Spring cleaning your home: How to remove stubborn dog hair

While our furry friends bring us so much joy, they can also bring the inconvenience of shedding hair. It’s all part and parcel of being an animal lover, alongside the muddy paw prints and the occasional bad smell. However, there are plenty of smart and efficient ways to keep the dog hair at bay and even to minimise shedding.

Rather than hoovering every hour of the day and buying sticky lint rollers on the regular to avoid leaving the house covered in fur yourself, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how you can tackle the dreaded dog hair.

How to minimise your dog shedding hair

Before you think about how best to remove stubborn dog hair from your furniture and clothes, it pays to try and prevent excessive shedding in the first place. Healthy dogs will naturally shed hair but try our top tips below to prevent hair shedding from becoming a real problem.

Bath your dog regularly

When you bath your dog regularly, it helps to remove matted up fur. You can also opt for anti-shedding shampoos and conditioners for their fur. Good dog shampoos are usually made with natural ingredients and vitamin E, which is a key ingredient for good coat health. Unless recommended to by your vet, you shouldn’t bathe your dog more than once a week as it can cause their skin to become dry and itchy.

Brush your dog daily

If you brush your dog daily, it reduces the chance of their hair rubbing off onto your furniture and carpets. This is one of the easiest and most effective ways of minimising shedding and only takes a few minutes each day. Different breeds of dogs will require different types of brushes; most pet stores will also stock specialist brushes for dogs with excessive shedding problems.

Healthy diet

If your dog’s diet is lacking moisture, they are more likely to shed. For example, dogs who have dry dog food as their main diet may find their fur breaks easily. Try to encourage your dog to drink more water, mix their food with wet food or try safe fruits and vegetables such as melon or green beans.

How to remove dog hair from carpets

There are several quality vacuums specifically designed to tackle pet hair. If you have a lot of carpeted areas in your home, this is the best and most timely option.

However, if you only have a small carpeted area, you can remove dog hair on a budget using just water and rubber gloves! Simply dampen your rubber gloves and swipe your hands over your carpeted area or rug. Once the hair piles up on your gloves, remove it and repeat again as much as you need to.

How to remove dog hair from furniture

To remove dog hair from furniture, such as sofas and upholstered chairs or stools, you can use the same methods as you would for your carpet. Many vacuums also have special attachments to get into all the nooks and crannies of armchairs and cushions.

Another great way of removing dog hair from upholstered furniture is to spray a 50/50 mix of fabric softener and water lightly. You can then lightly wipe the furniture with a sponge to remove the hair. If you’re removing dog hair from wooden furniture, it’s naturally easier and only requires a spray and soft cloth.

How to remove dog hair from clothes

As a pet owner, it’s always best to have a lint roller on hand before you walk out the door. There’s nothing worse than looking down to find your smart black trousers are covered in pet hair.

You also need to avoid getting dog hair into your washing machine as it will only attach to your whole load. Before you put your clothes into the washing machine, try to shake out the hair. If this doesn’t work well, throw your clothes into the tumble dryer for a quick 10-minute cycle. This will loosen the hair and make it easier to shake off.

Tackle dog hair with professional help

Of course, the best way to tackle stubborn dog hair is to call in the professionals. Here at Checkatrade, we have a hand-picked selection of professional cleaners who specialise in pet hair removal.