If you share your home and heart with a feline friend, you also share your wardrobe with their hair. Those tiny, clingy fibers seem to have a magnetic attraction to every fabric, especially dark-colored clothes. While a sign of a well-loved pet, cat hair on your favorite black sweater can be frustrating right before you head out the door.
The good news is that you don’t have to choose between your cat and a hair-free outfit. With a few simple techniques and the right tools, you can easily manage the fur and keep your clothes looking fresh.
Your First Line of Defense: The Lint Roller
For a quick and effective fix, a trusty lint roller is your best friend. Keep one in your closet, car, or desk drawer for on-the-go de-furring. Simply roll it firmly over the fabric in one direction to pick up surface hair. For a more eco-friendly and reusable option, consider a fabric lint brush with a bristled surface that you can clean after each use.
Powerful Laundry Day Solutions
Your washing machine can be a powerful ally in the fight against fur. Before washing, give your clothes a good shake outdoors to loosen excess hair. Then, add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Vinegar is a natural fabric softener that helps break the static charge that makes hair stick. For an extra boost, toss in a dryer sheet or a reusable wool dryer ball with your load in the dryer. The sheet or ball helps to capture loose hair and reduce static.
Creative Tools You Already Own
Don’t have a lint roller handy? Get creative. A slightly damp rubber glove or a sponge run over the fabric will gather hair into easy-to-remove clumps. Wide-packaging tape wrapped around your hand, sticky side out, also works in a pinch as a giant, makeshift lint roller. A pumice stone, gently scraped over sturdy fabrics like denim, can also lift embedded hairs without damaging the material.
Preventing the Fur Buildup
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Regularly grooming your cat with a brush designed to capture loose undercoat will significantly reduce the amount of hair they shed around the house. Storing your clean clothes in a closed closet, rather than on an open chair, also provides a simple barrier against floating fur.
Living with a cat means a little extra hair comes with the territory, but it doesn’t have to take over your wardrobe. By incorporating these simple strategies into your routine, you can enjoy cuddle time with your pet and still step out the door in clean, presentable clothes.