How to remove hair from your carpet without a vacuum

How To
By published

Carpet cleaning hacks for a fur-free floor

Dog on carpet
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

While the best vacuum cleaners are typically the go-to solution for cleaning carpets, there are times when you might need to tackle the task without one. Whether your vacuum is broken, you're in a power outage, or you're dealing with things you should never vacuum but probably do, knowing how to remove hair from your carpet manually can be a lifesaver. 

This skill is particularly useful for pet owners or those with long hair, as these can quickly accumulate in carpets. While investing in one of the best robot vacuums for pet hair might be tempting, or pondering if cordless vacuums worth it, sometimes old-school methods are just as effective.

In this guide, we'll explore several techniques to keep your carpets hair-free without relying on electrical appliances, ensuring your floors stay clean regardless of the circumstances.

1. Use a rubber broom or squeegee

Sweep with a rubber-bristled tool. Rubber brooms or squeegees are excellent for attracting and gathering hair from carpet fibers. Use short, firm strokes to pull hair into piles for easy collection.

2. Try the damp rubber glove method

Don your rubber gloves and dampen them slightly. Run your gloved hand over the carpet in one direction. The damp rubber creates static electricity, causing hair to cling to the glove. Rinse and repeat as necessary.

3. Employ a lint roller

Roll a lint roller over small areas. While time-consuming for large spaces, this method is highly effective for targeted cleaning or small rugs. Use a large lint roller for quicker results on bigger areas.

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4. Use packaging tape

Apply packaging tape to hair-covered areas. Press the tape firmly onto the carpet and lift to remove hair. This method works well for small areas or for finishing touches after using other techniques.

6. Try the fabric softener solution

Mix fabric softener with water in a spray bottle. Lightly mist the carpet and let it sit for a few minutes. The softener loosens hair from carpet fibers, making it easier to collect with a broom or rubber glove.

7. Use a pet brush or grooming tool

Brush the carpet with a pet grooming tool. Slicker brushes or deshedding tools designed for pets can be surprisingly effective at removing hair from carpets, especially in high-traffic areas.

Remember to work in small sections and be patient, as manual cleaning can be more time-consuming than using a vacuum. Regular grooming of pets and frequent cleaning can help minimize hair buildup in the future.

Check out our 7 tips for staying on top of pet hair to keep your home fur-free, and discover 7 ways to remove pet odour from your home for a fresher living space. If you're looking to automate your cleaning routine, explore our roundup of cheap robot vacuums for 2024. 

Kaycee Hill
Kaycee Hill
How-to Editor

Kaycee is Tom's Guide's How-To Editor, known for tutorials that get straight to what works. She writes across phones, homes, TVs and everything in between — because life doesn't stick to categories and neither should good advice. She's spent years in content creation doing one thing really well: making complicated things click. Kaycee is also an award-winning poet and co-editor at Fox and Star Books.