Short answer
Sweep the garment flat with an electrostatic tool before washing, wash it inside out, and dry with dryer balls or a 10-minute no-heat tumble first. Washing hairy clothes without pre-removing the hair just moves it onto everything else in the drum.
Step by step
- Lay the garment flat. Hair lifts far better off a flat surface than off a hanger.
- Sweep one way with the short-pile side of a static glove. Two passes, light pressure.
- Turn inside out for the wash; cuffs and collars hold the most.
- Dryer first, then wash when a garment is heavily covered: 10 minutes on no-heat with dryer balls knocks loose hair into the lint filter.
- Clean the lint filter every cycle, otherwise the hair rides back onto the next load.
What doesn't work
- More detergent — hair isn't a stain.
- Washing a fur-covered fleece with your black clothes.
- Rubbing with a dry hand — it charges the fabric and makes the hair cling harder.
Fabric notes
Fleece and knitwear hold fine cat hair the most; smooth cotton and technical fabrics release it easily. Wool coats are best done with a coarse brush in short strokes, following the nap.
FAQ
Do dryer sheets help?
They reduce static, so less hair re-attaches during drying. They won't remove what's already embedded.
Is a reusable tool better than sticky sheets?
For repeat use, yes: no refills, and it works on the fabrics rollers skate over. Two sticky rollers a month adds up to roughly $150 a year.
See the ShedLoop Glove — reusable, washable, 60-Day Fur-Free Guarantee.