Perhaps we can all agree that dogs are awesome adventure buddies. They make trips more fun and exciting, and their company makes long car rides a lot less boring.
But going on trips with your fur babies may not be as stress-free as you often want it to be. You might have to bring a few things, like their favorite toy, their food tray, and their custom dog collars, leashes, or harnesses, for one thing. More importantly, you’ll have to deal with stubborn dog hair your pet is likely to leave behind in your car after the trip.
Below, we share a few tips and tricks you can try to more easily remove dog hair from your car:
Install Car Seat Covers
Seat covers are an easy way to keep dog hair off your car. They prevent your car seats from collecting dog hair by serving as a physical barrier between your dog’s fur and the car seat’s fabric. Seat covers are washable, too, so you can use fresh ones on every trip.
Use Rubber Gloves
Rubber gloves are a great tool for removing dog hair from your car. When cleaning your car seats, wear a pair of rubber gloves and use them to sweep off dog hair from the seat fabric. Lump the hairs together in large clumps so it’ll be easier to collect them, rather than removing each strand one by one.
You can also try wetting your rubber gloves when cleaning. The water creates a sticky layer on the surface of the gloves, making it easier to pick up loose hair strands.
Brush Your Dog Beforehand
Probably the most effective way to prevent dog hair from accumulating in your car is to minimize the amount of hair your dog can potentially shed during your trip. So, make sure to brush your dog’s fur before letting them into the car. This way, you can remove any loose hair from the get-go, and you won’t have as much fur to remove from your car after your trip is over.
Use Duct Tape
Duct tape is a versatile and all-purpose household tool, which means that you probably have a roll of it just lying around in your kitchen or storage room. But did you know you can use it to remove dog hair from your car as well?
All you have to do is cut off a piece of duct tape and use the sticky side to remove every single strand of dog hair you can find in your car. Make sure to use a fresh strip now and then so you can collect as much fur as possible in one go. Repeat this process until your car is clean.
Vacuum Your Car Using the Right Tools
There is probably no simpler way to remove dog hair from your car than just vacuuming it all off. However, certain vacuums and accessories are more effective for the task than others.
Indeed, there are a few features to look for in a vacuum if you’re going to use it to remove pet hair. For example, you’ll want rubber bristles and attachments that help break static to make fur come off more easily. Tangle-free brush rolls are also specifically designed to clip long strands of hair. This prevents the hair from twisting around the brush and clogging up the vacuum.
Use Lint Rollers
A lint roller is a quick, hassle-free solution for removing pet hair from your car interior. This is because lint rollers have tiny fabric bristles designed to pick up lint from clothes. These features also make them a great tool for removing fur from the fabric of your car seats.
Just roll the lint roller along the surface of your car’s upholstery so the fur will be collected between the bristles. Remove all the fur from the roller before starting another round of cleaning to make the process more efficient.
Try Some Anti-Static Spray
Anti-static spray works exactly as it sounds. It breaks the static or electric charge that holds the fur and the fabrics together, thereby keeping dog hair from sticking to your car interior’s surfaces in the first place. Spritz some anti-static spray onto your car seats before you start cleaning them with your preferred method. You may just be surprised at how easily you can remove even the most stubborn pet hair if you use anti-static spray first!
Use Velcro Hair Curlers
Velcro hair curlers also do wonders when it comes to removing pet hair from your car. They work pretty much like lint rollers, although lint rollers may be more effective for fur deeply embedded in the fabric of your car seats. If you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to deal with dog fur in your car, though, definitely consider using Velcro hair curlers first.
Try a Pet Hair Removal Brush
If none of the alternatives above seem to work, then it’s probably time to invest in a pet hair removal brush. It is a special kind of brush with bristles made specifically to remove fur from upholstery, beds, couches, or any other surface.
Unlike lint rollers, a pet hair removal brush does not use adhesives, which means that it’s reusable as-is and doesn’t require refills. Take it with you on your next car ride with your pet for a no-sweat adventure.
Dogs might not be able to say it, but their heart probably breaks a little every time you leave them at home. With these life hacks, though, you’ll never have to think twice about bringing them with you just because you don’t enjoy removing dog hair from your car. Give any of the above tricks a try, and make the hassles of cleaning up after your pup a thing of the past.