How to remove pet hair from your home

Why get rid of pet hair?

Removing pet hair from your home can be a helpful way to control allergies. When pets groom themselves, they release hair, dander and saliva particles into the air. These microparticles can spread around your home, causing unwanted odours and triggering allergies.

Any animal with fur can cause allergic reactions in humans, though cats and dogs are the most common triggers. Research shows that cat allergies are about twice as common as dog allergies. This may be because cats groom themselves more regularly than dogs, which increases the amount of saliva and dander in their fur.

While there are breeds that shed less hair, even hairless or ‘hypoallergenic’ animals can contribute to dander allergens in the air.

The challenges of removing pet hair

Pet hair can be challenging to clean for multiple reasons. Animal hair builds up an electrostatic charge, making it cling to surfaces. The natural oils in pet hair can encourage it to adhere to surfaces, while its fine structure (which is 33% thinner than human hair) also makes it difficult to capture.

“Pet hair and dander have a jagged shape that makes them adhere to furniture, bedding, fabrics and objects,” explains Monika Stuczen, senior microbiologist at Dyson. “When disturbed, these particles become airborne and remain suspended for extended periods. Additionally, house dust mites feed on pet hair, multiply and produce more allergens that further impact allergy sufferers.”

How to remove pet hair from hard floors and carpets 

Pets can’t help shedding or bringing dirt into your home. Reduce how much mess gets in by using high-quality doormats at entry points and keeping towels nearby for quick paw wipes, especially on wet days.

For inevitable pet debris, keep your Dyson vacuum nearby to make cleaning up easy.

Dyson engineered solutions for cleaning up pet hair

When selecting a vacuum cleaner for pet hair removal, prioritise these key features.

Powerful suction

Some vacuum cleaners deliver more powerful and consistent suction than others. The Dyson Gen5detect™ is our most powerful HEPA cordless vacuum.1 It’s powered by a Dyson Gen5 Hyperdymium™ digital motor spinning at up to 135,000 rpm, for 280 Air Watts of fade-free suction.2 For maximum effectiveness, vacuum slowly and methodically to capture all pet hair.

Dedicated pet hair attachments

Some vacuum cleaners have special attachments with anti-tangle technology. The Dyson Gen5detect™ detangles and removes pet hair as it cleans. Its Digital Motorbar™ cleaner head has Polycarbonate hair removal vanes to lift and spiral hair straight into the bin without blocking the machine.

Odour elimination

The Dyson V15 Detect™ features full-bore filtration, trapping allergens and bacteria. Its advanced filtration captures 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 micrometres (16 times smaller than pet dander), to make sure that only clean air is expelled.

Wet and dry cleaning

Vacuum cleaners with wet and dry capabilities remove dirt and pet hair from floors while washing them with fresh water. The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine™ removes hair while cleaning floors for a two-in-one solution. The wet roller head is engineered to clean tile, stone, wood, ceramic, vinyl, linoleum and laminate floors.

Combine Dyson engineering with consistent maintenance for effective pet hair control. Vacuum regularly and wipe surfaces where your pets spend most of their time, focusing on high-traffic areas of your home.

How to remove pet hair from sofas

Pet hair and allergens can shed onto sofas and soft furnishings, particularly when your pet sits or sleeps on the fabric. These effective methods remove pet hair from sofas. 

1. Use adhesive tools

Lint rollers effectively capture both long and short pet hairs, removing them from sofas and furniture. Rubber gloves and window squeegees are effective pet hair removal tools you might already have at home. They work on similar principles by collecting long and short pet hair into clumps that can be easily lifted off fabrics.

2. Apply microfibre cloths

The electrostatically charged microfibers in these cloths can trap pet hair in hard-to-reach areas that some vacuum cleaners or other tools can't access.

3. Try antistatic sprays

Antistatic sprays reduce electrostatic charge on surfaces and fabrics to prevent hair from clinging to them. You can apply sprays to lint-free cloths for surface treatment or spray them directly onto fabrics. Antistatic sprays can also be used on grooming brushes to facilitate easier combing and repel dirt.

How to remove pet hair from clothes

Pet hair can cling to clothing and sometimes a run through the washing machine isn’t enough to remove it. Over time, pet hair also becomes trapped in the washing machine and must be removed.

1. Remove pet hair before washing

It’s best to remove as much pet hair as possible from clothing before laundering to avoid it becoming embedded in fabrics. You can dislodge pet hair by briefly running the garments in the dryer on a cool setting for delicate items. The air circulation dislodges hair, which collects around the lint trap.

2. Add washing machine tools

Add laundry balls to the washing machine to help dislodge pet hair during the cycle.

3. Use specialised wash cycles

Use pet hair removal cycles to remove pet hair from clothing more effectively. These cycles often use more water, allowing the laundry to move around more freely in the drum.

4. Maintain your appliance

Pet hair can get trapped inside your washing machine over time. To remedy this, clean the filters regularly and leave the door open between uses to dry the interior before removing trapped hair.

How to remove pet hair from cars

Transporting dogs in cars inevitably leaves pet hair behind. The right tools and cleaning approach make removing dog hair from car seats straightforward.

1. Invest in a cordless vacuum cleaner

Begin cleaning pet hair out of your car by thoroughly vacuuming. Cordless vacuum cleaners make cleaning car interiors quick and easy. Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners can convert to handheld units for extra manoeuvrability – use the smallest attachment possible to reach between seats and clean floor mats where pet hair becomes matted.

2. Clean upholstery with rubber gloves

Running a rubber glove over car upholstery can capture any fine or trapped hair. Lightly misting upholstery with water or a suitable fabric cleaning solution can enhance the rubber’s effectiveness.

How to control pet allergens in the home

The primary allergens caused by pets come from proteins in their saliva, not from pet hair itself. When pets groom themselves, they deposit microscopic allergy-causing protein particles onto their hair and skin. These skin cells shed regularly as dander.

Our bodies can produce natural antibodies as part of our immune response to these particles, which can manifest itself in common allergy symptoms:

• Wheezing

• Breathing difficulties and asthmatic reactions

• Sneezing and nasal congestion

• Eye irritation (including itching and watering) 

• Chest tightness

• Itchy skin

Regular grooming can help reduce shedding. The Dyson pet grooming kit is engineered to fit Dyson cordless vacuums and suited to pets with medium and long hair. The Pet groom tool sucks loose hairs and dander directly into the bin, so they don’t drop and spread around your home.

Do air purifiers catch pet hair?

Air purifiers add more protection when used alongside regular vacuuming. The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde is our quietest, most powerful air purifier, capturing pet allergens, odours and dander.

Engineered solutions for pet-friendly living

Pets rarely follow the rules of cleanliness, but that doesn’t diminish the joy they bring into your home. With Dyson-engineered solutions and easy hacks for pet hair removal, you can effectively manage pet shedding while minimising allergy symptoms.