I do interiors with a Shop Vac and a stiff bristled brush.

Use the brush to dislodge the debris that have worked down into the fibers of the carpet and have the suction immediately near the brush head.

 

ya thats what i do use a shop vac and a pet brush to get the hair and the little stuff thats works it way in to the carpet also it is a ridge from HD but a bigger one

 

For removing pet hair, I get myself a roll of duct tape. Wrap it inside out around your hand and go to town on the seats (cloth) and carpet. When it's full throw it away and start over. I can get all the dog hair from my truck in about 10 minutes. Note: I vacuum first so that I don't have gravel/dust/leaves etc getting stuck to the tape and wearing it out faster.

I did my wife's car this way, and she couldn't believe how clean it was.

 

Yech... the old owners of my truck had what I'm assuming was a white dog. I'm still cleaning up hair.

 

I keep a small (maybe 2 gal.) Shop Vac in my work van and it works every bit as well as my full size shop vac at home. Now assuming you want something like this and not a dirt devil or something with a rotating brush, I'd look into getting one of the little Shop Vac hang vacs like I have. Keep that filter clean and it works great. Only thing I don't like about it is that the canister on the one I have is too small to accept the pleated paper HEPA filters like I use at home. I think the new ones ar a little bigger though so maybe they'd fit. It makes a good guy for the $30 you'll spend on one though.

I like the idea of the rotating brush attachment. MIght have to steal the one of, ahem, "my wife's" vacuum in the house.--DIY

 

Another resource for pet hair -- Playtex Gloves. These are those goofy looking latex-based gloves that some women use while washing dishes...

Don the gloves... wipe against the texture of the fabric. Ta-Da!

Another nifty trick... a wet hand with the same wiping action.

RP