A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Remove Dog Hair from Clothes

Removing dog hair from clothing can be a trying task, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. While there may not be a magical solution to getting rid of all the pet hair in your home, there are different things you can do to get rid of fur from your clothing. From a pet hair remover brush to your old kitchen gloves, read on to learn the best tips in our step-by-step guide to removing dog hair from your clothes.

Best Methods for Removing Dog Hair

Many of the methods that you can use to remove dog hair will seem simple — oddly too simple — but sometimes it’s the easiest tool that gets the job done. After all, while you can use a chainsaw to cut a sandwich, do you really need to use that when you can just use a kitchen knife? There are plenty of affordable options to remove pet fur from clothing, including pet hair-specific dryer sheets and the versatile Uproot Cleaner Pro™ lint and pet hair remover. 

• Use a Rubber Glove — Do you use rubber gloves when you wash your dishes? You can use those same rubber gloves to remove pet hair from not only clothing but furniture, curtains and more. Just put on the rubber glove and run it over your clothing. The dog hair will end up in wads on the glove so you can throw out that clump of fur when you’re done. The best way to rub off the pet hair is to only rub in one direction. Don’t rub back and forth. It will look and feel like magic, but the secret is friction between the glove and your clothing with static cling. Here’s a tip: It may be easier to remove stickier or embedded fur from clothing with a slightly damp glove.
• Use the Dryer — When your clothes are dirty, your first instinct may be to put your clothes in the washing machine, as most people do. However, if you have pet hair on your clothing, you’ll want to put it in the dryer first. First, use the Uproot Cleaner Pro™ tool to remove as much hair and fur from your clothing. Then, set the dryer on low heat or no heat with one or two dryer sheets for a short tumble cycle. The dryer sheets reduce static which helps remove hair from your clothing which then goes into your dryer’s lint trap. After this cycle, wash and dry your clothing as you normally would.
• Use a Pet Hair Remover Tool — One of the best tools to remove pet hair is, you guessed it, a pet hair remover tool. Use a multi-purpose tool that’s expertly designed to work perfectly on not only clothing but a variety of non-knitted fabrics like bedding, cars, carpets and more. According to the California Public Interest Research Group, about 85 percent of textiles are thrown away in the U.S., including clothing. Don’t let your clothing become a percentage just because it has lint or dog hair on it.

• Pet Hair Dryer Sheets — Just like we recommended with the dryer tip earlier, try using pet hair-specific dryer sheets. These sheets are a great tool for removing excess hair from your clothing, thanks to their antistatic properties. Instead of the hair getting stuck to your favorite pair of jeans, it’ll end up in your lint trap instead. Remember to clean your lint trap after using the dryer sheets because lint and dog fur is sure to build up after every cycle. Bonus tip: You can even use the dryer sheets to help rub off excess hair before you put your clothes in the dryer. Just wipe your dry clothes with a fresh dryer sheet before you throw them in the dryer. Many dryer sheets also have pleasant scents to help mask the odor of your furry friend.
• Scotch™ Tape — When we say using tape, don’t use masking tape like painter’s tape or heavy-duty duct tape. Use any basic Scotch™ tape that you have around the house. Wrap it around your hand with the sticky side facing out to brush down the surface of your clothing. Any pet hair will stick to the tape. It’s a sticky solution, but it works. 
• Wool Dryer Balls — If you’re looking for a reusable and eco-friendly solution for your canine hair woes, use wool dryer balls. These balls will prevent wrinkles and loosen pet hair from your clothing. The wool dryer ball is truly multipurpose. It’ll soften your clothing, thereby loosening pet hair from the fabric. It’ll also help promote circulation in your dryer so it won’t take as long to dry your clothes as it normally would. After all, heat is the enemy of clothing, so air dry your clothing whenever you can. The wool dryer balls are essentially an eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets. If you have anyone in your home with sensitive skin, wool dryer balls may be the way to go. To reduce the noise that the balls will make when they’re swishing around in the dryer, layer the wool balls into your wet laundry rather than just throwing them in before or after loading all of the clothes. Plus, the balls will help your clothing dry more effectively this way.
• Dish Sponge — Use a clean and dry sponge to rub over any dog fur on your clothing. Rub it in one direction to help remove the hair. Use the abrasive side of the sponge instead of the softer side since the abrasive side is better at removing pesky hairs. If the dry sponge still isn’t working, try a slightly damp sponge to better hold the hair.

Steps for Removing and Preventing Dog Hair

Unless you have a “furless” mammal running around at home, there’s not much you can do to completely get rid of pet hair. All you can do is your best to keep your home and your clothing clean. You need the right tools of the trade to start removing pet hair from your clothing. With your wide array of handy gadgets like our best pet hair remover, you will have what you need to get started. There’s a method to it. Let’s get started.

Get Our Best Pet Hair Remover

• Remove as Much Hair as Possible — Before you stick your clothing into any washer or dryer, the first thing you need to do is remove as much fur as possible from your clothes. Use a device like the Uproot Cleaner Pro™ tool to get rid of excess pet hair. This tool will get rid of the bulk — if not all — of the dog hair from your clothing. Other methods you can use include fabric brushes, rubber gloves and sticky tape. Be sure that if you’re using the sticky tape that you use a simple Scotch™ tape instead of duct tape or anything heavy-duty that will leave an obvious residue behind.
• Run Clothes Through the Dryer First — After removing the pet hair from your clothing with the pet hair removal tool of your choice, run your clothing through the dryer. This step will loosen and soften the fabric. The cycle should only be about 10 minutes on a low-heat or air-dry cycle. Throw in wool balls or a dryer sheet to help remove excess fur and lint.
• Rinse Clothing with Vinegar — The next step is to actually wash your clothes. All you need is household vinegar, such as white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer and one of the best ingredients for cleaning nearly anything in your home. The vinegar will soften the fabric of your clothing even more. Just add about ½ cup of vinegar to your load. While the smell may be a bit pungent at first, the smell of the vinegar will evaporate while the clothes go in the dryer again. Feel free to use a smaller amount — like ¼ of a cup instead — if the smell is still too much for your liking.
• Vacuum and Mop Regularly — This one is a preventative measure because a lot of the pet hair you find on your clothing at home comes from leftover fur from your furniture, like your living room couch. If you have a dog or multiple dogs that shed regularly, you’ll want to vacuum your carpets or mop your hardwood floors regularly. Use a small handheld vacuum or a pet hair remover tool on your upholstered furniture. This will help reduce the amount of fur around your home and the amount of fur that ends up on your clothing, too. Besides reducing pet hair, regular cleaning will help keep your home nice and clean.
• Brush Your Dog Frequently — Another preventative measure you can take is to brush your dog’s hair frequently. While dogs will continue to shed their hair to maintain a healthy upper coat, you can still take action to prevent excessive shedding. Simply brush your dog regularly. Keep that in mind, especially if you have a heavy-shedding breed of dogs such as a Labrador Retriever or a German Shepherd.
• Stay Away From Fabrics That Attract Pet Hair — Certain types of fabric, whether furniture, blankets or clothing, will attract more pet hair than others. Loose knits, velour, corduroy and velvet all tend to attract more dog hair. Natural fibers such as wool and cotton also attract more fur than synthetic fibers like nylon and spandex. If you want more pet hair-friendly fabrics, wear shiny materials like satin or leather. If you do enjoy more breathable fibers but still don’t want to attract pet hair, try linen and tightly woven 100 percent cotton.

Household Tips and Tricks

You have the tools to remove fur and lint. You have the steps for removing dog hair from your clothing. Now it’s time for the bonus household tips and tricks to keep your clothing and your home as free as possible from pet hair.

• Use a Steamer — If you have delicate clothing in your wardrobe like silk shirts or chiffon pants, use a steamer to help loosen dog hair. The dampness from the steamer will also help soften the fabric to make it easier to remove any pet hair. After steaming, you can remove any leftover pet hair with a pet hair remover tool to get into any nooks and crannies of the clothing.
• Make an Anti-Static Spray — This trick works on both furniture and clothing. Make your own anti-static spray by getting an empty spray bottle and mixing it with water and fabric conditioner. Spray your clothing or furniture with a spritz of this anti-static spray mix and wipe off any excess dog fur.
• Keep Your Washer and Dryer Clean — Keeping your laundry machines clean is important for a number of reasons. It helps the machines last longer just by cleaning them once a month so that they run more efficiently. Even without pets, your laundry machines will build up with germs, soap and other dirt and grime. It gets even dirtier with pet hair. Continue to clean your lint tray after every single dryer cycle. It’ll help reduce the chance of fire and stop both lint and fur buildup on your clothing.
• Use Furniture and Clothing That Matches Your Pet’s Fur — Pet hair is inevitable. If you’re a proud pet parent and are looking for a new vibe for your home, or your current furniture and clothing could use an upgrade, consider getting furniture and clothing that matches the same color as your pet’s fur. Cater your home’s furnishings and your wardrobe to your dog’s fur color. If you plan on playing with your dog or going for long walks with your dog, wear clothing that’s easy to remove dog hair from, such as chiffon, silk and satin. These light fabrics tend to actually repel dog hair.

From pet hair to human hair, all you need is a handy pet hair remover brush from Uproot Clean. Our lint cleaner and pet hair removal tools are easy to carry and even easier to use to remove hair and lint from clothing, carpets, furniture and more. A portable pet hair remover can help you with easy cleaning when you need to remove dog hair in a pinch.

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