How to Remove Dog Hair from Your Dog Bed Cover: 6-Step Method

Quick answer

Remove dog hair from a dog bed cover by vacuuming it dry first, then working a rubber brush or damp glove across the fabric in one direction, and finishing with a lint roller on the edges and seams. Wash the cover only after the loose hair is gone, because water glues shed hair into the weave and makes it harder to lift.

Dog hair does not sit on a bed cover so much as weave itself into it. That is why a quick shake rarely works, and why the hair seems to reappear the moment your dog lies down again. The fix is a short routine done in the right order: dry removal first, washing second.

This guide walks through six steps for getting hair off a cover without stretching, pilling, or fading the fabric, and explains which cover types collect hair fastest so you can plan around your dog's shedding.

Why hair clings to some covers more than others

Tight, smooth weaves release hair easily because the fibres give the hair little to grip. Looser, loftier textures such as bouclé trap loose hair between the yarn loops, so it takes more passes to lift. That is a tradeoff, not a fault: textured covers often feel softer and hide everyday dirt better, but they ask for more frequent brushing.

If shedding is your main frustration, choose a cover with a dense, low-pile surface and keep a spare on hand so one can be washed while the other is in use. Dazy Dog's Bouclé Crate Mat Cover in Forest Green is a textured option available in S, M, L, and XL, while the Cover - Bouclé Speckle Blue is a removable, zip-off replacement cover that is fully machine washable, which makes the wash-day swap simple.

• Smooth, tight weaves: fastest hair release, least brushing.
• Looped or textured weaves: more grip on hair, more passes needed.
• Keep two covers in rotation so you are never waiting on a wash.

The tools that actually work

You do not need a specialty kit. A vacuum with a brush attachment, a rubber grooming brush or damp rubber glove, and a lint roller cover almost every situation. A squeegee works on short, flat fabrics when a brush is not at hand.

Skip wire slicker brushes on bed covers. They are designed for dog coats, and on woven upholstery fabric they can snag yarn and pull loops. If the cover has a zip, keep the zip closed during cleaning so hair does not collect in the teeth.

• Vacuum plus brush attachment for the bulk of the hair.
• Rubber brush or damp rubber glove for embedded hair.
• Lint roller for seams, corners, and the last pass.

How often to do this

For a heavy shedder, a two-minute dry pass every two to three days keeps hair from building up in the weave. For light shedders, once a week is usually enough. The key signal is feel, not the calendar: if the surface feels gritty or stiff rather than soft, hair and dander have packed into it.

Deep-clean the cover every two to four weeks, or sooner if your dog is a muddy-paw type. Always complete the dry removal steps before the cover goes anywhere near a washing machine.

• Heavy shedding: dry pass every 2-3 days.
• Light shedding: weekly dry pass, monthly deep clean.
• Wash sooner if the cover smells or feels stiff.

Six-step hair removal routine

1. Step 1: Take the cover off the bed: Unzip or lift the cover off the mattress and lay it flat on a hard floor or take it outside. Working on the bed itself just pushes hair into the mattress underneath. Checkpoint: if hair is falling onto the bed base, you are working in the wrong spot.
2. Step 2: Vacuum dry, with the grain: Use a brush attachment on low suction and move in one direction rather than scrubbing back and forth. Overlap your passes and go slowly over seams and corners where hair collects. Common mistake: high suction on a loose weave can stretch the fabric. Drop to the lowest setting that still lifts hair.
3. Step 3: Work a rubber brush or damp glove across the surface: Short strokes in one direction pull embedded hair to the surface, where it clumps and is easy to pick off. Rinse the glove or clear the brush whenever it stops gripping. Checkpoint: if the tool is sliding without collecting hair, it is clogged, not ineffective.
4. Step 4: Finish the seams and edges with a lint roller: Roll along zips, piping, and corners, where brushes cannot reach. Tear off the sheet as soon as it stops picking up hair so you are not redistributing it. Common mistake: reusing a loaded roller sheet just smears hair back onto the cover.
5. Step 5: Shake out and inspect before washing: Take the cover outside and shake it firmly, then hold it up to the light. If you can still see a visible layer of hair, repeat step 3 before it goes in the machine. Checkpoint: washing with loose hair still on the cover sets it deeper into the weave.
6. Step 6: Wash, dry fully, and refit: Follow the care label, use a gentle cycle, and dry the cover completely before putting it back on the bed. A damp cover will pick up new hair within minutes. Common mistake: refitting a slightly damp cover, which traps odour and re-attracts hair.

Covers that make hair removal easier

• Cover - Bouclé Speckle Blue: A removable, zip-off replacement cover that fits your Dazy Dog bed, is warm and hard-wearing, and is fully machine washable. Because it zips off, you can strip it, wash it, and refit it without moving the bed base, so hair never gets a chance to settle deep into the cushion.
• Bouclé Crate Mat Cover - Forest Green: A textured bouclé crate mat cover available in sizes S, M, L, and XL. The textured surface grips loose hair more than a smooth weave, so plan on a quick rubber-brush pass every few days rather than a weekly one.
• Quick Cover - Puffer Nutmeg: A Quick Cover in one of the most-loved Puffer colours that slips on in seconds for a fresh look. A fast-change cover means you can swap to a clean one immediately after washing day and keep the bed in use.

Hair removal is a two-minute habit, not a deep-clean project. Vacuum dry, lift the embedded hair with a rubber tool, roll the seams, then wash. Do that consistently and even a heavy shedder's bed stays comfortable between washes.