Pet hair: the kit that finally gets rid of it

You welcome pets in your rental but are fed up spending hours removing pet hair from pets? Here are some handy accessories!

For furniture

On a fabric sofa, some pet hair can remain trapped in the fibres after vacuuming. The method to try depends on the fabric.

To remove dog hair without damaging the sofa, first check the fabric care label. If it permits, try the pet-hair brush on an inconspicuous area, without scrubbing hard. If the fabric cannot tolerate the brush, do not force it.

Here is what we use to get by:

• An electric razor to consider only if the accessory instructions and the fabric care recommend it. Test first on an inconspicuous area.
• Lapet-hair brush(also great for clothes)
• A roll of wide tape to try on an inconspicuous area, if the fabric tolerates it. It can remove hair, but not guaranteed for embedded hairs.

For hair on furniture, nothing could be simpler, just use a swiffer or a microfibre cloth.

For floors

On a hard floor, a pet-hair catching brush is enough if you rarely host pets; if you have rugs or often host pets, prefer a vacuum designed for pet hair.

If you rarely host pets and only have hard floors, there is no need to buy a specialised vacuum. With rugs or frequent pets, choose a model whose brush suits your floors. Also check that the dustbin and brush are easy to clean between stays.

Bear in mind also that pets walk on your floor and lick their paws, which is why it is better to be careful and use a product specially formulated for them (here is an example).

If someone else cleans after the pets, these actions belong in the cleaning instructions, with the product to use on the floor. If you use an Airbnb cleaning checklist like CleanClac's, check whether you can add a " hair " line per room and whether the cleaner can tick it off on their phone. Otherwise, list the rooms to check in the instructions.

For clothes and linens

For clothes, throws and sheets, a lint catcher to put in the washing machine can be an option. Check its instructions and the care label before trying it: the result depends on the washing conditions. If a throw is covered in pet hair, brush it before washing. You can also read our review on welcoming pets in rentals.

If hairs remain on sheets or throws after washing, let them dry, then remove the hair by hand or with a brush suited to the fabric. Check the linens before putting them back in place.

• If hair is embedded in a sofa, try the pet-hair brush. You can also test a roll of wide tape on an inconspicuous area, if the fabric tolerates it. Consider the razor only if its instructions and the fabric care permit it.
• On a hard-surfaced piece of furniture, a swiffer or a microfibre cloth is enough.
• For floors, take the pet-hair catching brush if pets come occasionally. If they come often, a vacuum designed for pet hair will save you time.
• To wash the floor, choose a product made for use around pets. You will reduce the risk of them ingesting an unsuitable product when they lick their paws.
• For clothes and household linens, try a lint catcher in the machine if its instructions and the care label allow it. The result is not guaranteed. If a throw has seen heavy use, try brushing it before washing.

Depending on the surface and how often you host pets, here is what to try while not neglecting precautions.

Surface	To try	Precaution or limitation
Fabric sofa	Pet-hair brush or wide tape	Check the label and test on an inconspicuous area.
Hard-surfaced furniture	Swiffer or microfibre cloth	The text does not mention any particular precaution.
Hard floors, pets rare	Pet-hair catching brush	No need to buy a specialised vacuum.
Rugs or frequent pets	Vacuum designed for pet hair	Choose a brush suited to the floors and easy to clean.
Throw covered in hair	Brush before washing	Check the linens before putting them back in place.
Linen after washing	Let dry, then remove hair by hand or with a brush	Use a brush suited to the fabric.

Frequently asked questions

What to do if hair remains on linens after washing?

If hair remains on the linens, try brushing heavily used throws before the next wash. You can also try a lint catcher in the machine after checking its instructions and the care label. The result depends on washing conditions and is not guaranteed.

How to remove hair from a sofa without damaging its upholstery?

If the vacuum is not enough, try a pet-hair brush or wide tape on an inconspicuous area, if the fabric tolerates it. Consider the razor only if its instructions and the fabric care permit it, then test it on an inconspicuous area. None of these methods guarantees removal of all embedded hairs.

And if the fabric is too fragile for these methods? Check its label before using a brush, tape or razor. If its care instructions do not allow any of these options, do not force it: ask a textile cleaning professional. For house linens that keep hair after washing, let them dry, then remove remaining hair by hand or with a brush suited to the fabric.

Should I buy a vacuum designed for pet hair?

If you rarely host pets and only have hard floors, a pet-hair catching brush is enough. With rugs or frequent pets, prefer a vacuum designed for pet hair. Choose a brush suited to your floors and check that it is easy to clean between stays.

Which product to use to wash the floor when hosting pets?

Choose a product made for use around pets. They walk on the floor and lick their paws: avoid using an unsuitable product they could ingest. If someone else does the cleaning, tell them which product to use in the cleaning instructions.