How to Remove Shedding Cat Hair from Every Surface

As cat owners, we’re no stranger to shedding cat hair. As much as we love them, their fur gets on everything: furniture, carpet, bedding, clothing. Forget ever wearing black again without picking off every single hair. 

But, you know what they say, pet hair is just cat people glitter, right? 

If by that you mean that it gets everywhere and no matter how much you clean and scrub, you’ll still find a cat hair in your mouth–then sure, it’s like glitter.

With the summer in full swing, it’s safe to say that the shedding has kicked it up a notch. Here are a few tips to remove cat hair and help tackle the summer shed. 

Tips for Getting Rid of Shedding Cat Hair

Brush Your Cat Often to Remove Excess Cat Hair

The best way to remove cat hair is to stop the shed in the first place.

While it’s natural for most cat breeds to shed, especially in the summer, brushing your cat often can help remove the excess fur before it ends up all over your house. 

Depending on your breed of cat, there are a few options that work well for getting rid of the shedding cat hair, as well as dirt and dander on your cat’s skin. 

Wire brushes with thin teeth are best for long haired breeds, while soft bristle brushes are used for short or medium length breeds.

Keeping your cat well-groomed also helps prevent hairballs which can be a serious health concern.

Take Advantage of Petting Your Cat

I’m sure you’ve noticed all the hair that comes off while you’re petting your cat. Spending some extra time showing them some affection lets you catch the hair before it ends up on your clothes or your floor.

Grooming mitts are also an option for removing the excess hair. They are worn like an oven mitt, but have a brush on the palm side that works to remove the shedding cat hair while you pet your cat like normal.

Use White Vinegar and the Dryer to Remove Cat Hair from Clothes and Bedding

One of the worst things about shedding pet hair is that it can clog up your washing machine. 

To remove the cat hair from your clothes and bedding pre-wash, toss them in the dryer first! Run them through a short tumble cycle (no heat) first, and the pet hair will get caught in the lint trap.

When you put them in the washer, add a ½ cup of vinegar to soften the clothes and help the washing machine knock any additional cat hair loose. 

Side note: Is there anything white vinegar can’t fix? Seriously, I use vinegar for everything from cleaning my stove to cleaning my dishes. Add to this the fact that it eliminates the smell of cat pee if your cat, like mine, decides to pee on your clothes like a jerk, and vinegar is basically a miracle cure.

Use Microfiber Cloths and Mops to Remove Cat Hair from Hardwood Floors

Having hardwood floors sounds like a great idea until you see cat hair rolling across them like little fur tumbleweeds.

Unfortunately, a lot of cleaning methods will just push the cat hair around instead of actually removing it. 

To keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful, use microfiber cloths or dust mops to capture the hair without damaging the wood. 

Use a Lint Roller or Dampened Gloves to Remove Cat Hair from Furniture

While using a vacuum can help remove some of the hair, it misses the fur that sticks has dug itself into the fabric. Lighting sprinkling baking soda over the surface before vacuuming can also help loosen the hair fibers, making it easier to vacuum more hair. This is also a great tip for removing cat hair from carpet. 

Lint rollers are good for picking up the remaining hair, as well as rubbing a damp rubber glove or sponge over the surface.

Make Sure Your Cat is Healthy and Happy

If it seems like your cat is losing more hair than usual, it may be caused by stress or an underlying health condition. If you’re concerned at all, make sure to take get your cat into the vet as soon as possible.

Do you use any of these cat hair removal techniques? Do you know of any more? Let me know in the comments.