Best Products for Pet Hair

The problem this solves

Pet hair spreads in a small apartment because there is so little floor between where the pet sleeps and where you sit. It weaves into fabric, gathers in rug pile and drifts under furniture. The fix is a routine and two or three simple tools, not a cupboard full of lint rollers.

Try this before you buy anything

1. Brush your pet. A few minutes a few times a week, outside or on a hard floor, removes hair before it lands on the sofa.
2. Cover their favourite spots. A washable throw on the sofa and a washable bed are easier than cleaning upholstery.
3. Use a damp rubber glove. Wipe it across the sofa and hair balls up. It costs nothing and works well on most fabrics.
4. Wash bedding on a regular cycle. A tumble dryer's lint filter catches a lot of hair; empty it every load.

What to look for

• Rubber or silicone pulls hair out of fabric and carpet better than bristles.
• Washable and reusable beats sticky refills, both for cost and waste.
• Tangle-resistant brush rolls on vacuums, because long hair wraps round ordinary ones.

Our picks at a glance

The picks in detail

For sofas and beds: a reusable roller

For rugs and carpet: a rubber broom

A rubber broom drags hair out of carpet pile that a vacuum leaves behind. Run it over the rug first, then vacuum.

For quick daily clean-ups: a handheld vacuum

For whole floors: a cordless stick

If you are choosing your main vacuum, read robot vacuum or cordless stick first. A robot that runs daily is the best answer to shedding on hard floors; a stick covers the rest.

How we chose

These are research-based recommendations: we compared published specifications, maker documentation and the features that matter in a small home. We have not tested them hands-on. Most picks are types of product rather than single models, so the buttons open the retailer's results; compare a few listings before you buy, in your own country's store.

Mistakes to avoid

• Vacuuming upholstery with a floor head. Use a small tool or a handheld; floor heads can snag fabric.
• Letting long hair wrap the brush roll. Cut it free regularly, or the vacuum loses most of its pick-up.
• Ignoring the filters. Pet hair and dander clog filters quickly. Wash or replace them as the maker advises.
• Using sticky rollers on delicate fabrics. Test on a hidden area first.

A weekly routine that keeps on top of it

Brush the pet two or three times a week. Wash its bed and the sofa throw weekly. Run a rubber broom over rugs, then vacuum floors and upholstery. Wipe skirting boards, where hair collects, with a damp cloth. A weekly cleaning checklist helps you fit it in.

A pet-hair routine that works

• Daily: a quick pass with a cordless vacuum where the pet sleeps.
• Twice a week: brush the pet outdoors or on a washable towel, and run a rubber broom over rugs.
• Weekly: vacuum everything, wash the pet's bedding, and roll the sofa.
• Monthly: wash throws and cushion covers, and clean the vacuum filter.

Prevent it in the first place

Brushing removes loose hair before it lands on the sofa. A washable throw on the pet's favourite seat catches hair you can shake out outdoors. Close bedroom doors if you want one hair-free room.

The bottom line

Brush the pet, cover the sofa, and keep a roller and a rubber broom to hand. Then choose a vacuum for your floors. Pet dander in the air is a separate problem: a purifier sized for the room helps, as how to improve air quality explains. More routines are in the apartment cleaning guide.