How to get rid of dog hair and dog smell in a car
The rubber-glove trick for hair, a plant-based clean for the source, and ozone when the smell has soaked in.
120 minIntermediate5 steps
Dog hair weaves itself into carpet and seat fabric, and the smell lives in the hair, the dander and the oils that rub off onto every surface. Air fresheners cover it for a day. To fix it properly, get the hair out, clean the surfaces the dog touches, and — if the smell has worked into the fabric and the aircon — finish with an ozone treatment in an empty, closed car.
Ozone safety: unoccupied spaces only — no people, pets or plants. Run on a timer, keep the space closed to dwell, then air out fully before use. Ozone neutralises odours; it is not a medical treatment.
- 1
Loosen the hair first
Drag a damp rubber glove across seats and carpets in one direction. The hair balls up and comes away far more easily than with a vacuum alone. Then vacuum thoroughly, including under the seats.
- 2
Clean what the dog touches
Mist Pure Cabin onto a microfibre and wipe door cards, windows, the back of the front seats and the boot trim. Spot-clean fabric lightly and blot — do not soak it.
- 3
Wash the dog things
Seat covers, blankets and boot liners hold most of the smell. Wash and dry them fully before they go back in.
- 4
Ozone the empty car, if the smell persists
With everyone — including the dog — out of the car and away from it, close the windows and run the ozone generator on its timer for 30 minutes. Leave the car closed for 30 minutes after the cycle, then open all doors and air it for at least 30 minutes before anyone gets in.
Bay tip · Before starting, run the engine briefly with the aircon on recirculate so the ducts get treated too, then switch off. Never leave a running engine unattended.
- 5
Keep it fresh
A washable seat cover and a quick vacuum after each trip stop it building up again. A couple of mists of Fresh Air on the mats if you like scent.
Common mistakes
- Running ozone with any person or pet inside, ever
- Using ozone before removing the hair and source
- Masking smell with heavy fresheners
- Soaking fabric seats to “wash out” the smell
Ozone is harmful to breathe — for people and animals. Treat only an unoccupied car, on a timer, with the full dwell and air-out time, and keep pets well away until the car has been aired. Ozone treats odours; it is not a medical or hygiene treatment and makes no health claim.