How to Clean Cat Hair Off a Couch: 4 Vet-Reviewed Steps

If you have a cat, you know how stubborn shed hair can be at sticking to your clothes, bedding, and couch. You probably have a couch covered in cat hair at any given time, which can be a nuisance to remove. Fortunately, there are quick and easy ways to clean cat hair off your couch in four simple steps.

Supplies You’ll Need

• Pet hair lint roller
• Vacuum with upholstery attachment
• Rubber gloves
• Fabric freshener

The 4 Steps to Clean Cat Hair Off a Couch

1. Use a Vacuum Cleaner

A vacuum cleaner designed for pet hair is the best choice for removing cat hair from your couch. Use your brush attachment to loosen and remove stubborn pet hairs, going over each surface twice in alternating directions. If the brush gets clogged with hair, remove it before continuing.

If your couch has removable cushion covers, take them off and wash them in your washing machine or according to the instructions on the label. If your covers are safe for the dryer, it can help to remove a lot of hair.

2. Grab a Lint Roller

After you’ve vacuumed the bulk of the hair off your couch, pick up your lint roller to pick up the remaining stray hairs. As your lint roller fills with hair, remove the outer layer, discard it, and continue rolling across the surface of your couch until it’s clean.

3. Wipe Down with Rubber Gloves

If you still have hairs left over after vacuuming and lint rolling, a neat trick is to wipe your couch down with rubber gloves. The rubber gloves attract the pet hair and make it easy to remove.

Start by lightly wetting a pair of rubber gloves, then run your hands along the areas where the pet hair is worked into the fabric. As your gloves get covered in hair, rinse them off and re-wet them as needed. Work in alternating directions and circles for the best results.

4. Spray with Fabric Freshener

Though this step won’t help remove cat hair from your couch, it will remove the lingering smell of pet odors. Spray a fabric freshener, such as Febreze, on your couch to get it smelling like new and remove any faint scent of your cat that’s left over.

How to Prevent Cat Hair on Your Couch

The most important thing you can do to prevent excess pet hair is to groom your cat regularly. Whether you do it yourself or take your cat to a professional grooming, regular brushing and bathing remove dirt, debris, and loose hair, preventing it from ending up on your couch.

You should also consider the fabrics and materials that are more or less likely to attract pet hair. Overall, leather and vinyl are the ideal choices. Their slick surfaces are easy to wipe down, and cat hair won’t get trapped between fibers.

If you prefer fabric like velvet, microfiber, or cloth, it’s best to keep up with cat hair by grooming your cat regularly and vacuuming or lint rolling your couch. Placing a cat bed or blanket on the couch can encourage them to snuggle there and keep the cat hair contained.

Conclusion

Excess cat hair is the unfortunate side effect of living with felines. Although some breeds shed more than others, the loose hair can become problematic, especially for allergy sufferers, if it isn't addressed. Though it can be a nuisance, it’s easy to keep your home and furniture free of cat hair with regular grooming, vacuuming, and lint rolling.

Featured Image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock