Dog lovers everywhere know that part of life with a dog is dealing with dog fur. It’s just the reality of life with a shedding dog.
We expect it, we live with it (and naively expect others to kind of do the same). We do our best to eliminate it, or at least keep it contained, but it’s a struggle when fur and hair finds its way into everything; onto and under furniture, on clothing, and in the car.
With fall underway, and a little seasonal re-decorating likely happening in homes across the country, we thought it’d be timely to talk about one other way, besides brushing, to deal with dog hair and fur: selecting fabrics and finishes that repel it.
1. Microfibre
Most microfibres have a tight weave, so they don’t let loose hair and fur accumulate in their fibres. If your microfibre has a looser weave, dog hair may adhere to the fabric, but you should be able to remove it with a quick wipe with a clean cloth. Vacuuming is also a quick and easy option and simple to do on this texture.
2. Leather
While obviously political and personal, leather is arguably the best fabric to have around your home for repelling dog hair. Fur can’t stick to it; it just slides off. It’s also an option when it comes to deciding on interior finishes for your car (although it’s expensive, so decide if that’s an option for you). Whatever hair and fur does accumulate on leather can be easily wiped up with a wet cloth and the oils in your dog’s coat won’t stain the leather. Sharp, jagged dog nails are another issue, but leather holds up pretty well to well-trimmed, filed dog nails.
3. Silk Blends
It’s slippery, so silk is relatively resistant to dog hair and fur accumulation. Silk blends are a practical and affordable choice these days and they come in a variety of patterns and textures, which can also help to conceal any hair or fur that does adhere to the fabric.
Now, What To Avoid…
1. Heavy Textures
Anything heavily textured like suede or velvet, brocade, shaggy wool or velour. These fabrics are lovely and cozy, but they act like magnets for dog hair and fur. If you’re willing to spot clean or lint roll frequently, these fabrics can be a great option for something small and decorative like a throw pillow or two. But velvet pants? Not so much.
2. Synthetics
Other fabrics to steer clear of are synthetics like acrylic, polyester, and nylon. They have increased potential for static cling which will attract dog hair and fur more than usual. The same goes for synthetic clothing like polyester pants and fleece jackets.
3. Knits
Lastly, loose knits. Their loose, wide weave will allow dog hair and fur to get lodged in cables and creases. If you’re wearing your favourite handknit sweater, just maybe sit a seat or two down from Fido on the couch, and look for machine washable knits when it comes to throws and blankets. Not much beats the warmth of a cable knit throw in the dead of winter, so check the labels. You don’t want to be missing out!
Options for Existing Fabrics
There are fabric sprays you can apply to your existing fabrics to make them more resistant to dog hair and fur, but they’re chemical-based, so make sure to read the labels before you buy. There are some green options out there too, so be sure to do your research and decide what’s best for your home.
*BONUS TIP: For keeping dog hair and fur at bay on hardwood floors, sweep your floors with dryer sheets! The charges oppose and dog fur won’t stand a chance.
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I have five furry babies. My love my dogs on the sofa to cuddle and they love soft textures. That microfiber is the worst for dog hair. The just sticks like glue to it. I don’t see that as #1 for pets. Leather would be #1, the only downside is the dogs nail might grip and tear the leather. I just give away my microfiber sofas and wanted to treat myself with a luxury velvet/velour fabric sofa but sad to hear it’s not the best for dog fur 🙁
The article says there are “fabric sprays you can apply to your existing fabrics to make them more resistant to dog hair and fur” … where can I find these sprays & any recommendations on any working better than others? My new car’s upholstery seems to be a magnet for dog hair!!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for reading and thanks for your question. We don’t have any specific products to recommend at this time, but a quick check online showed us that there are anti-static sprays available directly from a number of companies or through Amazon. These fabric sprays work by breaking the static bonds between dog hair and fabrics, letting owners more easily vacuum or collect up the hair. If you try something out that works well, we’d love to hear back about your experience! Good luck!
Nicely written the article with good points. Dog owners will get some valuable information from here. Thanks a lot.
I keep hearing that microfiber is good for repelling pet fur. Not the case with my pets. These were the absolute worst sheets I’ve ever had, took forever getting fur off (even after washing!) and I finally threw them in the “rags cabinet.” Of course I bought the very cheapest ones, thinking I’m tired of wasting money on horrible fur-collecting bedding. Maybe I should have tried a more expensive microfiber? I had no idea there were different kinds, thought microfiber is microfiber is microfiber. Anyway, didn’t work at all for me.
Hi there
I use microfiber blankets because they are warm and soft for pets and what I did was purchase some silk fabric and made slips for them
I folded the blankets 2 or 3 times and sewed a silk slip like a pillow slip with a zip to go over the blankets
They still have the warmth and softness but with the silk I never have a problem with pet fur all over the blankets especially microfiber as you know no amount of vacuuming or washing removes the fur !!! easy to wash both by unzipping the slip and it works wonders and the silk is so soft and can be warm also depending on which silk you purchase and if you spend a little more you can get a good quality silk that is a bit thicker and has a warm almost soft suede finish to it and even though sometimes it feels cool it doesn’t take long for the fabric to warm up on contact of body heat and can be cooling in the warmer months too but anyway as long as it’s silk you will never have a problem with blankets being overtaken with fur
Hope this helps all furbaby owners out there
Bless all animals who are all precious xo
My dog threw up on my blanket that’s silk and cotton….i can’t afford to dry clean it…. Any ideas?
Hi there
I have just come across this post and had the same thing happen to me but with one of our 5 rescue cats (2 rescue dogs 2 rescue birds and a rescue bunny rabbit in a suburban backyard!!!)
I hand washed mine with a gentle wool eucalyptus liquid soap thats gentle on clothing being used for wool and also works as a disinfectant with the eucalyptus in it and a nice smell to boot and being silk and cotton worked great
If it’s too big for the sink although mine was fine you can try hand washing it in the bath
Hope this helps for future mishaps that happen from time to time and anyone out there that it may help
Bless all animals that are all angels xo
Silks can be washed in the machine in cold water. I presoak the stain. However, never, ever, put silk in a dryer. I lay mine on the bed with a sheet under it. When turning the silk fabric, I begin with a dry sheet.
GREAT post! Del is my first dog and I didn’t expect to struggle so much with dog hair. We’ve come to live with it, but it can sometimes feel a little embarrassing when you have people round who don’t have dogs. We find hair EVERYWHERE. I sometimes even find it in the fridge?!?! Thanks for sharing.
Haha! In the fridge is always a good one! Guess the hair is drawn to heat and electricity. You’re right, the dog hair battle is pretty constant. Hope people continue to be understanding!
Looks like I’m reading and commenting on a super old article but I’m case anyone is still reading…in terms of dog hair… Leather or faux leather (which is what I have) is by far the best couch fabric! To help with hair containment, I have an area rug that has a bit of rubber backing that I lay on the couch where my fur baby sleeps. I can then pull it off and shake it out outside or vacuum it/wash it etc. The area rug is a long shag material. Its SUPER soft! ALSO – every shedding dog owner needs a Furminator! It is a type of brush that reduces shedding up to 90% when used regularly. Google it! Also, my dog sleeps with me and all I do is put a sheet over the bed and I can pull the sheet off and shake it off outside and wash it. It keeps hair off the blankets nicely and depending on your tolerance of hair, you can do this daily or just a couple times a week! ONE LAST THING…be careful with chemicals…animals absorb lots through their fur and skin and lick things. Always use natural chemical free products and cleaners because animals lay on floors as well, there have been links to cancer from floor chemicals. Dryer sheets are TOXIC to dogs so please don’t run your floors down with dryer sheets. : )
Not to worry: we’re still reading at least!
Thanks for your comment. Great ideas: moveable & washable covers for leather furniture, the Furminator (a must-have for owners of dogs that shed!), and the reminder about potentially toxic cleansers.
Thanks for reading and adding your input!
This was so helpful!
Glad we could help!