Sep 29, 2026

How to Remove Dog Hair From Clothes Before Laundry

Good dog hair removal before laundry starts with the garment's care label. After that, run a lint roller over the hairy spots to lift loose fur before the item goes in the wash. If you don't have a roller, you can blot those spots with masking tape instead.

A person uses a lint roller on loose dog hair on a dog sweater before laundry, with a dog and cat nearby.

Neither tool is proven safe for every fabric, and neither will pull off every last hair. If the item is delicate or the label leaves you unsure, stop and get care advice for that specific garment before you use either tool.

Check the Label, Then Lift Hair Before Laundry

Read the care label first, then lift loose hair with a lint roller or masking tape. The order matters because the label tells you how the garment should be handled before you touch it with any tool.

Check the care label. The FTC explains that clothing labels give care-label instructions and warnings for regular care. They also warn about procedures that would harm the garment. If the symbols are hard to read, the Maytag laundry symbols chart explains common washing, drying, and dry-cleaning icons.
Roll a lint roller over the hair-covered areas. Maytag suggests using a lint roller for pet hair on clothing, especially hand-knitted items. Focus on the spots where fur has collected, such as sleeves, laps, and the front of a shirt.
No roller handy? Blot with masking tape. Maytag's suggested alternative is to blot the hair-covered spots with masking tape to capture the hair. Treat it as a backup, not a tested equal to the roller.

A person blots dog hair from a dog garment with masking tape, with a cat and dog nearby.

Consumer Reports gives similar advice. It recommends a lint roller or masking tape as its preferred way to remove pet hair from clothes. It also says it's important to reduce pet hair on clothing before the laundry goes into the washer. This is general household advice, not fabric-by-fabric testing, so the label check in step 1 still comes first.

Keep your goal realistic. The point of pre-wash pet hair removal is to send the item into the wash with less loose fur. It won't give you a garment that's completely hair-free. Some fur may stay behind, and that's normal for a quick pre-wash pass.

Here's an illustrative example. You're sorting a laundry basket and find a cotton hoodie covered in fur where your dog naps on your lap. You check the tag and see ordinary machine-wash care with nothing unusual. You roll the front and sleeves, and fur builds up on the roller sheet. The hoodie then goes into the basket with less loose hair on it. If the tag had shown special-care symbols instead, you'd move to the next section before using any tool.

The same order works for your dog's own wardrobe. Our dog clothes fabric care chart lists wash settings for cotton, fleece, knit, and blends. It also shows when the label overrides the chart, so you can plan the wash after the hair is off.

When to Seek Garment-Specific Care Guidance

Stop and get advice for that specific item when it's delicate, marked for special care, or built in a way that makes you unsure how a roller or tape will treat it. In those cases, don't assume either tool is fine just because it's common.

This matters because of what the label actually covers. The FTC describes the label's role in regular-care guidance as explaining how to clean the garment and warning about harmful procedures. A label is not a review of hair-removal tools. So a "hand wash only" or "dry clean only" tag neither approves nor bans a lint roller or tape. It simply tells you the item needs more careful handling than everyday laundry.

Pause before dog hair removal if any of these apply: the label calls for special care, the label is missing or unreadable, or the garment has trim, embellishments, or a surface finish you don't want to disturb. Your next step is to find care information for that exact item. Look at the maker's hang tag or website, or ask the retailer or a professional cleaner how to lift pet hair from it.

If the tag on a pet garment points to dry cleaning, it's worth reading why dry cleaners refuse pet clothing before you drop it off. If you bought the item from us and aren't sure how to handle it, contact our support team and we'll help you sort out the care question.

FAQs

Is masking tape as good as a lint roller for pet hair?

No one has shown that. Maytag offers masking tape as a fallback for when you don't have a lint roller handy, but it doesn't compare the two. Consumer Reports lists both as options for clothes and doesn't rank one above the other. If you have a roller, start there. Save tape for when you don't.

Why remove dog hair before washing instead of just washing it?

Consumer Reports says it's important to cut down pet hair on clothing before laundry goes into the washer. A quick pre-wash pass means less loose fur goes into the load with the garment. It won't remove everything, but it gives the wash less hair to deal with.

Can I use these steps on my dog's clothes?

Yes, with the same label-first order. The advice from Maytag and Consumer Reports covers clothing in general, not pet apparel in particular. Dog sweaters and coats usually carry care labels too, so read the tag before you reach for a roller. For fleece coats, our fleece dog clothes washing guide covers the wash step that comes after the hair is off.

Does Maytag recommend a lint roller for knits?

Maytag says a lint roller can be effective for removing pet hair from clothing, especially hand-knitted items. That's the brand's own tip, not the result of a lab test. For a knit with special-care instructions, follow the label and garment-specific advice first.

About the author

Elowen Sage

Lead Pet Wardrobe StylistSmall Breed Lifestyle ExpertCozy Care Advocate

Elowen Sage brings a rare eye for texture and detail to fitwarm. As a Pet Wardrobe Stylist, she looks beyond the mainstream, curating pieces that blend gentle care with quiet luxury for small breeds. Elowen treats every garment as a hug for your pet, ensuring that style never comes at the cost of comfort.