How to Clean a FURminator deShedding Tool

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Confirm the FURminator tool type

Identify whether you have the undercoat deShedding tool, grooming rake, slicker brush or another FURminator product. This guide focuses on the metal deShedding edge and its FURejector hair-release mechanism. Read the packaging or current product page for model-specific material. Do not apply an edge-soaking method to a brush with a cushioned pad or wooden component.

Step 2: Remove loose hair while the tool is dry

Press the FURejector button to release the main hair bundle. Pull remaining strands from the edge with fingers or a comb, working in the same direction as the teeth. Use a dry toothbrush around the outer corners and under the hair-release bar. Removing dry hair first prevents soap from turning dander and coat oil into a film.

Step 3: Inspect the edge before washing

Hold the tool under bright light and look for bent or missing teeth, rust, a cracked handle or a release bar that does not return. Do not run a finger along the pointed working edge. A damaged precision edge can scratch skin or pull coat and should be replaced rather than straightened with pliers or sharpened at home.

Step 4: Prepare mild warm soapy water

Use warm, not boiling, water with a small amount of mild soap. Avoid bleach, strong disinfectant, solvent, degreaser and abrasive powder. A concentrated cleaner is unnecessary for ordinary skin oil and product film and may attack a grip, coating or spring. Keep the solution shallow so only the washable head contacts it when possible.

Step 5: Clean the deShedding edge gently

FURminator permits cleaning the edge with warm water and mild soap as needed. Dip or wet the metal edge and brush parallel to the teeth, not across them with heavy force. Work around both faces and the corners where hair accumulates. Do not leave the whole tool soaking or repeatedly operate the button under water unless the exact model instructions allow it.

Step 6: Detail the FURejector mechanism

With the tool out of the solution, press and release the button while using a damp soft brush to lift visible residue from the release bar. Keep soap and water from pooling inside the handle. Use a damp cotton swab on an accessible groove, never a pin or knife that could scratch the finish or damage the spring.

Step 7: Rinse away all soap

Rinse the edge with clean warm water while holding the handle above the stream. Soap left between fine teeth can dry into a sticky film and attract more coat debris. Turn the head to check both sides and continue until water shows no foam. Do not use a pressure sprayer that can force water into the handle.

Step 8: Dry the edge immediately and completely

Blot with a lint-free cloth rather than rubbing across the teeth. Press the hair-release button so trapped droplets can escape, then stand the tool with the head downward in moving room air. FURminator says the edge must be dried completely before storage. Do not use direct high heat, which can affect plastic and grips.

Step 9: Test the mechanism without using it on the pet

When dry, press the FURejector several times. The bar should travel evenly and return without sticking. Look again for residue and check that the edge is secure in the handle. Do not apply household lubricant, oil or silicone to the edge; residue can transfer to coat and change how the tool moves through hair.

Step 10: Store the clean tool protected

Keep the FURminator dry with its edge protected from impact and humidity. Do not toss it loose in a grooming tote where metal tools can bend the teeth. Before the next session, inspect the pet's coat for tangles and make sure it is dry as FURminator directs for deShedding use. Clean the tool again whenever visible film or packed hair interferes with release.