# How do you remove cat hair from a sofa? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983 "2003-04-07T03:08:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mapsmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@mapsmith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mapsmith)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/1 "2003-04-07T03:08:22Z")
With a houseful of cats and less than stellar cleaning habits, I have two basically dark sofas that have an accumulation of cat hair that the vacuum will not remove. Other than setting the sofa on fire, or going over the entire surface with tape, is there any reasonable way to remove the cat hair. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/2 "2003-04-07T03:12:22Z")
One of those rolly lint-removers? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/3 "2003-04-07T03:16:14Z")
Get several lint rollers. They should work. Or you might try wearing a rubber glove and rubbing it over the sofa. That works by static electricity. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/4 "2003-04-07T03:54:59Z")
Rubber (or good grip) soled shoes. WOrks wonders. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/5 "2003-04-07T04:20:18Z")
I like this [thing.](http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_20320.shtml) It’s like a soft rubber sponge which lifts away all of the hair. [This](http://www.petsmart.com/dog/shopping/pet%5Fhair%5Fpick%5Fups/products/product%5F11916.shtml) is also very good. It’s like one of those lint rollers, but the size of a paint roller. Living with a dog who sheds year-round in astounding quantities, I’ve learned to live with a certain ammount of hair. (It was either except it, or kill myself.) Guests know when visiting Casa De Lissa, they’ll leave covered in hair. ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/6 "2003-04-07T04:29:02Z")
A few swaths over my furniture with a wide and very fine-toothed metal brush I got at my local pet shop works great. The teeth on this brush are like really long and thin pins, use it on your cats a couple times a week and you should notice a decrease in the hair they leave around the house. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/7 "2003-04-07T09:55:03Z")
…and then put a throw or cover on the sofa when not in use. I thought a leather sofa would solve the fur problem, which it does, but now I can see their muddy little footprints all the more clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Theios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@Theios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theios)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/8 "2003-04-08T06:18:27Z")
I don’t know about the lint rollers or sponges, but I’ve found a pair of black pants works very well. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/9 "2003-04-08T12:34:59Z")
Use an ordinary (cellulose) kitchen sponge. Get it just very, very slightly damp, and stroke it over the surface of the couch. The cat hair rolls up into long ‘sausages’ which you can just pick up. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/10 "2003-04-08T14:03:30Z")
First thing you do is shave the hairy suckers. I have a rough fabric couch, and I rub my hand over the surface to “collect” the hair in clumps, them pick off. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/11 "2003-04-08T15:13:42Z")
Duct tape. Seriously. My Dad has four cats and he cleans up the furniture with duct tape. ---
**Author:** ![Plexuss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Plexuss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plexuss)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/12 "2003-04-08T15:17:21Z")
I second what StarvingButStrong said about the slightly damp sponge method. I’ve also had great success spraying upholstered furniture with an anti-static cling spray meant for clothing, then vacuuming. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/13 "2003-04-08T15:44:18Z")
Or visit a pet store & ask them for a product. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/14 "2003-04-08T15:47:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Plexuss \* > \*\*II’ve also had great success spraying upholstered furniture with an anti-static cling spray meant for clothing, then vacuuming. \*\* That sounds like a great idea to me. I am going to try it. I will report back if it works. (or if it doesn’t) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/15 "2003-04-08T19:40:47Z")
We generally keep the couches covered at all times (keeps them safe from **MilliCal** , as well as the cats). To remove cat hair from things we: 1.) Use one of those special lint-removing brushes with the small, tight, one-directional bristles. 2.) Use the “cat brush” we have that resembles a glove with flexible rubber bristles attached all over. 3.) use the aforementioned “sponge” 4.) use rolling tacky hair removers and/or swaths of duct tape. After doing 1-4, you will find yourself trained to keep the covers on the couch. Note: If you have a cat pad or bed, and you want to clean it, use the above methods to remove cat hair _before_ tossing it in the wash. Unless you _want_ your sink or trap backed up from vast quantities of cat hair. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/16 "2004-02-29T17:22:05Z")
I’ve tried everything to remove cat hair from my couch (the upholstery is woven textile), and finally have come up with a combination of two methods in this thread. Works like a charm. Wear a rubber household glove. The older the glove, the better, because old rubber gets a little more brittle and sticky. Bring a bucket with lukewarm water. Rub the upholstery with your hand in the damp glove. Always in the same direction. Use short, firm strokes. The direction doensn’t really matter. Half the cat hairs will form rolls that can be picked up easily. The other half of the hairs will just stick to the glove. Then dip your gloved hand in the bucket with the the water. All the hairs remain in the water. Repeat. ---
**Author:** ![Figaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@Figaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Figaro)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/17 "2004-02-29T18:51:47Z")
I bought this gadget at the pet store that looks like a squeegee - a handle with a rubber “blade” on it that pulls hair off of fabric. It works wonders. I run it over my couch and then vacuum up the big tufts and ribbons of hair that form from the brushing. Can’t remember what it was called, though… “Fur magnet” maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/18 "2004-02-29T22:06:09Z")
Rubbing with a dampened wash cloth also works. ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/19 "2004-02-29T22:45:10Z")
cat tongue on a stick? fabricating such a tool will solve your problem in two ways… ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2004, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983/20 "2004-03-01T07:55:00Z")
This may help you in the future. So far it’s worked with two other people I suggested it to. With my cat I had, I went to garage sales and bought a bunch of little baby blankets. Cats love them. I folded it up and put it on the top of the couch. Since cats love to balance and love baby blankets the cat would always leap up and sleep ONLY on the baby blanket. When that one gets full of hair, throw it in the wash and put up a clean one. The cat will get used to only sitting on the baby blanket and the couch is hair free. Worked for me and a couple of others. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-remove-cat-hair-from-a-sofa/166983.md?page=2)