The Cost of Pet Hair Removal When Detailing Cars

The Cost of Pet Hair Removal When Detailing Cars

Having a furry friend can be a blast, but all that hair left behind in your car can be a nightmare. Pet hair seems to get everywhere and can be difficult to remove completely. When it comes time to get your car detailed, pet hair removal can add to the total service cost. Understanding what's involved and the extra fees can help you budget for this add-on service.

How Pet Hair Sticks to Car Interiors

Pet hair in your vehicle is more than just an annoyance or eyesore. Those tiny hairs can embed themselves into upholstery and stick tightly to carpet and crevices. The barbed structure of pet fur causes it to cling and tangle into materials.

All that pet dander trapped in the car can also lead to musty odors that are hard to eliminate. For those reasons, pet hair removal requires meticulous cleaning and often specialized tools to remove it fully.

The Extra Cost of Removing Pet Hair

Many professional auto detailers categorized pet hair removal as an "add-on service" with an additional fee. Like other extra services offered, such as stain removal or leather conditioning, pet hair removal requires more time, labor, and products.

On average, expect to pay $50 to $150 extra for pet hair removal when detailing your vehicle. However, prices can vary widely based on these factors:

• The size of your vehicle
• If it's just a basic wash or full detailing service
• How much pet hair needs removal
• Your location and the detailer's rates

For example, removing hair from a small sedan will take less time than for an SUV or minivan. Likewise, a full interior shampooing and detailing will cost more than a simple $20 car wash.

Methods for Removing Pet Hair

Detailers have an arsenal of techniques and tools to remove stubborn pet hair from vehicles. Some popular methods include:

• Vacuuming - Thorough vacuuming with a strong suction handheld vac.
• Detailing brushes - Stiff short bristle brushes dislodge hair from fabric.
• Compressed air - Blasting air into crevices helps dislodge hair.
• Lint rollers - Handy for quick clean-up of upholstery.
• Microfiber towels - The tiny hooks in microfiber grab and trap fur.
• Steam cleaning - Steam loosens hair strands for removal by towel.

It often takes combining methods to fully remove pet hair and dander. The detailer may need to repeat vacuuming, brushing, wiping and steaming areas until no more hair comes up.

Tips for Reducing Pet Hair Clean-Up

While pet hair removal costs are often unavoidable, you can take some steps to reduce the time and effort involved:

• Use seat covers or pet hammocks in your back seat.
• Vacuum the interior frequently yourself.
• Brush or wipe down upholstery after trips with pets.
• Schedule detailing right after having the pet groomed.
• Avoid letting pets ride in the car when they are shedding heavily.

Keeping up with basic maintenance and cleaning between full details can minimize the pet hair build-up over time. It also helps to schedule detailing when your pet has lost their seasonal coat.

Factors That Increase Pet Hair Removal Cost

While pet owners can take steps to reduce hair in their cars, there are some factors that make pet hair removal more time consuming and costly for detailers:

• Multiple pets - More pets means more hair embedded everywhere.
• Long-haired breeds - Long flowing coats obviously shed more than short hair.
• Light vehicle colors - Dark hair on light seats and carpets is harder to spot and remove.
• Neglected interiors - Letting hair build up for long periods makes removal much harder.

Being aware of these aspects can help you budget realistically. Inform your detailer upfront about pets and prepare for higher fees to do the job right.

Is Pet Hair Removal Worth the Cost?

No one wants to pay extra fees, but pet hair removal is often worth the investment when detailing a car. Removing all that fur makes your vehicle look and smell cleaner. It also helps extend the life of your upholstery by preventing matting, odor and stains.

Detailers have the right techniques and tools to eliminate pet hair you simply can't on your own. Paying those pet hair removal costs means you can actually enjoy driving your car instead of being irritated by all that clinging fur!

By understanding the factors involved and average prices, you can plan your budget accordingly. And taking steps to reduce shedding between details helps control those pesky extra costs.

FAQs

How much does pet hair removal cost when detailing a car?

Expect to pay an extra $50 to $150 for pet hair removal when getting your car detailed. Prices vary based on vehicle size, amount of hair, and type of detailing service.

What methods do detailers use to remove pet hair?

Detailers use vacuuming, stiff detail brushes, compressed air, lint rollers, microfiber towels, steam cleaners, and more. Often a combination of methods is required to fully remove pet hair.

Does pet hair removal take a long time?

It can be time consuming depending on how much hair needs removal. The detailer may need to repeat the process several times to fully eliminate all traces of pet hair.

Should I tip extra for pet hair removal?

Tipping an extra 10-20% is appreciated since pet hair removal requires extra work. However, many detail shops add pet hair removal fees directly into the total bill.

How can I reduce pet hair cleanup time?

Tips like using seat covers, vacuuming often, brushing upholstery after trips, and scheduling details after pet grooming can reduce buildup between detailing.