If you've struggled to get pet hair out of your car, only to find even more hidden away in nooks and crannies, then you're not alone.
But after spending a decade as a car detailer for the royal family, Martin Cooper had the highest standards to maintain for Queen Elizabeth II's vehicles. Renowned for her love of the Pembroke Welsh corgi, it's estimated that the monarch owned 30 in total – and such a brood inevitably left a lot of dog hair behind.
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In an exclusive interview with Plates Express, Cooper revealed the surprisingly simple trick that was used inside palace vehicles – from stately Bentleys to well-used Land Rovers – to tackle pesky dog hair embedded in car seats.
“The corgis travelled everywhere,” Martin explains. “From Windsor to Balmoral, they’d be in the back of the cars – and they’d always leave fur behind.”
Rather than any specialised equipment, Martin and his team found a simple solution worked best: a damp rubber glove.
“We’d slip on a rubber glove, lightly moisten it, and run it across the seats. The static created by the glove would lift the hair right out of the fabric, even when the vacuum couldn’t. It saved us time – and worked every single time.”
5 common dog hair removal mistakes to avoid
Many people make mistakes when trying to clean pet hair from their cars and make it worse. Plates Express explain the most common.
Don’t rely on vacuuming
Most pet hair clings to fabric fibres and stays embedded even after several passes with a hoover. A vacuum can help, but on its own, it’s rarely enough.
Avoid fabric softeners or chemical sprays
These can make upholstery greasy or sticky and may even damage your seats long-term. Stick to water or mild solutions if needed.
Don’t scrub with hard brushes
This can wear down your car’s interior fabric and even push hair deeper into the fibres rather than removing it.
Don’t use sticky rollers on suede or alcantara
These materials are delicate, and adhesive rollers can cause permanent damage or discolouration.
Avoid neglecting the seatbelt buckles and seams
Dog hair often builds up in hard-to-see areas. Focusing only on flat surfaces means you’ll miss hidden debris that makes your car look (and smell) unclean.
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