When you are snuggling with your puppy and gazing into his eyes, the love you have for him washes over you. You’re surrounded by the strong bond you share. But you know what else surrounds this peaceful scene?
Dog hair. And it’s absolutely everywhere!
Part of owning a puppy is dealing with dog fur, even if you have a low-shedding dog. All dogs need to be brushed, and some will need more help removing dead hairs than others. Some dogs have a single coat, while others have a double coat that sheds the top coat and undercoat year-round.
Regardless of your dog’s type of coat, managing dog hair in your home means that you need an arsenal of anti-shedding products for dog fur available wherever you turn. You may visit a professional groomer to help manage your dog’s shedding level, but you can also groom your dog at home to save some money or provide maintenance in between those visits.
Here are our top dog hair removal tools and products that will have your home, car, and office clean in no time.
Dog Hair vs. Dog Fur: What’s the Difference?
If you’re wondering why do dogs shed, it largely depends on the type of coat they have and whether or not they grow hair instead of fur.
Dogs with hair will need regular trims because their hair continuously grows, whereas dogs with fur will continuously complete varying cycles of the hair-growing process and drop dead hairs along the way.
Both dog hair and dog fur share similar growth stages. The anagen phase represents active growth, while the exogen phase involves shedding. Fur, being denser and shorter, has more follicles per square inch than hair, resulting in a higher chance of shedding.
Fur transitions more swiftly from anagen to exogen, causing increased shedding in puppies. Conversely, puppies with hair remain longer in the anagen phase, necessitating regular grooming to maintain their coat's length. As a result, hair-shedding is less pronounced when they reach the exogen stage. A proper understanding of these growth patterns helps in appropriate grooming and care for different dog breeds.
Some dogs shed moderately year-round, while others will “blow their coats” twice a year to prepare for seasonal changes. During the time when they blow their coats, their hair shedding will seem to increase overnight!
We wrote extensively about the best dog brushes to groom your puppy, so take a look to determine which brush is right for your dog’s type of fur or hair.
Why Should I Clean Up Dog Hair?
Keeping your home free from dog fur is essential for both hygiene and aesthetics.
Removing dog hair from your spaces prevents potential health issues. Pet dander, a common allergen found in dog fur, can trigger allergies and respiratory problems in some individuals. Excessive fur buildup may also harbor dust, dirt, and other allergens, negatively affecting indoor air quality. Regular cleaning helps reduce these risks, promoting a healthier living environment for both humans and pets.
Furthermore, maintaining a clean space enhances the overall appeal of your home. It reduces the embarrassment of unexpected guests encountering dog hair on furniture or clothes – or even your food. Clean floors and upholstery also extend the lifespan of carpets and furniture, preserving their appearance and functionality for years to come.
What Products Can Help Manage Dog Hair?
If you’re looking at a pile of dog hair that’s so big it could easily turn into another dog, you need all sorts of tools of the trade to not end up with a second “pet!”
Various products are designed to tackle this challenge efficiently. For carpets, vacuum cleaners with strong suction and specialized pet hair attachments work wonders. Sticky lint rollers are excellent for upholstery, as they effectively pick up loose hairs from fabric surfaces. Hardwood or tiled floors benefit from microfiber mops, which trap dog hair instead of spreading it around. Special shampoos and supplements help keep dog hair shedding at a minimum.
White vinegar
You may have cleaned with white vinegar before around your home, but did you know it can be a cheap, easy way to help deal with dog fur in your laundry? Before you begin though, read your washing machine manual to see if you’re able to use white vinegar in your particular model of machine.
White vinegar's ability to break down dog hair lies in its acidic nature. The acetic acid in vinegar acts as a mild solvent, weakening the protein bonds that hold hair strands together. When applied to the wash, the acid penetrates the hair, causing it to become more pliable and easier to loosen. As a result, loose and shed hairs are released, aiding in its removal. Pretty cool, huh?
Static electricity
Let’s go back to elementary school science class to revisit static electricity. Remember the experiment you did by rubbing your head against a balloon? When you moved the balloon away from your head, you found your hair stuck to the balloon. Static electricity in action!
When certain objects, like fabrics, rub against each other, electrons are transferred, resulting in one object becoming positively charged and the other negatively charged. This charge imbalance creates an attractive force between the objects, causing them to stick together or cause sparks and shocks when discharged. Some pet hair removal products harness the power of static electricity to attract hair for disposal.
The power of dryer sheets
Dryer sheets are effective for cleaning dog hair due to their anti-static properties and texture. The sheets are made with substances that reduce static electricity, making them attract and trap loose dog hair. When rubbed over surfaces like furniture, clothing, or car seats, the fabric softener in dryer sheets helps loosen and collect dog hair, preventing it from flying around or sticking to surfaces. The slightly abrasive texture of the sheets also aids in dislodging embedded hair from fabrics.
However, caution should be exercised as some dryer sheets may contain chemicals that could be harmful to pets, so it's essential to choose pet-safe options. Never use a dryer sheet directly on your puppy! Rather, use them in your laundry, dust your furniture, and wipe along your baseboards for easy dog hair cleaning.
19 Products That Help Remove Dog Hair
No matter your budget, you can use a variety of anti-shedding and dog fur removal products to keep those hair tumbleweeds at bay. You may even have some of these items already in your home! We recommend trying out a bunch of products on various surfaces to see which ones will become your go-tos for a clean car, office, and house.
Without further ado, check out these dog hair removal products, and let us know which ones were the most effective!
1. Aunt Fannie's All Purpose 6% Distilled White Cleaning Vinegar
2. Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard Mega Dryer Sheets with 3X Pet Hair Fighters
3. Frisco Dog Hair Lint Roller
4. Gonzo Pet Hair Lifter
5. Vetnique Labs Furbliss Pet Brush for Short Hair
6. FurZapper Pet Grooming Glove
7. Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover
8. FURemover Extendable Hair Removal Broom + FurZapper Dog Hair Removal Tool
9. Maxpower Planet Pet Grooming Brush - Double-Sided Shedding and Dematting Undercoat Rake Comb for Dogs
10. Pet Hair Remover 4 Pack - Reusable Lint Remover for Clothes & Furniture, Portable Dog Cat Hair Remover for Couch, Carpet Rake Scraper & Fabric Brush
11. Safari Dual-Sided Shedding Blade Dog Grooming Tool
12. 4Knines Rear Fitted Seat Cover
13. Pet Adobe Chair Furniture Cover
14. FURminator DeShedding Waterless Spray for Dogs
15. Shed-X Shed Control Shampoo for Dogs
16. Nutri-Vet Shed Defense Soft Chews for Dogs
17. Vet's Best Healthy Coat Shed & Itch Relief Dog Supplements
18. Neakasa by neabot P1 Pro Pet Grooming Kit & Vacuum Suction 99% Pet Hair, Professional Grooming Clippers
19. BISSELL 2252 CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum with Swivel Steering
Your Furever Friend is at Pawrade
We love snuggling with our Pawrade puppies, but we don’t want all that fur clinging to our clothes and furniture. We wouldn’t want you to not know what to do when those dust bunnies start hopping around with their new fur coat!
In order to clean up dog fur, you need to have a puppy first. Pawrade partners with trusted, pre-screened, and hand-selected dog breeders. From tiny teacup puppies to those gentle giants, smooth or double coats, shaggy or smooth, we have puppies for sale to fit everyone’s lifestyle and preferences. We believe everyone should have a furry friend, so contact us today.
