Pet hair removal in Burlington.

Pet hair is not like dust. Individual hairs are barbed, so they hook into the loops of automotive carpet and the weave of cloth seats. Vibration from driving and the heat of the cabin work them in deeper over time. A stiff cabin vacuum will lift the loose layer and leave the rest.

This page is for anyone who drives with a dog in the back, a cat in a carrier, or a golden retriever that sheds into the cargo area. It is also for people who have taken a pet to the vet once and found their seats furry for months.

Our own walkthrough on getting dog hair out of your car shows what you can do yourself. This is what we do when that is not enough.

Short, wiry hair, such as a lab or a boxer, is the worst for weaving into carpet. Long, fluffy hair from a husky or a doodle clings to everything and floats into vents. Cat hair is finer, and it works its way into the seat weave and along the seat belt guides. Each type changes which tool we reach for first.

We do not have a separate pet product. Pet hair removal means Interior Restoration with the pet hair add-on, which adds dedicated time for the hair itself before the rest of the clean.

1. Pull floor mats and cargo liners out and shake or vacuum them separately.
2. Work a rubber brush or pumice-style lifting tool across the carpet and seats so the hair bunches up and releases.
3. Vacuum the loosened hair, then repeat on stubborn areas, especially the back seat and cargo area.
4. Clean seams, seat rails and under the seats where hair gathers.
5. Shampoo and extract carpet and cloth to remove dander, dirt and the smell that comes with it.
6. Steam and wipe vents, door pockets and trim, then clean glass.
7. Walk around the interior with you and pick up anything we missed.

Leather seats are easier. Hair sits on top rather than weaving in, and a wipe plus vacuum clears it.

The extraction step is more than cosmetic. Dander and oils from fur are what hold the smell of a pet in the cabin, so removing the hair without cleaning the carpet underneath leaves the smell behind. That is why the add-on sits on top of a full interior rather than replacing it.

Expect roughly 3 to 4.5 hours, a little longer than a standard interior. The add-on adds time, and the amount of hair, the carpet type and the number of pets all matter. A short-haired lab and a long-haired husky are very different jobs.

Cloth seats and looped carpet take more patience than rubber-backed or leather. If your vehicle is an SUV or minivan with a large cargo space, we allow extra time there. For more on durations, see our guide to how long car detailing takes.

If you can tell us roughly how many pets ride in the car and whether they have the run of the back seat or the cargo area, we can estimate the extra time more accurately. A single dog on a hammock-style seat cover is a lighter job than two shedding dogs with free range.

Interior details start from $119 $149, and the pet hair add-on is +$40 on top. That is the whole structure, with no hourly rate and no surprise line.

• Base: Interior Restoration, sedans and coupes.
• Pet hair add-on: +$40.
• Size: SUV +$30, truck +$40, van or minivan +$50, exotic +$60.
• Extra items: smoke or odour +$50, heavy stains +$50.

If you want the whole vehicle done, The Full Detail adds the exterior and sealant, and the pet hair add-on works the same way. Photos with your quote request let us see how bad the hair is before we arrive.

One example: a mid-size SUV with a shedding dog would be Interior Restoration, the SUV size add of +$30 and the pet hair add-on of +$40. If the back seat also has old stains, heavy stains is another +$50. We list each line before you book.

You will never get a car that stays hair-free with a shedding dog, but you can slow the build-up.

• Use a seat cover or hammock for the back seat and a liner for the cargo area.
• Brush the pet before the drive, not after.
• Keep a rubber squeegee or glove in the glovebox for quick passes.
• Vacuum weekly in spring and fall when most pets shed heavily.

If you have an SUV with a big dog, our SUV detailing page covers the size add.

Do not use a sticky lint roller as the main tool. It clears the top layer and leaves the embedded hair. A damp rubber glove or a squeegee pulled across carpet in one direction collects more, and a stiff brush before vacuuming loosens the rest. If you have long-haired pets, also check the air vents and the cabin air filter, which can trap dander.

Pets and detailing do not mix well in a shop. At your driveway in Burlington or Oakville your pet stays home, your seat covers and carriers are right there, and you can show us exactly where the hair is worst. We bring our own water, power and lighting, and we are fully insured.

Our local pages for pet hair removal in Burlington and pet hair removal in Oakville cover each city.