# Methods for cleaning dog hair off of suede **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857 "2009-06-24T18:15:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/1 "2009-06-24T18:15:06Z")
So we have a lovely suede couch, and a dog who sheds a lot. Yeah, didn’t exactly think that one through. So far, hands down, the most effective way to get dog hair off of the couch is with a lint roller. The disposable kind with the layers that peel off. The lint roller actually works very well, with only two problems. It’s time consuming (roll for a bit, tear off layer, roll for a bit, tear off layer, etc, etc), and it’s not very environmentally friendly (we end up with a big pile of used lint roller layers by the time we’re done). A bit of googling shows that there are some paint-roller-sized lint rollers out there that would make the job easier and faster, but we’ve been making an effort to live more “green”. Does anyone have any good methods for getting dog hair off of suede that would involve less waste? We’ve tried the non-disposable brushy kind of lint remover. Works fine for clothes, but doesn’t do too well with the couch. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/2 "2009-06-24T19:06:28Z")
I have a micro fiber / feels like suede couch and a cat that sheds. I don lovely bright yellow rubber gloves and wipe the couch down. Works very well for us. Okay, shaving the cat works better, but there is nothing sadder than a nekkid elderly cat. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/3 "2009-06-24T23:23:11Z")
I found a brushy-style mitt, made out of the same red stuff as the plastic-handled clothing ones, but looks like an oven mitt. That works well. I also use sturdy paper towels (Viva), that can be dampened. I use those to brush over the couches and they work pretty well, too. I have 4 cats and velvet furniure, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/4 "2009-06-24T23:26:50Z")
Rubber gloves. OTOH, I also have a silicon rubber sponge specially done up for hair. Works a treat and then the roller for the last invisible layer of hair. OTOH, I have a futon couch. When it gets too annoying sometimes I’ll just haul the whole thing off onto the floor and run my Dyson floor vac over it. It’s an exercise and a half (is a reason my vac’s called ‘the Beast’) but it gets that sucker clean. ---
**Author:** ![Galena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Galena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galena)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/5 "2009-06-25T05:46:09Z")
I brush the cat, and then I “brush” the sofa. For this purpose, I’ve found that a big, flexible plastic/rubber brush works the most efficiently. Like this: [http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2750594&lmdn=Product+Type](http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2750594&lmdn=Product+Type) The sofa doesn’t mind, but the cat hates it. ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/6 "2009-06-25T13:47:21Z")
I wouldn’t have thought of trying rubber gloves. I’ll try that when I get home. I’ll also keep my eyes open for that brushy-mitt thing **SeaDragonTattoo** mentioned. That sounds nifty. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/7 "2009-06-25T14:26:44Z")
I have a rubbery sponge thing that is designed for pet hair removal. I think you can get these in most pet stores. It’s big and does a pretty good job of picking up the hair. I tried one of those temporary Swiffer pet hair things, and it works ok, but doesn’t last long enough to warrant the price. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/8 "2009-06-25T15:22:55Z")
This might be the same thing that **Kalhoun** mentioned, but there is a kind of lint roller that has a permanent sticky surface. When it’s covered in hair, you just rinse it off with tap water and let it dry for a few minutes. The stickiness reforms and you’re ready to roll (again). [Here’s one brand.](https://www.buymrsticky.com/?SRC=roller) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/9 "2009-06-25T17:00:09Z")
Duct tape! I’m not kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/10 "2009-06-25T19:26:48Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I have a rubbery sponge thing that is designed for pet hair removal. I think you can get these in most pet stores. It’s big and does a pretty good job of picking up the hair. I have one of these sponges too and I can confirm it is amazing for getting pet hair off microsuede. I ordered mine from here - LOVE IT! [http://www.thecatconnection.com/page/TCC/PROD/HRM-PetSponge](http://www.thecatconnection.com/page/TCC/PROD/HRM-PetSponge) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/11 "2009-06-25T21:50:22Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > This might be the same thing that **Kalhoun** mentioned, but there is a kind of lint roller that has a permanent sticky surface. When it’s covered in hair, you just rinse it off with tap water and let it dry for a few minutes. The stickiness reforms and you’re ready to roll (again). > > [Here’s one brand.](https://www.buymrsticky.com/?SRC=roller) That’s not the same thing, but I’ve always wanted to try the rinsey/sticky thingy. It looks very cool! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/12 "2009-06-25T21:51:22Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > I have one of these sponges too and I can confirm it is amazing for getting pet hair off microsuede. > > I ordered mine from here - LOVE IT! > > [http://www.thecatconnection.com/page/TCC/PROD/HRM-PetSponge](http://www.thecatconnection.com/page/TCC/PROD/HRM-PetSponge) Yup, that’s it!!! ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/13 "2009-06-25T21:55:55Z")
Well! That’s the first time I’ve seen the Pet Sponge, but I’m sold! That’s right: I’m sponge-worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/methods-for-cleaning-dog-hair-off-of-suede/500857/14 "2009-06-25T21:57:17Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > Well! That’s the first time I’ve seen the Pet Sponge, but I’m sold! That’s right: I’m sponge-worthy. It kind of rolls the pet hair into a skinny little fur snake that you can just pick up. Not all that much will actually stick to the sponge itself. It’s really cool!