How to Remove Dog Hair From Clothes (and Keep It Off)

You put on a clean black jumper, catch sight of yourself in the hallway mirror, and there it is: a fine layer of dog hair down the front. The dog hasn't been anywhere near it. It came out of the wash like that.

Pet hair on clothes is one of the most common complaints in homes with dogs and cats, and it isn't a sign that you're doing anything wrong. It's just that fur behaves differently from ordinary dirt, so it needs a slightly different routine.

Why does pet hair cling to clothes?

• Static. Fabrics rubbing together build up a static charge, and fine pet hair is drawn to it. Synthetics, fleece and polyester blends are the worst for it.
• Texture. Knits, wool and fleece have a loose, fluffy surface that hair wraps itself around.
• The washing machine. Hair rinsed off a dog blanket doesn't always go down the drain. Some of it waits in the drum, the door seal and the filter, then lands on the next load. That's why clothes your pet never touched still come out hairy.

How do you get dog hair off clothes before washing?

The less hair that goes into the machine, the less ends up on everything else.

• A 10-minute tumble with no heat. Put the hairy items in the tumble dryer on a cool cycle for about ten minutes. It loosens the hair and the lint trap catches it. Candy, the appliance maker, recommends exactly this, then checking and repeating if needed.
• A lint brush or roller over the worst areas. Sticky rollers work, but they fill up fast and you go through a lot of sheets. A reusable lint brush does the same job without refills.
• A slightly damp rubber glove or a clean kitchen sponge, stroked in one direction, rolls hair into clumps you can pick off. Free, and surprisingly effective on jumpers.
• Shake pet bedding outside before it goes anywhere near the machine.

How do you remove dog hair in the wash?

• Wash pet bedding and throws on their own, not with your clothes.
• Don't overload the drum: clothes need room to move for the water to carry hair away.
• Add an extra rinse if your machine has one.
• About 120 ml of white vinegar in the softener drawer can help release hair from fabric, according to Candy's laundry advice. Check your machine's manual first.

How do you stop pet hair staying in the washing machine?

If hair keeps reappearing, the machine is usually the culprit. Run an empty hot wash once a month, wipe the folds of the door seal, and clear the filter. Our guide to getting pet hair out of a washing machine walks through it step by step, and why your washing still smells of dog covers the monthly reset.

Which tool works on which fabric?

How do you keep dog hair off your clothes?

• Brush your pet regularly, ideally outside. Every hair on the brush is one that won't end up on your clothes. Our weekly deshedding routine shows how.
• Keep coats in a cupboard, not on the chair your cat likes.
• Keep a lint brush by the door, so a quick sweep becomes a habit rather than an emergency.
• Sweep the sofa and the bed once a week, so hair doesn't transfer from there to you. See why your sofa still looks grey after you hoover.

Which Meoggy tool helps?

We made the Fur Wiper for exactly this: a reusable lint brush for clothes, sofas and beds that cleans itself straight into the bin, with no sticky refills. For the pet itself, the Cuddle Glove catches loose hair before it reaches your wardrobe. Both come with 30 days to try them at home: if they don't work for you, we refund you in full, and you don't need to send anything back.

Sources: Candy, How to remove pet hair from your laundry · Laundryheap, How to rid your clothing of pet hair · Which?, How to clean a smelly washing machine. Always check the care label first.