If you share your home with a cat or dog, you share your sofa with their hair too. You can't stop a healthy pet shedding, but you can make clean-up much faster and cut down how much hair ends up on your furniture in the first place.
Start at the source: groom more often
Every hair you brush out is one that doesn't end up on the sofa. A few minutes of brushing two or three times a week makes a noticeable difference, and daily brushing helps during spring and autumn moults.
- A deshedding brush lifts loose undercoat before it falls out. Our Pet Grooming Brush & Comb has rounded pins and a self-cleaning button that pushes the collected fur off in one piece.
- A grooming glove works well for pets who dislike brushes, because it feels like being stroked. Try the 2-Sided Grooming Glove Kit, which also has a side for bath time.
- A self-grooming brush for cats lets them do some of the work themselves. The Cat Self-Grooming Corner Brush fixes to a wall corner or table leg and catches loose hair as your cat rubs against it.
Sofas and armchairs
- Start with a reusable hair roller. Roll in short back-and-forth strokes and the hair collects inside. The Self-Cleaning Pet Hair Remover Roller needs no sticky sheets, so there's nothing to keep buying.
- Follow with a vacuum and upholstery tool for hair that's worked deep into the weave.
- For stubborn hair on fabric sofas, a slightly damp rubber glove wiped across the surface pulls hair into clumps you can pick up.
- Keep a washable throw on your pet's favourite spot. It's much easier to wash a throw than to clean the whole sofa.
Clothes
- Give clothes a quick roll before you leave the house, especially dark fabrics.
- Put hairy items through a 10-minute tumble dryer cycle on low or no heat before washing. It loosens hair so it ends up in the lint filter rather than in the drum.
- Clean the lint filter and wipe the washing machine drum after a hairy load.
Car seats
Car upholstery and carpets grip hair tightly. A rubber-textured glove or hair removal mitt is often quicker than a vacuum here. Our Pet Hair Removal Glove uses static grip to lift hair from fabric with a stroking motion. It's double-sided, so the same glove works on your pet, and it's not designed for wet or greasy surfaces. For regular trips, a seat cover or a carrier keeps most of the hair off the seats.
Beds and bedding
- Wash your pet's bed cover regularly, ideally weekly during heavy moulting.
- Shake or vacuum the bed before washing so hair doesn't clog your machine.
- If your pet sleeps on your bed, a washable blanket on top saves washing your duvet as often.
Floors and carpets
Vacuum little and often during moulting season rather than once a week. On hard floors, a microfibre mop or slightly damp cloth picks up fine hair that a brush just pushes around.
When shedding isn't normal
Heavy shedding in spring and autumn is normal for most double-coated breeds. Speak to your vet if you notice bald patches, sore or flaky skin, constant scratching, or a sudden change in how much your pet sheds, as these can point to fleas, allergies or other health problems.
Frequently asked questions
Do reusable hair rollers work as well as sticky lint rollers?
On most fabrics, yes, and they don't run out. Sticky rollers can still be handy for a quick touch-up on smooth clothing.
How often should I brush my dog or cat?
Short-coated pets usually need brushing once or twice a week. Long-haired and double-coated pets benefit from several sessions a week, and daily during heavy moults.
Which pets shed the least?
All pets with fur shed to some extent. Breeds with continuously growing coats, such as Poodles, tend to leave less hair around but need regular professional grooming instead.
Find everything for brushing, bathing and clean-up in our grooming and care collection. UK delivery is free on every order.