How To Clean Pet Hair & Dirt from Your Car

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Pet parents, you know the struggle. You want to take your furry friend with you, but you don’t want to deal with cleaning pet hair and other messes from your car. Whether you’re traveling for pleasure (an outing to the park) or necessity (a vet visit), our pets aren’t always the tidiest passengers. And restoring your car to its pristine, pre-pet state can be, well, a hairy endeavor.

Fortunately, we’ve picked up a few tricks to help you clean pet hair, stains, and odors from your car. Once your vehicle is all spiffed up, we also have tips for preventing future messes—from muddy pawprints to sour stomachs and potty accidents.

Cleaning Pet Hair From Your Car

Pet hair can be a constant battle for some pet parents—and those pesky strands can be particularly hard to remove from your car’s upholstery. Here are some helpful ways to banish pet hair from your car.

Start with the vacuum cleaner

Typically, this will be your first stop. A powerful upright vacuum with a nozzle attachment is best for huge hair blowouts. However, for touch-ups or pets who don’t shed as much, a portable handheld vacuum is simpler than lugging out your giant Dyson. The best handheld vacuums are cordless, lightweight, and fitted with a narrow crevice tool or brush attachment to get into your car’s tiny nooks and crannies.

Follow up with a carpet rake, lint roller, or pumice stone

Where a vacuum fails, a carpet rake can help to remove stubborn pet hair from your car. These tools work by pulling up embedded hairs and gathering them into piles.

A reusable pet lint roller like the ChomChom can help you remove smaller amounts of hair, while pumice stones offer an interesting way to combat rogue hairs with their scaly texture. Many pet parents swear by the Fur-Zoff—a unique hair removal tool made from foamed recycled glass. It won’t last forever, and it doesn’t remove crumbs, but we like that it’s portable and low-maintenance.

For a quick DIY cleanup, try rubber gloves or dryer sheets

If you don’t have cleaning tools on hand, try sweeping a gloved hand over your car’s upholstery; loose hair should stick to it. Some folks recommend using nubbed kitchen gloves for this task; others advise wetting the gloves with water first.

A quick wipe-down with a dryer sheet can also remove pet hair. Of course, this won’t solve major fur accumulation, but it works for a fast touch-up. Plus, dryer sheets leave behind a fresh, clean scent in your car.

Tackling Pet Stains Out of the Car

Whether your pooch suffers from motion sickness or the excitement of travel triggers a potty incident, pet stains have a solution. Before you begin cleaning, open the windows for ventilation, and then try the methods listed below.

Apply an upholstery-safe cleaner

Depending on the stain in question, a variety of pet stain removers can tackle unsightly areas in your car.

For bodily messes like pee, poop, or vomit, a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner is your best bet. These products break down organic particles completely, removing both visible pet stains and odors. Just note that an enzyme-based cleaner can’t be used safely on leather interiors.

Your cleaner’s label will have instructions, but generally, enzyme cleaners work by following the steps below.

• Step 1. Apply the cleaner. Spray or douse the stain, making sure to open windows for ventilation.
• Step 2. Let the cleaner sit. Enzymes need time to work their magic, so allow the cleaner to sit for the recommended amount of time (usually 15 to 20 minutes).
• Step 3. Blot the cleaner. Try to absorb as much liquid as possible using paper towels or a microfiber cloth.
• Step 4. Let air dry. Allow any remaining moisture to air dry completely (usually overnight).

Note: If you’re dealing with a stubborn stain, this process may need to be repeated two or three times.

Try a “natural” vinegar solution

Some pet parents have success with everyday household items. If that’s more your style, try using a vinegar mixture for pet stains in your car with these steps.

• Step 1. Vacuum. First, suck up any loose hair or debris around the area so the stain is easier to get to.
• Step 2. Make a vinegar solution. Mix one part white vinegar with eight parts water.
• Step 3. Gently scrub the stain. Use a soft-bristled brush or a lint-free cloth to work the mixture into the affected area.
• Step 4. Rinse with water. Then blot the area with a lint-free cloth.
• Step 5. Air dry. Leave windows open to let the remaining moisture air dry completely.

For a deep clean, use an upholstery cleaning machine

For serious stains that won’t budge, an upholstery cleaner can help. You can rent a machine from most hardware stores if you don’t own one, or you can buy a carpet cleaner for the house. Portable options like Bissell’s Little Green Carpet Cleaner come with a reservoir to fill with a stain-fighting cleaner. Our editors swear by the machine’s tidy size and long hose.

Removing Pet Smells Out of the Car

Strong pet odors can linger in your car long after your trip to the park has ended. For the most effective results, try dealing with smells as soon as they happen.

Use an enzyme cleaner

If you can identify the source of the stench (maybe your cat peed or your dog vomited in a particular area), an enzyme cleaner is ideal for breaking down odor molecules. These cleaners remove the smell at its source rather than just masking it. To use an enzyme-based cleaner for odors, follow the same steps you would for stains: spray, wait, blot, air dry.

A lot of pet parents like Angry Orange Odor Eliminator for neutralizing pet smells on a variety of surfaces, including car interiors. If you like the scent of oranges, it removes odors and leaves behind a fresh, citrusy scent. (Angry Orange also makes an enzyme cleaner with the same citrus smell.)

When using any cleaners in your car, always crack the windows and let fresh air circulate.

Use baking soda for a “natural” solution

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can be used on its own or alongside an enzyme cleaner. This method is best for neutralizing general odors (like wet dog smell) that aren’t tied to a specific area of the car.

Step 1. Sprinkle baking soda. Spread a layer of baking soda over your car seats and mats.

Step 2. Let it sit. Leave the baking soda overnight if possible.

Step 3. Vacuum. In the morning, vacuum up the baking soda.

Note: Alternatively, you can leave a tray filled with baking soda on the floor of your vehicle overnight to neutralize unpleasant smells.

Preventing Dog or Cat Messes in the Car

There are also a few things you can do to stay one step ahead. Here are some tips to help reduce pet hair in the car and stop messes before they happen.

Groom your pet before a trip

Before you head out on your excursion, give your dog or cat a quick pass with a grooming brush to remove any loose hairs.

After a trip (especially one that’s muddy or wet), give your pup a good wipe-down before they hop back in the car. Keep a designated dog towel or pet-safe paw wipes in your car to remove dirt, sand, and grass. There are even portable dog paw cleaners that help remove debris from outdoor adventures—even bacteria and allergens.

Invest in a car seat cover

A dog car seat cover is incredibly effective in protecting your car. These covers help keep pet hair from embedding into your car’s upholstery, and they’re great for keeping muddy, wet paws off seats during the soggy season. Whenever messes strike, a seat cover can easily be removed and washed.

Alternatively, you can throw a sheet or blanket across the area your pet will be sitting, although these will be harder to keep tethered in place.

Contain pets in one area

Cleanup is easier when hair, dander, and muddy pawprints are contained in one area. A good dog travel crate or cat carrier not only protects your car from pet hair and messes, but they’re also a safe way to transport your pet.

A car harness or seat can also keep your pet secure in one spot while isolating messes.

Keep a pet cleanup kit in your car

Storing a pet cleanup kit in your car is a great way to keep both your pet and vehicle clean. That way, you’ll be prepared for any messes as they arise. Here are some essential items to keep in your car cleanup kit:

• Paper towels
• Pet-safe wipes
• Plastic bags or poop bags
• Dry dog shampoo
• Pet stain remover
• Handheld carpet rake
• Lint roller

Quickly tidy up after trips

If time allows, give your car a quick cleanup after rides with your pet—before smells, stains, and pet hair become trapped more deeply in your car’s surfaces. A quick pass with a lint roller or pet rake, topped off with a deodorizing spritz, can make a world of difference.

How We Chose

The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews, and interviews with veterinary and cleaning professionals. We prioritized compact cleaning tools with effective results. Additionally, we considered the various concerns of different pet parents, taking into account a range of budgets, lifestyles, and cleaning needs. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading

• Dog Seat Covers to Keep Your Car Grime-Free
• Dog Travel Crates That Are Ready to Go When You Are
• Do Enzymatic Cleaners Work on Pet Stains? What the Science Says
• Say Goodbye to Pet Stains with the Best Carpet Cleaners for Deep Cleaning