You can also try using baking soda followed by a great enzyme cleaner.
Be careful with this method, as baking soda can be toxic if ingested. Keep your pet away from the cleaning area until you are done and all traces of the cleaning solution are gone.
Our favorite enzyme cleaner is the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray because it permanently removes even the very worst pet stains and smells you can imagine (and makes clean-up a breeze). They even offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle and freshen up your home today.
- ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER - Penetrates the most stubborn smells and stains at the deepest molecular...
- FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE - This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,...
- FRESH, NATURAL ODOR - Our unique formulation doesn't rely on dangerous or unpleasant chemical...
At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
8. Pet-Hair Vacuum Cleaners
Unfortunately, vacuuming pet hair using a regular vacuum cleaner is the best way to damage a good vacuum brush. The reason is that the fine furs can get tangled around the bristles, preventing the brush from rolling as it should over the carpet.
The good thing is that there are specific pet hair vacuum cleaners meant for this task. They have the correct suction and filters befitting pet hair removal without clogging the system.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum is one of the best pet hair vacuum cleaners. For perfect results, here is the vacuuming procedure you should follow:
- The best way to get the cleanest carpet is to be slow and sure. Start from your carpet’s far edge as you push the vacuum forward in a straight line. Then pull the machine back toward you along that line. The up-and-down motion will lift the rug’s fibers, revealing the hair strands underneath.
- Give your carpet a thorough workover by turning 90 degrees. The extra effort will suction any remaining fur that you might have missed the first time.
- Fine hair strands can clog the canister. Therefore, cleaning the brush will enable it to scoop every last hair strand on your carpet. Plus, it’ll save you from going over the same spots over and over.
9. Professional Carpet Cleaners
If you feel like your DIY methods have failed, you can turn to professional carpet cleaners for help. They have the correct equipment and eco-friendly chemicals that thoroughly remove every potential health concern.
Summary
Pets interact so much with the carpet that you cannot ignore cleaning it when removing fur from other parts of the house. However, the carpet size and material can make anyone feel frustrated when removing pet hair from it.
But the game-changer can be as simple as the baking powder in your pantry, fabric softener, a squeegee, or even rubber hand gloves. If none of these tools does a good job, you can pass the task over to professional carpet cleaners.
The bottom line is that you can keep your carpet and home fur-free using simple DIY techniques and inexpensive tools.
You may also want to read:
Featured Image Credit: craigc1264, Unsplash
