How To Remove Stubborn Pet Hair From Carpet (& 5 Best Pro Tips)

Carpeting your floors comes with numerous benefits. It brightens up the room by infusing some character and life in the room. Crucially, carpets keep your family warm by protecting everyone’s feet from the cold floor. However, pet hair tends to latch onto carpets and rugs far too readily, giving them a grimy, untidy look. With this in mind, many homeowners are interested in how to remove stubborn pet hair from the carpet.

If you are one such homeowner, you have come to the right place. This guide will delve into all the different ways you can get rid of stubborn pet hair.

Removing stubborn pet hair involves using highly capable vacuums and/or manual methods that use rubber’s adhesive properties, electrostatic attraction, sticky surfaces, baking powder, and even aerosolized moisture.

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How To Loosen Pet Hair From Carpet And Rugs

There two ways you can loosen pet hair from carpets:

Loosen Pet Hair With Baking Soda

The first option is to dust baking powder all over the carpet and let it sit for a minimum of 1 hour or, ideally overnight. The baking powder will soften and loosen the hair and deodorize the carpet. With this method, you will be killing two birds with one stone – the pet hair and its odor.

Using baking powder to loosen pet hair from carpets is best used in conjunction with vacuuming. Vacuuming with a high suction upright vacuum will suck up the pet hair and the baking powder particles, getting rid of the discoloration effect of the baking powder.

Loosen Pet Hair With Fabric Softener

The second hack for loosening pet hair from carpets is to use fabric softener. In a spray bottle, add one part fabric softener and three parts water. Shake well to mix the liquids well. Lightly spray the carpet and then let it dry completely. The fabric softener will loosen pet hair in preparation for hair removal.

A bonus of using the fabric softener and water concoction is the fresh scent the mixture imparts on your carpet.

How To Remove Stubborn Pet Hair From Carpet With Vacuum Cleaners And Manually

After loosening the pet hair, now the real work begins. You have the choice of vacuuming the carpet or go the DIY route and use a manual method, obviously with the help of very effective tools. Below, we’ll delve into all the methods at your disposal for ridding your carpet of pet hair.

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How To Vacuum Pet Hair From Carpets Or Rugs

We use the typical short forward and backward passes when vacuuming pet hair on carpets, which are the least effective and efficient vacuuming methods to use. There are far better and more effective vacuuming methods to lift and extract more pet hair from the carpet.

One such efficient vacuuming method that professionals often use is to vacuum the carpet in strips from wall to wall.

Step #1. Ideally, the first pass should be against the carpet’s nap direction. Doing this lifts the yarn and fluffs the carpet, thereby exposing the deep-set pet hair. When vacuuming against the nap, the yarn will appear raised and messier.

Step #2. The second pass is done vacuuming in the opposite direction on the same strip. During the second pass, the vacuum cleaner will lay the yarns down while also lifting and extracting more pet hair you might have missed.

Step #3. To clean another strip, start vacuuming right next to the first strip, ensuring there is a slight overlap between the two strips. Vacuum the entire room in strips.

Step #4. Once you’re done with the entire room, repeat this process but in the perpendicular direction. For instance, if you were vacuuming a room from north to south, clean the room east to west during the second perpendicular pass.

The vacuum cleaner you use is just as crucial as the vacuuming techniques you deploy. You need a vacuum that can suck the deep-set pet hair in your carpet. Additionally, the vacuum cleaner should come with all the attachments you need to vacuum your carpet thoroughly. If you are looking for a mid-range vacuum that will make quick work of stubborn pet hair, the Dibea 28KPa 400W Cordless Stick Vacuum will get the job done.

To reduce the frequency of cleaning your carpet, invest in a robot vacuum cleaner. A robot vacuum cleaner will clean your carpet or rug all day and/or night, picking up those pesky pet hair that your furry friend sheds as he runs around. Not only will the robot vacuum cleaner reduce the amount of hair lurking around in your home, but it will also help keep your carpet hair-free much longer.

Obviously, to accrue the benefits of having a robot vacuum cleaner, ensure you purchase the best vacuum cleaner possible. It should be powerful enough to dislodge pet hair from carpets. The best robot vacuum cleaner for pet hair on carpets is the Neato Robotics Botvac D7 Connected Robot Vacuum.

When you’re done vacuuming the carpet, you need to pay special attention to the carpet edges. If the edges are uncharacteristically darker than the rest of the carpet or the carpet used to be, it shows a hefty build-up of pet hair that needs clearing.

Cleaning carpet edges requires using other carpet de-hair techniques as the vacuum cleaner will not remove all the pet hair. Below we’ll delve into how to remove pet hair without a vacuum machine.

How To Remove Hair From Carpet Without Vacuum

De-hairing your carpet with a vacuum cleaner is the simplest method there is, especially when you have a quality vacuum cleaner. However, there are cases when removing pet hair from the carpet using a vacuum cleaner is not feasible. That does not mean you should drown in pet hair.

There are plenty of tricks for removing pet hair from your carpet. While manual methods might take a tad longer, they’re proven effective and a good alternative and supplement for pet hair removal from carpets using a vacuum cleaner.

The vast majority of these tips on how to get dog hair out of carpet DIY rely on the electrostatic force of attraction to extract the pet hair from the carpet.

Below are the best methods of cleaning dog hair off a carpet without relying on vacuum cleaners.

Use A Squeegee To Remove Hair From Carpet

A rubber-edged squeegee for cleaning windows is another effective pet hair removal tool to consider. It’s particularly effective for cleaning short pile carpets and rugs. The electrostatic force of attraction the squeegee produces and the adhesive properties of rubber attract and lift pet hair from carpets and rugs.

If you don’t own a rubber squeegee, grab the Baban Squeegee Window Cleaner. Being a telescoping squeegee, you can remove pet hair from your carpet while standing or kneeling.

Step #1. Drag the rubber squeegee along the length of the rug or carpet. After cleaning the strip, collect the lumps of pet hair the squeegee leaves behind or vacuum them up.

Step #2. Drag the rubber squeegee in the opposite direction to lift any remaining pet hair. Again, collect the lumps of pet hair or vacuum the hair. Repeat this process across the entire carpet or rug.

The only drawback to using squeegees is their inability to remove stubborn pet hair on a carpet with high pile yarns.

Use A Carpet Rake For Pet Hair

Carpet rakes are beneficial in two ways when removing stubborn pet hair. They lift the yarn and fluffy the carpet. In doing this, the rake reaches deep into the carpet and dislodges pet hair that’s lodged deep in the carpet.

Secondly, the rake does not leave behind small pet hair. As you brush along a strip on the carpet or rug, the squeegee-like extension at the back of the rake traps even more pet hair. If you do not own one, pick up this excellent universal carpet rake from Amazon.

Step #1. With the rake handle at a comfortable height, press the rake deep into the carpet or rug and rake towards you using short strokes.

Step #2. Rake small sections and pull up hair from the rake bristles. Additionally, collect any lumps of pet hair left behind as you rake to prevent hair from dispersing as you are raking.

Deep raking your carpet will remove the stubborn matted pet hair in your carpet. As such, consider raking your carpet at least once a month, even when you use different cleaning methods.

Use A Rubber Brush For Dog Hair On Carpet

Rubber bristled brushes designed for pet grooming are also effective tools for lifting deeply embedded pet hair. Buy a brush with an appropriate bristle thickness depending on your carpet (whether it has a low or high pile structure).

For instance, to clean a rug with a loose fluffy high pile structure, you need a brush with thick, sparsely separated bristles such as the FURemover Handheld Pet Hair Removal. On the other hand, for short-pile carpets, shorter and thinner bristles of the Morepilot Pet Groomer Brush will work best.

Step #1. With a brush in hand, brush towards you. Make small, deliberate strokes to get as much hair out of the carpet. If possible, brush the carpet or rug in straight strips.

Step #2. When the brush collects lumps of pet hair, remove the pet hair trapped in between the bristles.

Step #3. Repeat this process until you’ve finished the entire room. In case you encounter matted pet hair, you consider brushing the carpet again, starting from the perpendicular side. Doing so will remove even the deepest trapped hair.

How To Get Dog Hair Off Stair Carpet With A Rubber Brush

Removing pet hair from a flight of stairs is not different than with a flat surface. The only difference is that you need to start brushing from the corners to the center. Brush the lumps of hair to the center of a flight of stairs and manually collect or vacuum the hair.

Rubber Broom Carpet Pet Hair Remover

Fur remover brooms are an excellent alternative to rubber brushes. In fact, most dog daycares will have rubber brooms to remove pet hair from different surfaces, including carpeted floors. Crucially, a broom allows you to scrap off dog hair while standing.

As you can appreciate, cleaning your carpet while standing reduces the strain placed on your back and knees. Additionally, you can get the job done a lot faster.

Step #1. With the brush at the edge of the carpet and next to the wall, pull the brush towards you. Makes small, deliberate strokes, ensuring the bristles get as deep into the carpet as possible.

Step #2. Clean a strip of carpet just like you would while vacuuming.

Step #3. At the end of the strip, collect the pet hair or simply vacuuming the hair. Also, remove all the pet hair trapped in between the broom bristles.

Step #4. Start cleaning another strip, creating a slight overlap between the cleaned strips. Clean the entire carpet in strips until you finish the whole carpeted area.

Use A Grooming Gloves Or Rubber Glove

Although grooming gloves are designed for grooming pets, they’re still effective as dog hair remover in the carpet. The dimples or nubs and the rubber material help to collect mounds of hair from the carpet with ease.

In the same light, regular old household rubber gloves are also effective in collecting pet hair stuck on carpets. To make the process a tad easier, moisten the pair the gloves with water. Alternatively, you can lightly moisten the carpet with the fabric soften-water mixtures as discussed above.

Step #1. Slip the gloves on and drag the gloves across the carpet in strips.

Step #2. Collect the hair on one spot at the other end.

Step #3. You can manually remove the bundled pet hair. Better yet, use a vacuum to collect the bundled hair as well as lifting any of the remaining pet hair in the carpet.

Use A Kitchen Sponge To Remove Stubborn Pet Hair From Carpet

Using a regular kitchen sponge is one of the most cost-effective means of removing stubborn pet hair from the carpet. To clean your carpet and remove stubborn pet hair, wet the sponge and run the sponge in a circular motion around the most affected areas.

Unfortunately, due to the small size of the sponge, you might end up spending a lot of time on your knees to get all the hair from your carpet.

For quicker cleaning, arm yourself with a sponge mop. It will work just as well but cut down on your cleaning time considerably.

Use A Dog Hair Removal Stone

Dog hair removal stone is a natural pumice stone that helps scrub pet hair from carpets, rugs, car seats, and upholstery. The stone is shaped to make it easy to handle as you clean your carpet. The shape and size of these stones make them particularly effective in cleaning stairs. If you need one, you can buy this 4 Inch Pumice Stone for Dog Hair Removal. So, how to use a grooming stone to clean pet hair from carpets?

Step #1. With the stone in hand, make a sweeping motion across the area covered in pet hair. Ensure your sweeping motions head in the same direction.

Step #2. As you scrub the carpet, collect the bundled hair in one place. Doing this will make extracting the hair an easier task. With the hair bundled, remove the hair by manually picking the hair or vacuum the hair.

Professional Carpet Cleaning Pet Hair

While all the carpet de-hairing methods work well, you might be too busy to give your carpet the attention it deserves. Consider hiring professionals to clean your carpet.

Not only will they remove all the stubborn pet hair from the carpet, but they will also clean all the stubborn stains that regular vacuuming does not.

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Pro Tips: Hacks To Get Hair Out Of Carpet

The hacks we discussed above will undoubtedly help remove stubborn pet hair from carpets. However, you can take proactive steps to reduce the menace of pet hair lodging on your carpet. To this end, you should consider using these tips as part of removing pet hair from carpets:

1. Groom Your Pet To Reduce Shedding

The best way to remove stubborn pet hair from carpets is to deal with the source of the hair. Consider reducing the amount of hair your pet sheds around your house.

It is usual for dogs and cats to shed their fur. In the case of dogs, they will shed the light, fine, and curly hair with ease when subjected to everyday abrasion. Dogs also have seasonal shedding, which takes place during spring and fall. During seasonal shedding, your dog will shed a lot more than usual.

Moreover, if your dog suffers from health conditions such as Alopecia, you can expect your dog to shed a lot of fur than usual.

In cats, shedding is a sign of good health. A healthy cat will shed dead hair, depending on the daylight the cat is exposed to, also known as photoperiod. In the wild, the photoperiod influences seasonal shedding.

They will shed in spring to lose the heavy undercoat. Come fall, a cat in the wild will shed its coat in preparation for growing another heavy undercoat.

However, domesticated cats that spend the vast majority (or all of their time) indoors are subjected to the indoor ambient atmosphere conditioned to be comfortable during winter and summer.

As such, their natural system is confused, and they do not shed hair as expected. With relatively stable conditions all year round, domesticated cats will shed their coats constantly all year.

The shedding will vary somewhat depending on the amount of sunlight the cats are exposed to. As such, the more time your cat spends outdoors, the more his/her shedding pattern will mimic cats’ natural shedding patterns.

As you can appreciate, there is no escaping from pet hair. Whether you have a cat or dog, your furry friend will strew his/her hair all over your house, including on your carpet. You can pre-empt the problem of pet hair lodging onto your carpet by grooming him/her regularly.

Regular grooming will reduce shedding, negating the matting of pet hair within your carpet, and, importantly, reduce the amount of hair that settles on your carpet. In the same light, regular baths will help reduce the amount of pet hair your cat or dog drops on your carpet.

2. Deal With The Pet Hair In Their Bedding

With your cat or dog spending a lot of its time napping in their bed, it is investigable that their dog will be covered in fur. Your pet will often track these strands of hair to your carpeted surfaces, making pet hair removal a lot more tedious.

Cleaning their beds will reduce the amount of free hair they can track from their bedding to the carpet. Inevitably, this will make pet hair management easier.

3. Remove Pet Hair From Upholstery

It is a good idea to reduce as much pet hair in your home as possible. While the goal of cleaning your carpet is to leave it hair-free, if pet hair still lurks around your home, say, on your carpet, it will find its way to your carpet. As such, you should remove pet hair from upholstery as this shows.

4. Give Your Cat Or Dog A Healthy Balanced Diets

Unusual shedding could indicate that your pet has nutritional insufficiencies. As such, consider changing their diet with the view of providing your dog or cat with a well-balanced and nutritious diet that meets their species’ needs.

5. Humidify The Room Beforehand

To have an easier go at de-hiring your carpets and rugs, humidifier the room beforehand. Humidifying the room will make the pet hair lodged in the carpet curl while reducing the bond between the hair and the yarn.

Consequently, you can remove pet hair much more easily, reducing the time spend removing pet hair. Get yourself a humidifier with the capacity to humidify a large room, such as the LEVOIT Humidifiers for Large Room.

Conclusion

While it is easy for pet hair to tarnish the aesthetics of your carpet, you should not give up on the carpet. Use this guide to learn how to remove stubborn pet hair from carpets. And for the best results, combine one manual method with a powerful vacuum cleaner.

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  • Francis Kimani

    Meet Francis Kimani, a seasoned blog writer with eight years of experience producing engaging and informative content for websites. Armed with a BSc. in Geography from Egerton University, where he specialized in Environmental Sciences, Francis combines his academic knowledge w...

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