How to Remove Pet Hair from Clothes and Sofas

1. Vacuum first, especially on sofas

Go over the sofa with the upholstery attachment before anything else. It picks up loose hair and dust so the other methods only have to deal with what is woven into the fabric. Move in one direction, then go over the same area again in the other direction.

2. A slightly damp rubber glove or squeegee

Put on a clean rubber dish glove, dampen it a little and stroke the fabric in one direction. The hair clumps together and you can lift it off in one go. A rubber squeegee or a window wiper does the same job on flat upholstery and car seats. It costs almost nothing, but it works best on smooth or low-pile fabric.

3. Ten minutes in the tumble dryer

For blankets, cushion covers and clothes, run them in the dryer for about ten minutes on a no-heat or air-only programme before you wash them. The hair collects in the lint filter. Empty the filter afterwards, and check the care label first: not every fabric can go in a dryer.

4. Lint rollers and washable adhesive rollers

A classic sticky roller is quick for clothes before you leave the house. Disposable sheets run out and create waste; a roller with a washable adhesive surface can be rinsed and reused, but it loses grip over time and has to be dry before you use it again.

5. Reusable hair-remover balls and brushes

These are balls or brushes with a fabric-grabbing surface: you roll or sweep them over the fabric, the hair collects, and you rinse or empty them. They suit clothes and flat upholstery. How well they work depends on the fabric, the length of the hair and how deeply it is embedded, so try one on a small hidden patch first.

6. Stop it at the source

Brush your pet regularly, ideally outside, so less hair ends up on the furniture. A washable throw over the favourite spot is easier to clean than the sofa itself. Shake clothes out before they go into the washing machine, because hair that goes into the drum ends up on everything else in it.

Which one should you pick?

For a quick fix on clothes, a roller is handy. For a sofa, start with the vacuum and the rubber glove. For regular use and less waste, a reusable remover or washable roller is worth considering, and a few minutes in the dryer takes care of bedding and blankets. Most households end up using two or three of these together.