Traveling With Pets: How to Keep Fur Out of Your Car, Hotel Room, and Suitcase

Before every road trip, I run through the same mental checklist: leashes, water bowl, treats, the dog bed, the good blanket. And every trip, I forget to plan for the one thing that follows us the entire way.

The fur.

It rides along in the back seat, settles into the luggage, and shows up in a hotel room we swore we left spotless. After a few trips with two huskies, a German Shepherd, and the occasional cat carrier, I stopped trying to prevent it and started planning around it.

Before you leave: the 10-minute prep

A little work at home saves a lot of cleanup on the road.

• Brush your pet the day before. Loose hair that comes off at home is hair that doesn't end up in the car.
• Cover the seats. A washable blanket or seat cover over the back seat is easier to shake out or toss in the wash than upholstery is to clean.
• Pack a small cleanup kit. A compact lint brush, a roll of trash bags, and a couple of towels take almost no space.
• Pack your pet's own bedding. A familiar blanket keeps your pet comfortable, and it keeps hair on something you can wash, instead of the hotel's bedspread.

On the road

Long drives are where hair builds up. Warm car interiors and soft seats tend to hold onto it.

• Give your pet a designated spot with a blanket, crate, or harness setup that's safe for the car.
• At rest stops, take a minute to run a brush over the seats and your own clothes before you get back in. It's much easier to handle small amounts than one big pile at the end of the day.

At the hotel or rental

Many pet-friendly stays will ask you to leave the room in good shape, and some charge cleaning fees if you don't. (Policies vary, so check the pet rules before you book.)

• Put your own blanket over the bed or couch before your pet settles in.
• Do a quick pass on furniture and bedding before checkout, not in a rush at the door.
• Don't forget your own clothes and bag. Pet hair travels well.

Coming home

The trip isn't over until the suitcase is empty. Fur clings to fabric, so a fast brush-over of the luggage, jackets, and car seats before you unpack keeps it from spreading through your house.

Why we made the travel brush

This is the reason our Sky Blue kit includes a compact travel-size brush alongside the full-size brush and self-cleaning base. It's small enough for the car, a purse, or a suitcase, so you can do quick touch-ups anywhere.

Use it the same way as the full-size brush: glide it in the direction of the gold arrow on the handle (going against the arrow won't pick up hair). It's reusable, so there are no sticky sheets to run out of halfway through your trip.

The short version

Traveling with pets takes some planning, but the hair doesn't have to be the hard part. Brush before you go, cover the seats and beds, keep a small brush within reach, and do a quick clean-up before you leave and when you get home.

Planning a road trip? See our complete guide to removing pet hair from car seats for a deeper clean.

Shop the Sky Blue Kit with Travel Brush