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The 8 Best Pet Hair Removers of 2024, Tested by Real Pet Owners

The Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover lifted even the most stubborn pet hair

pet hair removers
Photo: People/Lauren Fread

Having pets in your space can be the best thing ever, but having their hair everywhere is… not.

Few love their furry friends more than Taylor Swift and her three famous cats, but we're sure even celebrities have a tough time removing their hair from every surface in their homes. That's why, along with your other cat or dog supplies like pet toys, cat or dog bowls, leashes, carriers, and more, it's also helpful to have pet hair remover tools on hand for any time you need to spruce up your space.

Experts Say

"If my plan is to remove fur from floors and furniture, a vacuum cleaner made for sensitive ears or good old fashioned rubber or bristle broom works. [A] low decibel or low volume vacuum with attachments [works best] to get into those nooks and crannies, and [so does] something sticky like a lint brush."—Vivian Zottola, MSC, CBCC, and Applied Anthrozoologist at the Center for Behavior Studies

To fairly judge the 26 products we compared, we ran one lab test to evaluate how these tools fared against pillows, clothing, and washing machines. Then we conducted a second test in real pet owners’ homes to see long-term results. After testing, we rated each product on design, performance, and ease of cleaning.

ChomChom Pet Hair Remover
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Effectiveness
    4/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    4.5/5
Star Qualities
  • Reusable with no maintenance

  • Works better than a handheld vacuum

  • Easy to use and clean out

Red Flags
  • Not effective on all surfaces

This handheld roller-style pet hair remover tool works quickly and efficiently. It’s ready to use from the package and doesn’t require a lot of pressure to pick up hair. The inner roller has a textured fabric similar to a traditional red lint roller but is surrounded by sturdy plastic casing with a solid plastic handle. It attracts and traps hair as it rolls forward and backward, and there’s a release button near the handle that exposes the roller portion, which can be cleaned out manually with your fingers or tapped out over a trash can. For any stray dust on the roller, we suggest wiping it down with a damp cloth or washing in soapy water, and then letting it air dry before your next use. 

While it tends to work on most fabrics, it excelled when the fabric was taut and had a firm backing. It also wasn’t able to pull out pet hair that was lodged into fabric weave or fully clean pet hair on uneven surfaces (like a couch seam), and for floors a robot vacuum for pet hair might be easier. That said, we appreciate that this roller is reusable and doesn’t require any maintenance to keep it working properly.

Type: Roller | Material: Nylon, plastic | Colors: 2 | Dimensions: 2.5 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 6.7 ounces

Star Qualities
  • Reusable design that can be cleaned as you go

  • Picks up pet hair, pollen, dirt, and dust

  • Can be used on a variety of surfaces

Red Flags
  • Sponge wears down over time and with frequent, repeated use

  • Can be labor intensive on large items

If you’ve been seeking a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for pet hair, this is it! This handheld latex sponge uses friction to remove all types of pet hair from practically any surface. The sponge is meant to be used dry and swiped lightly but firmly over the target surface. And it doesn’t just work on pet hair: It’s great for controlling allergies all over the house or in the car since it can wedge into crevices and pick up pollen, dust, and dirt. Plus, it even lifted fuzz and debris from a rug that the vacuum missed. 

We love that it’s reusable (though it will break down over time with frequent use) and that you only need to pick off the collected hair to clean it. If it starts to look a bit grubby, it can be washed in soapy water and left to air dry. Also, our arms got quite tired when we used it on the sofa, so larger surfaces will require extra effort. 

Type: Sponge | Material: Polyurethane, plastic | Colors: 1 | Dimensions: 5.75 x 2.75 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 4 ounces

Evriholder FURemover Pet Hair Removal Broom
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4/5
  • Effectiveness
    4.5/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    5/5
Star Qualities
  • Broom-like tool with extendable handle between 3 to 5 feet

  • Works on all floor surfaces, including high-pile rugs and carpets

  • Also removes dirt and debris

Red Flags
  • Requires decent upper-body strength

The Evriholder tool is mash-up between a broom and squeegee and is ideal for those tough-to-clean area rugs and carpets. For a combination of two cleaning tools, the reasonable price tag makes this product hard to beat. Equipped with rows of unflagged rubber bristles at the end of the tool, picking up hair in thick rugs has never been easier. When we used it on a high-pile rug, the hair came up in a ball that was easy to pick up. Cleaning the tool was made simple due to the rubber bristles attracting the hair into a large clump, so it could be easily extracted from the broom.

The only grievance with this budget-friendly option was the length of the handle. When we used it on our hands and knees, it felt too long, but when we stood up, it felt too short. It depends on personal preference, but the ability to extend or shorten this handle from three to five feet should minimize the discomfort for anyone interested in the Evriholder tool.

Type: Broom | Material: Plastic, unflagged rubber bristles | Dimensions: 36.9 x 1.65 x 7.9 inches | Weight: 14.72 ounces

Star Qualities
  • Works in place of your usual dryer sheet

  • Pulls noticeably more hair from drying load into lint trap

  • One pack lasts months

Red Flags
  • Using more than one sheet per cycle can be a fire hazard

  • Scented version may be overwhelming for some

These Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard Mega Sheets repel up to three times as much pet hair compared to regular Bounce dryer sheets — and they’re just as easy to use. We noticed significantly more pet hair was pulled from clothes and into the lint filter when using this sheet. However, since they’re twice the size of regular dryer sheets, the instructions warn not to use more than one in a cycle because it can be a fire hazard. 

Unlike other picks on the list, these sheets are not reusable which can feel slightly wasteful, but you can just use them in place of regular dryer sheets since they will work to soften fabrics, impart a refreshing scent, and reduce static, wrinkles, and lint. However, the Fresh Scent version has a pretty strong fragrance, so we recommend grabbing the unscented version if that might be a concern. 

Type: Sheet | Material: Nonwoven polyester | Dimensions: 3.78 x 4.29 x 7.09 inches | Sheets Per Box: 50

Amazon Analan Mini Pet Hair Remover Brush
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4.5/5
  • Effectiveness
    5/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    5/5
Star Qualities
  • Mini-groove tooth sides effectively grip and remove pet hair

  • High quality for a reasonable price

  • Designed to work in tight spaces and corners

Red Flags
  • Small-sized tool not ideal for large surfaces

The Analan brush’s dependability is what really sold us here. From the first few swipes, it was clear this product worked exactly as advertised. It even made easy work of removing embedded hair. The triangular shape allows you to easily grip the tool to use its differently grooved sides to dig out even the most lodged hairs, even in the seams of seats or corners of the floor and cargo area.

Its small size makes it easy to toss into your car’s glove compartment or center console for easy access. This product is recommended for use in small spaces and is ideal for getting into your car’s hard-to-reach spots for a detailed de-furring, but, due to its small size and detailing-like nature, it would be very labor intensive for cleaning larger spaces. It’s also not meant to be used on leather or any other scratchable material. 

Type: Tool | Material: Plastic, non-slip coating | Dimensions: 4.72 x 4.72 x 0.78 inches | Weight: 7.05 ounces

Star Qualities
  • Grippable perpendicular handle for good control

  • Hard plastic cover to protect stick surface when not in use

  • Reusable, washable roller (no need to peel off sheets)

Red Flags
  • Needs to be washed and air dry after each use

This sheet-free lint roller picks up pet hair from almost all smooth, flat surfaces without leaving a sticky residue or damaging fabric fibers. During testing, a quick roll over our tester’s clothes picked up all visible hair from their two constantly shedding pets: a medium-haired rabbit and King Charles Spaniel. The plastic handle is perpendicular to the roller, so it gives you much more control and force when rolling. 

It’s reusable and doesn’t require any sticky sheet peeling or replacement roller heads. After each use, just wash it with soapy water and let it air dry. While this is more sustainable, we found it tiresome to wait for the roller to dry in between uses when cleaning larger pieces or furniture or surfaces that required multiple rounds of rolling. Pro tip: Keep your sink drain in when cleaning to prevent pet hair from clogging your pipes! 

Type: Roller | Material: Polypropylene | Colors: 1 | Dimensions: 8.86 x 4.84 x 3.03 inches| Weight: 6.3 ounces

Lilly Brush Pro Pet Hair Tool Kit
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4.5/5
  • Effectiveness
    5/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    4/5
Star Qualities
  • Two-piece set with different tools

  • Handheld design for maximum detailing control

Red Flags
  • Can feel awkward to hold

Two is better than one! This tool kit is not only a crevice-cleaning set complete with one wide "blade" and another spatula-style tool, but it was also a standout product for deep cleaning during our tests. The 14-inch spatula is perfect for reaching down into hard-to-clean areas, like in between car seats, and the wide blade is equipped with a finger strap for more control over the hair removal process.

We were amazed by how easy it was to clean typical problem areas. We found the crevice tool surprisingly helpful (although the handle was really so much longer than it needed to be). It got into the folds of the chair between the seat and the back. Though the handle is a bit long, it comes in handy in tight spaces.

Type: Tool kit | Material: Rubber, plastic | Dimensions: 17.6 x 15.67 x 0.79 inches | Weight: 9.14 ounces

Uproot Cleaner Pro Reusable Pet Hair Remover
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Effectiveness
    4/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    5/5
Star Qualities
  • Snag-free fur removal on carpets, sofas, and rugs

  • Handheld design for maximum control

  • Can double as a carpet scraper and lint remover

Red Flags
  • Fine-toothed comb may damage delicate fabrics

The Uproot pet hair remover is built like a carpet scraper but can serve many functions in your home. This tool's grooved metal edge is designed to collect not only pet hair but also dust and lint as well, and it easily moves over your fabric surfaces. It also worked well on carpets and rugs and left both snag-free after cleaning. Since this reusable tool is designed for crevices in your furniture, this tool would be ideal for anyone who constantly finds themselves cleaning pet hair off of chairs and sofas.

Because of the metal portions of the tool, we would advise caution if using this product on clothing or fine fabrics. But when it comes to furniture, have a field day!

Type: Tool | Material: Metal | Dimensions: 6.6 x 5 x 0.37 inches | Weight: 2.08 ounces

What to Know About Buying a Pet Hair Remover

Type

While there are many types of pet hair removers out there, we took to the PEOPLE Tested lab to try a very specific few: rollers, brushes, brooms, and tools. We've found that certain products, like handheld tools, work best on furniture and in hard-to-reach places, while brooms, like the Evriholder Pet Hair Removal Broom, are ideal for rugs or carpets. And when it comes to hands-off pet hair removers, our tests showed that it's hard to top the Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard Mega Dryer Sheets. Pinpointing the type of tool you'll need for your space will help take the guesswork out of picking a pet hair remover.

Purpose

Sometimes you just really need a small pet hair remover tool to throw in your bag when you're on the go and you spot those few stray hairs. Or maybe you're having friends over and you need a quick fix for your couch before friends sit there and become covered in cat hair. Knowing the areas you need to clean the most regularly and what you do in those spaces is another important aspect to consider when looking for a pet hair remover tool.

Your Pet

Probably the most important consideration of all is your pet. Oftentimes cats and dogs require different care and pet hair remover tools, which is why it's crucial to know what kind of fur your companion has and its shedding tendencies. If your furry friend tends to shed often, then you may need a bigger pet hair remover tool for larger (and more frequent) clean-ups than a pet with little shedding, that only needs a touch-up here and there. Consider getting a robot vacuum to stay on top of the pet hair. Incidentally, an air purifier can also filter out some of your pet's hair so less of it ends up on surfaces. And bathing your pet regularly with a good dog shampoo can also help remove loose fur so less of it winds up around your home.

Behind the Scenes

From the 26 products that were tested in the PEOPLE lab and in our homes, each was evaluated on design, performance, and ease of cleaning.

Lab Test:

  • Setup: Our testers began by bringing in clothing, pillowcases, and furniture covers from their homes with their pet's hair already on them, and synthetic hair was provided as a prop to simulate hair on other surfaces. Depending on what the product was designed to clean, such as floors, furniture, or clothing, they were tested accordingly.
  • Effectiveness: After rating them based on sheer looks and design, they were tried on different surfaces and then cleaned and rated on a scale of one to five for each of the aforementioned categories.

Home Test:

  • Setup: Whether a laundry product or a brush tool, each product was assessed based on how easy it was to use after unboxing in our tester’s homes.
  • Effectiveness: After using each product, the tester evaluated the performance. For laundry sheets or dryer balls, they considered how much pet hair was removed from clothing during the dry cycle. For lint rollers and handheld tools, the tester looked at how effectively each worked to lift pet hair, as well as any other notable features, such as reusability.

Others We Tried

Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls: We’ve tested this non-traditional pet hair remover twice and we’ve found it to be a great reusable replacement for dryer sheets. It’s so easy to toss these woolen balls in with your clothes during a dryer cycle for the hands-free removal of pet hair, but they tend to be more reliable as a fabric softener than for fully removing pet hair. Our testers noted that while these dryer balls did remove some pet hair, there were still some remnants of hair left over (and it was unclear if the balls were removing the pet hair or just the dryer filters).

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do you remove dog hair from fabric?

    If you have dog hair stuck on machine washable and dryable fabrics, try placing the items in the dryer for a few minutes before washing. It's easier for the dryer to capture the dog hair in the lint trap, where it's easy to remove. Toss Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard Mega Dryer Sheets in with the fabrics, both aid in capturing the pet hair.


    If the fabric can't go in the dryer, the Lilly Brush Pro Pet Hair Tool Kit is a reusable pet hair remover that works better than a lint roller to remove dog hair stuck on upholstery and other fabrics.


  • How do I get embedded dog hair off my couch?

    For embedded dog hair, it's best to use a two-step pet hair removal method to eliminate the set-in fur. Start by putting on a pair of disposable rubber gloves and wiping the entire couch down with your hands. You'll be able to loosen and remove most of the hair. Dig in between the cushions and into hard-to-reach corners. After you've removed as much hair as possible, use an upright or handheld vacuum with an upholstery attachment to go over the entire couch and all cushions to pick up the remaining hair.


  • How do you clean pet hair removers?

    Each pet hair remover is cleaned differently, so check the manufacturer's guidelines for your specific remover. For some, you simply need to pull the collected hair out of the remover. Other pet hair removers may be wiped down with a damp cloth or rinsed in the sink after use.


  • Will pet hair removers work on suede or leather furniture?

    The pet hair removal methods for suede are similar to other fabric furniture. Use clean or disposable rubber gloves to wipe up the fur and remove it from the furniture. You can also vacuum suede furniture using your vacuum cleaner's upholstery setting. Many pet hair removers have the potential to damage leather furniture, so read the product information before using it on your leather sofa. Since pet hair is less likely to stick to leather, simply wipe the furniture down regularly with a soft cloth or vacuum to remove any stray pet hair.


  • Will pet hair removers work on different types of flooring?

    Yes, two of the pet hair removers on our list – the Uproot Cleaner Pro and the Evriholder FURemover Broom — are convenient tools for removing pet hair from floors. For embedded pet hair, the Uproot Cleaner Pro works as a carpet scraper to get pet hair out of carpets. The FURemover is a rubber broom with rake-like qualities that can sweep up and trap pet hair from tile and hardwood floors and rake it out of carpets and rugs. For tough messes, though, you may have to use an electric scrubber.

Why Trust PEOPLE

Alyssa Brascia is a PEOPLE commerce writer covering beauty, fashion, home, and lifestyle products. She has previously written commerce content for Dotdash Meredith brands like InStyle, Shape, and Southern Living. For this article, she compared the features, benefits, and uses of some of the most popular pet hair removers. Based on our testers’ experiences, she compared products based on factors such as price, versatility, size, method of hair removal, effectiveness, gentleness, ease of cleaning, and environmental friendliness. Brascia also spoke with an advanced animal trainer and behaviorist Vivian Zottola for her insights.

K. Alex Beaven covers commerce topics for Travel + Leisure, PEOPLE, and The Spruce Pets. She also has over a decade of experience as a travel journalist and has written for Travel + Leisure, Afar, Lonely Planet, Thrillist, and more. She updated this story with its most recent product additions and revisions based on testing insights.

Our Expert Panel

Vivian Zottola is an advanced animal trainer and behaviorist.

What Is People Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

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