Technique: Pet Hair Removal

[justin30513]

I've combinesd several techiniques here. I get a few pet hair infested vehicles and hate them. So, I've came up with a process that seems to really work for me.

Here's the steps....

Items needed:
Snuggle Fabric Softener 10:1
(It's anti-static properties help to release the hairs from the carpets fibers. The scent will actually help to destroy odor since it has anti-bacterial agents.)
All Purpose Cleaner
(Mixed for carpet cleaning.)
Powerfull Vacuum
(I use the Ridgid 4050.)
A pair of BLUE thick rubber gloves
(These can be found in just about any house hold cleaning section. To me, this is the key tool.)

Techiniques used:

1. Vacuum the area first. This will remove any loose hair and surface dirt. Wetting surface dirt first can make a situation worse!
   
2. Wet area down with the Snuggle mix. You don't have to drench it.....just a good wetting.
3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
4. Now it gets fun. As fun as it can for this job. Turn your vacuum on and sit the nozzle close to the area to be worked. With one hand, rub the carpet with some pressure in a sweeping motion towards your body. The hair should pile up. Suck it away into the vac.
5. I now wet the area with an APC (or Woolite mix) for shampooing. I'm not going to get into how to shampoo. This is assuming you know how.
   
6. Stand back and look at your work.

The test area......
(2004 Toyota Sequoyah cargo area. Carries 2 German Shepherds.)


The area under the hair removing technique described above.....
(Snuggle mix already applied.)



One half of the area de-haired and shampoo'd. Hopefully you can tell which side!

[Grouse]

Very good right up.

How i would have aproached this car.

I would have used the HWE vac with the tight nozzle for the vacuuming stage. You set the nozzle flush with the fiber then lift up on side just so slightly. It then sucks in the hair very easily. That would have removed about 60-80% of the hair.

Then i would have used either a pet sponge (dense rubber foam sponge) or a lint roller to remove 15-20% more.

After that i would have preconditioned the carpet with ultrapac. lightly brushing it in. In my slurry tank of the HWE i would have used all fiber rinse. Which is a lightly acidic rinse / fiber softner. This would have the same effect as your snuggle, with out having the chance to re attract dirt.


When it is all said and done i think you did an exemplary job. You made a process out of the cleaning to achieve a result that is far and above what most would do.


Kudo's mate.

[justin30513]

Thanks Grouse. I was more less structuring this write up for the common weekend warrior or beginner detailer on a budget.

I've used lint-rollers before but found myself spending more time changing out the used up area of the roller.

[mikebai1990]

Sounds like a great technique! Thanks for writing it up.

[Invigor]

I use window cleaner and my hand, with the same technique, although I don't find the need to let it sit.

just spray on, wipe around with my hand until it bulks into a pile, then suck it up. I just about fell over when someone showed me how easy it was and how well it worked.

[optimusp517]

Nicely put, and great write-up! Just the way I usually do it.

[hooked]

Originally Posted by Invigor

I use window cleaner and my hand, with the same technique, although I don't find the need to let it sit.

just spray on, wipe around with my hand until it bulks into a pile, then suck it up. I just about fell over when someone showed me how easy it was and how well it worked.

When you say "window cleaner," are you referring to something like Stoner's IG or Windex? What's the "trick?"

[Invigor]

windex...the liquid stuff in a spray bottle, not aerosol. We use a car-brite product to be exact. I think the trick is anything to dampen it then just get it to ball up with your hand wiping over it. I learned it from a guy that's been detailing for almost as long as I've been alive, and that's how he does it. He's got a trick up his sleeve for absolutely everything.

I tried looking up which car-brite window cleaner it is, but none seem to match the description...it's amazing streak free stuff!

[Big Jon]

Since I almost always have my greyhound riding with me I appreciate any time savers. I use a rubber grooming glove with little rubber nipples to clump it up but I'll try the Snuggle mix now too. Lint rollers are good for clothes but clear packing tape is quicker.

[themightytimmah]

I use a PC powered brush to dislodge it, and then whats left usually vacuums up by hand.

[Accumulator]

On-topic comments: I've used a few of the tips mentioned on this thread, and IMO they all have their place. Sometimes one just works better than the others, so it's good to have a lot of them being mentioned on one thread with an obvious title

Invigor- You might be a little careful with the window cleaner, some window cleaners and some leathers don't get along and, well, accidents happen. But yeah, I've done that too (in conjuction with some of the other tips) and it deodorizes and cleans some dirt out without the need to do any real rinsing, so I'm not being or anything.

Less-on-topic comment: Why do dog owners let the hair get in the carpet in the first place I learned (the hard way, but only once) to keep carpeted areas covered back when I had German Shepherds and I've simply avoided the whole pet-mess problem for the last 20-some years. People like justin30513's customer with the two GSDs could sidestep the whole issue (and have a less doggy-smelling vehicle) and I bet justin30513 wouldn't mind one bit Just wait until the shedding season starts

[LT1Squirrel]

justin, your pics arent showing up, i would like to see how your hair problem was before/after... i just bought a jeep that transported a dog that had a shedding problem and hair is everywhere...ive encountered plenty of problems while detailing, but ive never seen dog hair as bad as this