Dog owners are familiar with the struggle: Keeping the car clean becomes a battle against stubborn dog hair, challenging both vacuum cleaners and humans. However, with a few tricks, cleaning becomes much easier.
Initial Cleaning: The First Step
Start by cleaning your car as usual: Remove all floor mats, give them a good shake, and vacuum the car thoroughly using a vacuum cleaner (preferably a bagless wet-dry vacuum) to remove any large debris. If there are still hairs remaining, it’s time to tackle them directly.
Option 1: Special Brushes and Vacuum Attachments
In specialty stores, you can find brushes made of silicone or rubber designed to effectively remove even the most deeply embedded hair from carpet loops. These brushes create an electrostatic charge through friction, attracting hair and debris. Simply gather the hair with the brush and then vacuum it away. Many vacuum cleaner manufacturers offer specialised nozzles for this purpose. Avoid using metal scrapers, as they may cause damage to the materials.
Option 2: Adhesive Tape and Lint Roller
Anything with adhesive properties can effectively pick up hair. Use a strip of tape and run it over the carpet, or opt for a high-adhesive lint roller as an alternative.
Option 3: Pumice Stone or Window Squeegee
Pumice stones, ideally square-shaped, are well-known among wire-haired dachshund owners as useful tools for removing dead hair from fur. Likewise, they can effectively sweep fine and short dog hairs from car carpets by running one edge over the upholstery fabric. Rubber window squeegees are also handy for gathering the hairs together.
Option 4: Wet Nylon Stocking or Rubber Glove
If you have a nylon stocking or pantyhose available, you can utilise it for car cleaning quite effortlessly: moisten the stocking generously with water and rub it over the seat cushions. You can periodically gather the resulting hairballs with your hand. However, note that this method may not be effective with all types of seat covers. Alternatively, you can achieve similar results with a wet rubber glove: gather individual hairs into clumps and then collect them.
Tips for Keeping Dog Hair Out of Your Car
Prevention is key to avoiding laborious cleaning efforts. To minimize dog hair in your car from the outset, consider covering your dog’s area—whether it’s the back seat or the trunk—with dirt-catching blankets or protective covers. Many pet stores offer systems that can be hung between the front and rear seat headrests, safeguarding upholstery and door panels from dirt, hair, and scratches.
Alternatively, transporting your furry companion in a dedicated dog crate not only prevents dirt but also ensures your dog’s safety.
Regularly brushing your dog, especially breeds with long fur, is also helpful. Where there are no loose hairs, nothing can become embedded in your car. Plus, it’s a win-win—it keeps your car clean and your furry friend happy
Here’s How to Remove Dog Odours from Your Car
Not only can pet hair be bothersome, but so can the smell, especially after a rainy walk when musty smells can quickly infiltrate the upholstery. Regularly launder all removable cushions and covers and thoroughly clean the interior. Then, depending on the severity of the odour, there are several options:
-Special cleaning solutions for the ventilation and air conditioning can help freshen up the air inside the car, though they may have limited effectiveness if odours are deeply embedded in the upholstery.
-Home remedies such as baking soda (rubbed onto the seats and then vacuumed), activated charcoal, or coffee grounds (placed in a cup or on a towel and left in the closed car for 24 hours) can neutralise odours.
-Specialised upholstery foams or odour-eliminating sprays can ensure cleanliness and effectively target the sources of the odour, rather than just masking them.
-Steam cleaners and wet vacuums (available for rent, for example, at drugstores or hardware stores) can penetrate deep into the upholstery and eradicate odour-causing agents.
If all else fails, consider an ozone treatment by a professional detailer. This process binds the odours, restoring a neutral smell to the car. Depending on the severity of the odour and the vehicle, the treatment may take between 8 and 24 hours and also disinfects the car by eliminating bacteria and fungi.