# How to remove pet hair from work clothes Canonical page: https://everydaygarmentcare.co.uk/fabric-care/remove-pet-hair-from-work-clothes/ Publisher: Everyday Garment Care Fabric care / How-to Lift loose pet hair from dark trousers, woven coats and office clothes. Choose a brush or roller, test the finish and work carefully around seams. By Everyday Garment Care · Updated November 2026 ![A dark work jacket beside a garment brush and lint roller]() ## Support the fabric and lift the loose hair Take the garment off and inspect a small area in good light. Use a brush or roller that suits its finish, with light strokes and a hidden patch check. Work a panel at a time and clear collected hair from the tool as you go. ## Check the garment before choosing a tool Take the clothes off and look across the surface in daylight. A loose hair usually lies across the weave or knit. A little ball of fibres still attached to the garment is a pill. A loop rising from the surface may belong to the knit itself. Hair can sit among all three, so lift only what you can identify as loose debris. Read the care label and the maker's instructions for the finish. A smooth woven trouser leg, brushed wool coat and fine cardigan can respond differently to the same brush. Woolmark recommends a soft garment brush used lengthwise for woven wool. Its advice is specific to woven garments. Check the maker's method for a raised knit, decorative yarn or fabric with a coating. Choose a small hidden section made of the same cloth as the visible area. Use light pressure and inspect the surface after the first pass. Compare the nap and colour with an untreated area. If the tool catches threads, lifts the intended pile or leaves a mark, stop and use the maker's care advice before doing more. ## Work from the broad panels towards the details Place the garment on a clean support or a secure hanger, depending on its shape. Keep a tailored shoulder in its usual curve. Empty the pockets so the cloth sits evenly. Start with the largest plain area where you can see each stroke and support the fabric without stretching it. **Where to start on coats, trousers and knitwear** | Garment | Start here | Check as you work | | --- | --- | --- | | Woven coat | A plain back or front panel, following the permitted nap direction | Preserve the shoulder shape and keep clear of raised trim | | Dark trousers | One supported leg | Keep the fabric flat around the pocket and crease | | Fine cardigan | A hidden area if the maker permits the tool | Stop if the surface catches or a loop moves | A plain coat panel is a useful place to work out how much hair the tool can collect before it needs clearing. Near a lapel or pocket edge, shorten the stroke and check the fabric beneath. A roller can bridge a raised seam and miss hair beside it. Reposition the garment so the edge you want to clean lies naturally, then make another light pass if permitted. ## Use a directional brush for a repeat routine The OXO FurLifter Garment Brush 12168800 uses a microbristle face to collect hair and lint from suitable clothing. Follow the direction marks and return it to its cleaning base as instructed. Clear the base when needed so the tool is ready for the next garment. [View on Amazon]() For loose hair and lint ### OXO Good Grips FurLifter Garment Brush 12168800 A reusable microbristle brush lifts surface debris from suitable clothing. Its storage base strips collected hair and lint from the brush. Good for Coats and other suitable garments with loose pet hair or surface lint, after a small patch check. Bear in mind Use light strokes and check the fabric surface as you work. Attached bobbles need a method suited to pilling. - Microbristle brush - Self-cleaning base - Reusable With the trouser leg or coat panel supported, make short strokes in the tool's working direction. Look at the collected hair and the fabric after a few strokes. If you are pushing a clump ahead of the brush, clear it and reset the garment flat. Repeated rubbing over the same patch can disturb a finish, so check whether the remaining mark is actually hair before continuing. For a coat with a directional nap, follow the garment maker's brushing advice as well as the tool instructions. If those directions conflict or the test changes the surface, choose the maker's method. Leave shoulder seams, metallic threads and appliqué alone until you know the brush suits them. ## Use a roller for visible loose specks An adhesive lint roller can help with loose pale hairs that show clearly on dark cloth. The Scotch-Brite Everyday Clean 834R-56UK is a four-roll pack with peel-off sheets. 3M describes it for hair, lint and loose debris on clothing. Test the adhesive on the garment before using it across a visible panel. [View on Amazon]() For quick speck and hair pickup ### Scotch-Brite Everyday Clean Lint Roller 834R-56UK Four adhesive lint rollers each contain 56 sheets. Peel away the used layer when it stops picking up surface debris. Good for Loose pale fibres, dust and hair on suitable dark clothes, especially for an occasional touch-up before wearing. Bear in mind The sheets are consumable. Test the adhesive on an inconspicuous area first, especially on raised or delicate finishes. - Four rollers - 56 sheets per roll - 10 cm roller length Roll lightly across a supported section and replace the sheet when it stops picking up hair. Keep the sheet clean between uses. A roller used on a pet bed or dusty chair can carry debris you would prefer to keep away from a work shirt. Check the collar, pocket opening and cuffs last, using shorter movements around buttons and folds. ## Check what remains and store the garment ready to wear Once the loose hair has gone, look at any marks left in the same light. If there are attached bobbles, inspect them separately and use the garment's approved method. The [lint brush and fabric shaver comparison]() explains how the tools act on different surface problems. Hair caught deep in a textured knit needs patience and a suitable care method. Avoid pulling at a strand that could be part of the garment. If ordinary light brushing does not remove it, use the cleaning method the garment allows or ask its maker or cleaner. For woven tailoring, put the item back on a correctly shaped hanger once it is clean, with room around the shoulders. Check the seat or chair where you last picked up hair before sitting down again in the finished clothes. ## Do a final check in the clothes you will wear Before putting the garment on, look at the shoulder, lower sleeve and the back of the seat. Those places can pick up hair during ordinary handling after the main panels are clear. If you keep a brush by the door, cover or store it as its maker directs so its collecting face stays clean. Check a scarf or bag strap too if hair reappears along the same strip of fabric each morning. For an occasional touch-up, treat only the affected patch. ## Sources and product instructions - [Woolmark care guidance for brushing woven wool]() - [OXO FurLifter Garment Brush]() - [3M Scotch-Brite Everyday Clean 834R-56UK]() - [Dege & Skinner guidance on supporting tailoring]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Which tool should I use for pet hair on black trousers? A suitable reusable lint brush or adhesive roller can lift loose surface hair. Test it on a hidden section of the same fabric, then work lightly with the trouser leg supported. ### Can I use a lint roller on a wool coat? Check the coat maker’s guidance and test the adhesive on an inconspicuous patch. For woven wool, Woolmark describes using a soft garment brush lengthwise. Raised or delicate finishes may need their maker’s own method. ### Will a fabric shaver remove pet hair? Use a tool designed for loose hair. A fabric shaver cuts attached pills from suitable fabric and can catch loose threads or raised details. Inspect any hair-covered bobbles separately after removing the loose debris. ### Why does the brush move hair around instead of picking it up? Check the stroke direction and whether the brush needs clearing. Support the fabric so it cannot bunch, follow the brush maker’s direction marks and use a fresh roller sheet when the surface stops collecting hair. ### What should I do with hair caught in a delicate knit? Stop if a light pass catches a loop or changes the finish. Follow the garment maker’s recommended method. Ask for care or repair advice if the hair is tangled around structural threads. **Everyday Garment Care** We research manufacturer instructions and product specifications to explain practical garment care and equipment choices. [Editorial policy]() **Affiliate disclosure.** If you buy through a product link on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. [How our links work]().