How to Get Dog Hair Out of Clothes: 10 Tips and Tricks

A lint roller is affordable and easy to use. Out of all the options tried, it was one of the easier ways to remove dog hair from clothing but it wasn’t the best. A lint roller is a purpose-built sticky roller that you can run up and down clothing (or anything). As you roll, debris like dog hair becomes stuck and pulled away from the clothing. There are a few caveats, for instance, you should only use it on dry clothing. Furthermore, if you have decorations on your garments, a lint roller can pull them away, so be careful. It is for this latter reason a lint roller comes bottom of my list. I like to keep my clothes pretty. 

This Scotch-Brite Pet Lint Roller from Amazon is under $20.

The use of a damp cloth was something passed along my circle of dog-walking friends. I didn’t believe it, but tried it. It’s not as effective as a lint roller and you’ll need to dab a lot. Yet it isn’t as ruthlessly sticky on my clothing. This tip needs a clean cloth, dampened with warm water. Then all you do is dab or gently rub across the clothing in a circular motion. This method lets you focus on areas where you can see dog hair. The dog hair will stick to the damp cloth. Be warned, this is a slow process – slower than a lint roller (but more delicate). 

When I was told fabric softener could remove dog hair from clothing, my instinct was to laugh and say “No it can’t!” – but it can (sometimes). If you have long dog hairs and fluffy clothing, skip this as the fabric softener tip will not work (well). Worse still, putting lovely fluffy clothing in the washer could ruin its softness. So, if your dog’s hair is short and your clothing is general fabrics, all you need to do is add a small amount of fabric softener to your wash cycle. The softener loosens the shorter dog hair and makes it easier to work over with a damp cloth or lint roller (less time repeating dabbing or rolling). This does cut down on the amount of time and effort needed with items 9 and 10 on this list – but still not the best solution. 

Check Out: 8 Laundry Hacks That Will Make Your Life So Much Easier

When trying the many different tips and tricks available, the rubber glove surprised us. Not only does it work, but it’s way better than the damp cloth. Being able to use your fingers for pinpoint accuracy helps. All you need to do is, put the glove on, wet the fingertips with water, and then rub areas where the dog hair is visible. Within a few rubs, most of the time the hair is lifting and you can pull away with your fingers. This method is easy but still time-consuming. 

These re-usable rubber gloves from Amazon are under $20 for a pack of six.

Not all clothes with tangled pet hair can go in the dryer. Yet, if you can use a dryer consider adding a dryer sheet. As if by magic, using one dryer sheet can loosen pet hair from clothing. The downside is that it doesn’t remove it. You still need to use a lint roller, damp cloth, or rubber glove. Yet, a dryer sheet does make it less time-consuming (and abrasive) to remove the pet hair.

We’ve tried adding more dryer sheets to no avail. We even tried washing with fabric softener and then drying with dryer sheets. We hoped it would remove the need to use a lint roller, cloth, or glove – it didn’t. 

Also Read: 8 Laundry Hacks That Will Make Your Life So Much Easier

You would think a pet hair remover would top this list but like the lint roller, it has caveats. The first issue is that they are unwieldy so you can’t get into the nooks and crannies of certain clothing. Even a travel-size pet hair remover had us returning to the rubber glove for more accuracy. The second issue is that you still need to do a lot of manual work or preparation to get deep-rooted dog hair out. For instance, before using the pet hair remover, we found drying with a dryer sheet helped.

Despite these caveats, a pet hair remover is way better than a lint roller in our experience. On fabrics where you can apply some pressure, like on curtains or sofas, we found them to be fantastic.

Here is a selection of pet hair removers for under $25 on Amazon.

The second best tool in our opinion is a vacuum. Yes, it is more abrasive than a lint roller, but the only solution we found for delicate clothes is the rubber glove. Nothing else gives accuracy and control. This leaves all other fabrics, and the vacuum with fabric attachment almost top of the pile.

The combination of a dryer sheet and vacuum with fabric attachment got the job done for us time and again. This was our go-to solution until we started using number one on this list. We also found the next two tips made a huge difference in the frequency of needing to remove pet hair. 

This dust buster from Black & Decker on Amazon would be perfect if you don’t already own one.

Washing your clothes inside out can also help prevent dog hair from getting stuck on your clothes. When clothes are turned inside out, the hair is more likely to fall off in the wash, rather than sticking to the fabric. This makes it easier to remove any remaining hair after the wash cycle.

Regularly brushing your dog can help reduce shedding, which can ultimately help reduce the amount of hair that ends up on your clothes. Brushing your dog removes loose hair and prevents it from ending up on your clothes or furniture. Use a brush that is appropriate for your dog’s coat type to get the best results.

If you have clothes that are covered in a lot of dog hair, you may want to consider using a fabric shaver. A fabric shaver is a tool that is designed to remove fuzz, lint, and pills from fabric. It can also be used to remove dog hair from clothes. Simply run the fabric shaver over your clothes in a circular motion, focusing on the areas where there is the most hair.

Here is a selection of fabric shavers from Amazon that are under $15.

The best solution for removing dog hair from clothes is a pet hair remover brush. Other solutions may be more effective in some scenarios, but in most cases, the brush wins. There are many reasons why a pet removal brush is best. From purpose-built bristles that get deep into fabrics, to its ease of use and competitive pricing. There is no downside to a pet hair removal brush and every dog owner should own one.

Every dog owner knows that it is impossible to stop pet hairs from getting onto clothes. Yet, there are many ways to reduce how often you spend brushing down fabrics to remove unwanted hair. Top strategies include having your dog groomed often and using throws on furniture wherever your dog lounges. This can help trap shedding pet hair from getting on more surfaces. Other tactics include using air purifiers to reduce airborne pet hair, and keeping clothes in cupboards when not worn.

Also Read: 10 Tips to Keep Your House Clean with Pets

A fabric shaver can remove dog hair from clothes. Yet you should do so with caution. Fabric shavers work best on surfaces with loose fibers and fuzz. When it comes to removing dog hair, a fabric shaver is best used in an inconspicuous area of the fabric first, to make sure it causes no damage. A fabric shaver is most effective when used on tightly woven fabric, and for optimal results, never press to hard while using.

A pet hair vacuum can suck up unwanted pet hairs from floors, furniture, clothes, and more. These gadgets often come packing special features that make dealing with pet hair much easier. From brush heads that grab hard-to-get hairs to filters that stop allergens, ideal for the more sensitive pet owners. Most vacuums come with targeted attachments that can help make cleaning couches and tight sports easier too. If you want to thoroughly clean your home of dog hair, a pet hair vacuum is the ideal solution.

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