Weight: 7.04 pounds | Suggested Use: Floors | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 3.7 pounds | Suggested Use: Floors, furniture | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 0.25 pounds | Suggested Use: Furniture, clothes | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 7.8 ounces | Suggested Use: Directly on your pet | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 4.7 ounces | Suggested Use: Directly on your pet | Type of Pet Hair: Dogs, cats, horses Weight: 5.3 ounces | Suggested Use: Fabric, furniture | Type of Pet Hair: All Keep in Mind: The single-use dryer sheets are not the most eco-friendly option and you may still need other hair removal tools. They’re also scented, which may not suit everyone’s taste. Weight: 1.8 pounds | Suggested Use: Laundry | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 1.06 pounds | Suggested Use: Floors | Type of Pet Hair: All Weight: 4.2 pounds | Suggested Use: Cars | Type of Pet Hair: All
What to Know About Pet Hair Removers Before Shopping
Weight
When looking at handheld pet hair removers, like vacuums and rakes, it’s worth keeping in mind the weight of the product. Unless you’re using a robotic vacuum, it’s likely to require a bit of manual labor, so you’ll want to make sure you can easily lift and maneuver the device.
Suggested Use
There are a wide variety of the best pet hair removers. Some are for use on the animal themselves, like brushes and de-shedders, while others actually prevent hair from accumulating and still others for cleaning up like vacuums and carpet rakes. It’s worth considering how often you want to actively clean versus preventative measures like brushing.
Type of Pet Hair
Most of the tools we’ve selected work for both dogs and cats, and different hair lengths, but it’s wise to check the description of any tool you buy for pet hair removal and confirm it will work for your pet. For example, a brush may work for different types of animals yet comes in different versions for long and short hair.
Your Questions, Answered
Are there specific tools to use for certain types of pet hair?
Some tools, like brushes and gloves, may come in different versions for different types or lengths of pet hair. However, if you’re using options like a vacuum, rake, or dryer sheets, the tools are universal. “I recommend always having some sort of brush and comb on hand,” says Stapf. “These are some of the most useful tools to help clean your pets and remove excess pet hair from their fur.”
How often should you remove pet hair from your home?
Pet owners know keeping on top of pet hair takes work, and our experts agree. However, it depends on the type of breed and how much they shed. “If your pets seem to shed a bit more, you may want to clean every few days or so,” Staph says. “No matter how often you clean, it’s important to stay on a schedule so you maintain a solid cleaning routine and keep your pet hair from building up on furniture, floors, and other places throughout the home.”
Who We Are
Tanya Edwards is a freelance writer for Better Homes & Gardens. She has a cat named Buddy who is a shedding machine, so she’s got plenty of experience cleaning pet hair. To make this list, she researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind each product’s weight, suggested use, and type of pet hair it’s best for. She also consulted cleaning experts Leanne Stapf, COO of The Cleaning Authority, Jessica Samson of The Maids, and Courtney Smith, a Dallas-based dog foster for the SPCA.
