Finding that you need to clean pet hair? Sometimes your used jigsaw puzzle boxes have the pieces yet there is dog hair or cat hair too. It’s gross. Or when your cat crosses a jigsaw puzzle and leaves hair behind? Nobody wants a hairy puzzle and frankly, it’s awful. Don’t get me started when a used jigsaw puzzle has human hair on it (I’m gagging every time.) Whether you are looking to clean pet hair, clean dog hair or unknown hair from a used puzzle, it’s a nightmare.
Clean Pet Hair: Cat Hair, Dog Hair and Human Hair too
Only a few weeks ago, I opened up a thrift store puzzle or start working on a puzzle at home, and suddenly…hair. Long strands of it. Tiny fuzzies. Maybe even a full-on layer of fluff. Whether it’s from a previous owner or just dust settling into the box over time, it’s annoying -and honestly, I feel like I’m going to puke. Was it dog hair, cat hair, or human hair in the jigsaw puzzle box? I don’t know but my stomach flopped. It was an immediate issue to clean pet hair before playing the puzzle
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While it’s a yucky problem to have, it can be fixed. Just like puzzles, there’s a satisfying solution to every problem, and to clean pet hair from your puzzle pieces is totally possible. Let’s dive into some easy (and kind of funny) ways to de-fuzz your puzzles and keep your pieces clean!
The Shake, Tap, & Flip Method
First things first: Shake it out! If your puzzle pieces just came out of the box and look a little hairy, your best bet is to start with a good shake to clean pet hair.
Here’s How to Shake Out the Cat hair and Dog Hair:
- Hold the puzzle box over a trash can or outside.
- Give it a gentle shake. You’d be surprised how much loose fuzz and stray hairs will fall right out!
- Tap the bottom of the box. This helps dislodge anything hiding in the corners.
- If you’ve already started your puzzle, gently flip over each piece on your table and tap it against your palm.
- If you have a colander, drop the pieces inside it and shake.
This method is the best for thrift store puzzles since you never know what kind of mystery fibers might be lurking inside! I’ve seen some really hairy stuff in used puzzles, with some of the hair filled jigsaw puzzles coming from puzzle swap meets and those puzzle library boxes. I like speed puzzling and know without used jigsaw puzzles, I couldn’t practice as much, so I feel taking the time to clean pet hair is a fair trade when I find a fabulous puzzle.
Lint Roller Magic (A Friend in Puzzle Cleaning)
Okay, let’s get fancy. If your puzzle has pet hair, lint, or fuzzies stuck to the pieces, a lint roller is your new BFF. Let’s be honest, this works best if you clean pet hair, but for human hair, this shouldn’t be your first choice, especially for the longer, loose strands.
How to Use a Lint Roller on Puzzle Pieces
- Lay your pieces flat on the table.
- Gently roll the lint roller over them – don’t press too hard!
- Repeat as needed, changing the sticky sheet when it’s full of hair.
- Flip the pieces and roll the other side if needed.
This is SO satisfying because you can actually see the fuzz getting picked up instantly as you clean pet hair. Bonus? It also picks up dust and tiny crumbs that might have snuck into the box!
Soft Brush Technique (For When Hair Just Won’t Let Go)
Sometimes, pet hair weaves itself into cardboard puzzle pieces like it’s trying to become part of the puzzle itself. OMG! Yuck and say it again. If a lint roller isn’t doing the trick, grab a soft brush like:
- A clean makeup brush
- A soft toothbrush
- A dry paintbrush
How to Brush Off Hair from Puzzle Pieces
- Hold the puzzle piece gently but firmly.
- Use light, sweeping motions to brush off hair from the surface and edges.
- If it’s really stuck, try a tiny bit of static spray on the brush to help lift the fibers.
Pro Tip: This is also a great way to clean thrift store puzzles that might have extra dust and mystery debris!
My Personal Battle with Cat Hair and Jigsaw Puzzles
Alright, let me tell you about the time I was halfway through an epic 1000-piece puzzle when my cat, Mr. Whiskers, decided he wanted to “help.” I stepped away for five minutes. FIVE. And when I came back? There he was, curled up like the King of Puzzles himself, his fluffy tail brushing across my pieces like he was blessing them with fur.
At first, I thought, “Okay, not a big deal.” But as I started picking up pieces, I realized they were covered in white cat hair. Like, fully embedded. Stuck to the edges. EVERYWHERE.
So what did I do? I rolled up my sleeves, grabbed my lint roller, and got to work. A few rolls, some gentle brushing with a clean makeup brush, and… Puzzle saved. And guess what? Mr. Whiskers still thinks my puzzle board is his personal throne.
Moral of the story? If you have pets, always have a lint roller nearby. And maybe… don’t trust your cat around puzzle pieces.
Compressed Air for Super Stubborn Hair
Sometimes, hair gets stuck in the tiniest grooves of puzzle pieces, and that’s where compressed air comes in handy. You can buy a can at the local store OR you can get those nifty little machines that are just like the cans, but environmentally friendly. Once you spray a breeze on the pieces, the hair will be gone (not really, it will be on the floor now….)
How to Use Compressed Air on Puzzle Pieces
- Hold the can a few inches away from the puzzle piece.
- Give it a short burst of air to dislodge stuck hair.
- Use a soft brush afterward to sweep off any loosened fuzz.
This method works best for puzzles with a textured finish, where hair can get trapped in the tiny bumps of the cardboard. It also is great if you’re working on a puzzle and it’s partially connected. I don’t recommend you blasting the puzzle box to clean pet hair as it will blow everywhere.
Keep Your Puzzles Hair-Free (Future Prevention!)
Now that your puzzle is hair-free, here’s how to keep it that way in the future:
- Store puzzles in zip-top bags inside the box to keep dust and pet hair out.
- Use a puzzle board or cover it when you’re not working on it.
- Keep pets away from puzzle areas (if possible… but let’s be real, cats don’t follow rules).
- Wash your hands before puzzling – natural oils can make hair and lint stick more easily.
If you love thrift store puzzles, give them a quick clean before starting to avoid unexpected fuzz.
Every Jigsaw Puzzle Piece (and Box) Deserves to Be Hair-Free!
At the end of the day, hairy puzzle pieces are a pain, but they’re totally fixable. Whether your puzzle came from a thrift store or was blessed by your furry companion, these simple methods will help you keep it clean pet hair and bring the fun to complete the puzzle.
And if all else fails? Just embrace the fluffy part and pretend it’s part of the puzzle design. (Okay, maybe not, but hey it’s a thought!)
Happy puzzling, my friend. May your pieces always be hair-free and perfectly placed!
