Tried and Tested: How to remove dog hair from your carpet.

Having a dog can bring joy, happiness and lots of laughs to any home. But man’s best friend also brings a lot of mess. Whatever the size of your pup, I can guarantee that they have bought (along with unconditional love) a few nightmares in the cleaning department.

The most frustrating cleaning nightmare; dog hair. More specifically; in my carpet and upholstery. I like to keep a tidy house and I have adapted my home significantly over the years to accommodate my furry best friend. But, one sacrifice I was not willing to make, was the removal of my thick pile lounge carpet.

Don’t get me wrong, professional carpet cleaning is an absolute must, but between professional cleans, I needed a DIY solution.

So, after spending years whipping around every day vacuuming with the Dyson, I decided to look to the internet for inspiration on how to remove those pesky embedded hairs. I came across the following ideas:

1. Fabric Softener

The first method I tried was applying a fine spray of fabric softener to my carpet. Then, using a fabric softener sheet, I gently rubbed down my carpet inch by inch to collect hair.

Review: My carpet smelt great and felt softer, but it took hours and didn't collect all the hair.

2. Latex glove

The idea is simple; the latex glove will produce static when it is rubbed over the carpet, causing the hair to stick to the glove.

Review: This method didn't do a great job of removing hair from the carpet. However, I used the method on my sofa with great results.

3. Baking Soda

I followed the instructions and lightly dusted my carpet with a fine layer of baking powder. I made myself a coffee, waited twenty minutes, and then vacuumed.

Review: This method actually worked surprisingly well! I have no idea what the science is behind it, but my Dyson definitely collected a lot more hair than on a normal vacuum. I would say that on closer inspection some hairs were still in my carpet, but definitely a lot less. For how simple the method was, I now do this often to keep on top of it.

4. Rubber Mop

At the time I didn't actually own a rubber mop, so I did a little DIY and attached my squeegee to the end of my mop with duct tape. As a temporary solution, I can recommend it.

Review: It worked wonders. Don't get me wrong, it took a little elbow grease, and I definitely wouldn't add it to my daily household cleaning routine. But I couldn't believe how much hair was actually in my carpet.

The great thing is I have now upgraded my old makeshift rubber mop to a real one and I went from 8inch width to 30-inch width, meaning I could cover the lounge in a third of the time!

The internet is full of great tips and ideas on how to keep your carpet clean from dog hair. Actually, all the methods I used were useful for different things. I don't use a lint roller to remove dog hair from my clothes. Instead, I use fabric softener sheets as they work just as well, and make my clothes smell lovely.

If I have guests calling round I stick on my latex gloves and wipe down the couch. This leaves it dog hair free in thirty seconds.

And, as I mentioned earlier, I use a light dusting of baking powder every time I vacuum to keep on top of carpet cleaning. But if you want a real thorough hair removal I would 100% recommend the rubber mop. It worked a treat!

Shane is the owner-operator of a carpet cleaning business in Ringwood, ViC, who prides himself on outstanding customer service. Click here to learn more.