Pet hair on your sofa can feel like a never-ending battle especially if you share your home with furry friends. It gets stuck in the fabric making your couch look messy and harder to clean than you’d like. Luckily you don’t have to live with a fur-covered sofa or spend hours scrubbing to get rid of it.

What Pet Hair Does to Furniture

Pet hair buildup affects both the look and condition of your furniture. Hair trapped in fabric fibers can cause discoloration and can be difficult to clean if left to accumulate. Over time, pet hair combined with dander and oils can degrade fabric quality, shortening your furniture’s lifespan. Removing pet hair regularly helps maintain your sofa’s appearance, preventing permanent damage and the buildup of stink.

Try These Quick Tips

1. Use a Rubber Glove

Put on a slightly damp rubber glove and run your hand over the sofa. The hair will clump together, making it easy to remove.

2. Lint Roller or Packing Tape

A lint roller is a quick fix, but if you’re out, wrap packing tape around your hand (sticky side out) and pat the fabric to lift hair.

3. Fabric Softener Spray

Mix one part fabric softener with three parts water, lightly mist your sofa, and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. This helps loosen the hair.

4. Vacuum with a Pet Hair Attachment

Use a vacuum with a brush attachment or a pet-specific tool to lift embedded fur from the fabric.

5. Squeegee Trick

A window squeegee works surprisingly well! Just drag it along the surface of your sofa to collect stubborn hairs.

6. Dry Sponge or Pumice Stone

A dry sponge or a pumice stone can grab hair, especially on microfiber or suede couches.

Tips for Preventing Pet Hair Buildup

Managing pet hair on your sofa starts with prevention. Incorporating simple habits and protective measures helps reduce fur accumulation and extends your furniture’s longevity.

1. Keep a Pet Blanket Handy

If you train your pet to lay on a designated blanket, it’s a lot easier to wash!

Here’s a furniture cover that comes in 7 colors and 6 sizes.

2. Brush Your Pet Regularly

Choose grooming tools suited for your pet’s fur type, from slicker brushes for long hair to rubber grooming gloves for short coats. Side Benefit: Regular grooming also promotes your pet’s skin health.

3. Use a Throw Cover or Blanket

Use furniture covers or blankets on your sofa in your pet’s favorite resting spots. Machine-washable synthetic fabrics tend to be the easiest to keep clean.