Admit it, sometimes we love our pets more than we love people. There’s a reason they call dogs man’s best friend. Who can go past their soft coats, wet nosed kisses and energetic wagging tails, not to mention their undying loyalty? If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know that no matter what kind of day you’ve had, your furry friend will be thrilled to see you when you get home and that’s enough to melt anyone’s heart.

So we make them a part of our families and families travel. To the park, to the beach or to the bush; every man, woman, child and dog piles into the car for the trip. The memories we make with our pets last a lifetime. And, unfortunately, so does the pet hair wedged in the car upholstery. If dogs have a downside, it’s shedding their coats frequently! Removing pet hair from your car’s upholstery can be a laborious and painstaking process but we’ve compiled these tweezer-free tips to get rid of the pet hair in your car and to protect your car’s upholstery from pet related incidents and accidents.

Cleaning Tips

Tip 1: Blow up a balloon and make some static. Static electricity attracts pet hair, so take an inflated balloon and rub it on your car upholstery to help lift away the pet hair.

Tip 2: Use a pair of rubber gloves and water for even more electrifying results. Wearing rubber gloves, spray your upholstery lightly with water and sweep vigorously with your gloved hands – pet hair should collect on your fingertips.

Tip 3: Another ‘spray and wipe’ style tip – mix a few teaspoons of fabric softener with water and lightly spray your upholstery with the mixture. Wipe with paper towel. Ingredients used in fabric softener loosen hair, making it easier to remove from creases in fabric. Leave your upholstery to dry and vacuum up any leftover pet hair.

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Tip 4: Speaking of vacuums, many vacuums have small rubber bristled brush attachments specifically designed for collecting hair. The rubber brushes work in the same way that the balloon and rubber gloves do by harnessing the power of static electricity to help remove pet hair.

Tip 5: Lint rollers are a good way of removing pet hair from clothes but aren’t as effective in cars, especially for fur buried deep in carpets. They’re also expensive! For a quick, inexpensive lint roller substitute, take duct tape or packing tape and roll it around your hand (sticky side out of course); press it against fabric and carpet to lift surface pet hair away.

Prevention Tips

Tip 6: Save yourself the hassle of spending hours tweezing Fido’s fur out of your car and give your dog’s coat a good brush out before getting into the car. An extra brushing before a car trip will remove excess pet hair that would otherwise end up lodged in your car’s carpets. The type of brush you use may also make a different to how much fur it collects; if you have a particularly hairy dog, invest in a FURminator, specifically designed to thin out a dog’s undercoat and loose fur.

Tip 7: Buy a Petrider or similar seat cover for your car. They keep fur (among other things like sand, dirt and water) off your car seats and can be easily removed, washed and stored until the next time you want to take your pooch to the beach.

Tip 8: It’s important to keep your pets contained when they are travelling in a vehicle, so harness or crate your pets in transit. Not only will using a crate for travel reduce your car’s exposure to pet hair and other pet related dirt and smells (wet dog anyone?) but it will also keep your pet safer during travel.

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There are enough hazards on the road without adding a distracting dog or frantic feline to the mix. Accidents do happen, so it’s also important to make sure you’re protected by car insurance. Some comprehensive car insurance providers even provide pet insurance as an optional extra with their car insurance. Make sure you compare insurance providers and select the provider who best suits your needs and budget. Happy travels!