My new microfiber sofa is a nightmare. Needed: Advice for cleaning pet hair.

[MinnieForMe]

Hi:
Can you believe I purchased a microfiber sofa because friends told me they were so maintenance free? I have 2 little dogs that don't shed. At least, after two years of owning them, we thought they did not shed. My 12 year old plaid sofa always looked pet hair free. I just purchased a microfiber one and I have to lint roll it an hour a day. It's disgusting.

Anyone know of a way to repel lint from this type of sofa? I'm going to have to keep my 4 lb. pups off it I suspect.

Thanks for any help. As it stands now, I'm going to save money to buy a leather sofa. At least, it was only a $800 mistake. Sob. Sob.

 

[shortbun]

Well, I found a flannel sheet the exact color of my navy couch and it stays covered almost all the time. I just wash the sheet and put it back on unless I'm having guests.

 

[Piper]

go to Flylady.com and get a rubba scrubba. It is a quick and easy way to remove hair from your sofa, or clothes, and brush your dogs, and clean lots and lots of things. I have a cat and a dog and use it all the time. I like mine so much, I bought 2 (so I could keep one in the bathroom to clean the tub.) After a bath, I just squirt some soap on the tub...rub it around the sides..rinse..no scrubbing! I use it to clean my shower, too. No soap scum.

 

[taymaesmom]

I ended up buying a Bissell Pet Hair vacuum and it was the best decision I ever made. I has awesome attachments to vacuum the furniture and it pulled all the hair off our microfiber couches. Plus I can use it on my bare floors and rugs too.

 

[GatorMama]

We don't let ours up on the couch. We love them... but they stay on the floor. Red microsuede just highlights pet hair, no matter the color. We vacuum the couch regularly since they rub up against it anyway.... and this is a terrible time of year to judge how much a dog sheds... it's multiplied by a zillion.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Petsmart sells a rubber brush with blue rubber bristles and a white handle. It is the best for removing hair. We have two dogs a Boston terrier and a lab/northern breed mix and nothing removes hair as efficiently as the rubber brush!

 

[FoodLover]

OP, I feel for you. Unfortunately I don't have a suggestion for you. But I have to tell you, I laughed out loud when I saw your title, because when I had new slipcovers made for my sofa a few years back, the fabric sales lady was ADAMANT that what I really needed was microfiber. She gave me a really hard sell on it, how easy-care it is, etc.

Well, I kept saying no, absolutely not, that stuff would be like Velcro for dog hair! I just had a feeling it would be a disaster. So I stuck to my guns and got a heavy woven fabric, which has worn well and does not attract dog hair. The funny thing is, the fabric I picked cost a lot more than the microfiber, but the sales lady was really disgruntled about my choice.

So sorry you made that mistake -- and boy, if I had listened to that sales lady, I would be in your shoes!

Mary

 

[jessrose18]

Honestly, we have tried the pet hair rollers and brushes. But the best thing in getting a washrag damp and rubbing in one direction. We have a microfiber covered bedrame and dog hair sticks to it really bad. The couch, we went with fabric, even though microfiber looked nicer to us....good luck!

 

[tlh0726]

Honestly, we have tried the pet hair rollers and brushes. But the best thing in getting a washrag damp and rubbing in one direction. We have a microfiber covered bedrame and dog hair sticks to it really bad. The couch, we went with fabric, even though microfiber looked nicer to us....good luck!

Second this suggestion

 

[MinnieForMe]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I just can't believe I goofed this way. I'm normally a researcher on every purchase but I fell in love with the sofa and color instantly. White pup + brown sofa = a white speckled sofa. LOL.

I'm going to try the above suggestions although my son vaccuumed it today and it looked lovely for a few minutes. I have to get firm with our dogs but they are only 4 lbs. and like babies, they look so comfy all cuddled on my sofa. Maybe, I should buy them a microfiber dog bed. LOL even harder!

 

[tlh0726]

Honestly, we have tried the pet hair rollers and brushes. But the best thing in getting a washrag damp and rubbing in one direction. We have a microfiber covered bedrame and dog hair sticks to it really bad. The couch, we went with fabric, even though microfiber looked nicer to us....good luck!

Second this suggestion

 

[Jingle]

I have a Shark Navigator with a pet hair attachment and I think it works great! Pet hair shows up quite easily on our furniture but this works for me. Not too expensive either.

 

[englishteacha]

We have a cat. We got a "stretch" slipcover for our sofa and it's like a freakin' lint brush. ugh. Spraying it with static guard helps a bit, and since it's a slipcover I can take it off and wash it, and use softener in the wash which helps some, too. Finally, though, I gave up and put a sheet over the bottom cushions where the kitty likes to sleep. Funny...she doesn't like it as much with a sheet on it!

 

[becauseisaid]

Have you thought about shaving the dogs?

 

[StephMK]

We have a cat. We got a "stretch" slipcover for our sofa and it's like a freakin' lint brush. ugh. Spraying it with static guard helps a bit, and since it's a slipcover I can take it off and wash it, and use softener in the wash which helps some, too. Finally, though, I gave up and put a sheet over the bottom cushions where the kitty likes to sleep. Funny...she doesn't like it as much with a sheet on it!

That's funny, my dogs sneak up on our fabric couch while we're not home but they don't when I put a sheet on it! I know they are on it because it gets covered in hair & the pillows are on the floor.

On the other hand, they don't bother the microfiber sofa and we have not had a problem w/dog hair on it. It's scotchguarded so I wonder if that makes any difference? I don't think our microfiber looks very nice now that it's 4 yrs old but it is dog hair free and they are around the sofa all the time.

 

[anotherdismom]

I heard on the radio (guest from good housekeeping or something like that) that pet hair sticks b/c of static electricity... so spray w/static guard, then vacuum, or use a damp cloth (or something like that). I also found somewhere a recipe for making your own static guard using downy & water in a spray bottle... I haven't tried these things (leather couch)... but might be worth a shot...

 

[MinnieForMe]

Have you thought about shaving the dogs?

They are already in a puppy cut. Here's the bigger of my two offenders.

 

[QuickRewardsBecky]

Awww!! What a cutie!!

We have white cats and they shed something terrible! We did the lint brush thing for a while (you're right, very time-consuming, and just a hassle in general) and then we got a free sample somewhere of these cool little gizmos made by Pledge called Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair. Tried it and loved it! They cost around 5 bucks but they're worth their weight in gold. We don't have a microfiber couch, but the directions say it works on those.

Love your furbaby pic -- adorable!

 

[torinsmom]

I must have had good luck, because I don't have a problem with pet hair on my microfiber couch. I have had it for years and have 4 cats. OTOH, the fabric in the car I bought last year is a lint/pet hair magnet. My cats don't even come in the car, but somehow the hair makes it in there Even the attachments on the vacuum don't get the stuff off. When I was getting a spot off the seat one day, I realized that the hair rolled right off the damp seat. So, now when the seats need cleaning, I take a damp cloth, wipe the seats and the roll the hair/lint off with my hand. It's quick and easy.

 

[LilBug76]

You don't need ANY new-fangled hair-removing inventions/sponges/brushes etc. All you need is a pair of regular old rubber (dish-washing) gloves. It'll take a little work (and some time) but wipe your hands all over (circular strokes work wonders on hard to get sections) and you'll have a pet-hair-free couch! Yay!