Dog Photo Products
How to Get Dog Hair Out of Blankets (and the Dog Smell, Too)
Sep
Is your blanket wearing more dog hair than your dog?
Here is how to get dog hair out of blankets: loosen the hair while the blanket is dry, with a damp rubber glove or a 10-minute no-heat dryer cycle, then shake it outside and wash it. A dryer sheet or wool dryer balls cut the static that holds hair to fabric, and a clean lint filter catches what comes loose.
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Why dog hair clings to blankets
Dog hair is fine, often barbed at the tip, and it works its way into the pile of a soft blanket every time the dog turns around. Static finishes the job: rubbing charges both the hair and the fabric, so the hair stays put even when you shake the blanket.
That is why washing first rarely works. Water mats loose hair into the fibers and spreads it to everything else in the load, while the drum and filter collect the rest. The order that works is dry removal first, a no-heat tumble second and the wash last.
How to get dog hair out of blankets, step by step
This is how to remove dog hair from blankets without matting it into the fabric. The routine takes about 20 minutes of hands-on time plus the wash. It works on fleece, sherpa, knit and cotton throws alike, and it protects the washing machine as much as the blanket.
- Take it outside and shake it hard. Hold two corners and snap the blanket a few times, then turn it and repeat, so the loosest hair leaves before it can mat.
- Go over it with a damp rubber glove. Consumer Reports suggests running a damp rubber glove over bedding, because the hair clings to the glove; wipe the glove clean as it fills.
- Use a lint roller or tape on the worst patches. A roller, or masking tape wrapped sticky side out, lifts what the glove leaves behind on the spots where the dog sleeps.
- Tumble it dry, with no heat, for about 10 minutes. An air-fluff cycle loosens hair from dry fabric, and the lint filter catches it before any water is involved.
- Add a dryer sheet or wool dryer balls. Both reduce static, so the hair lets go of the fabric instead of riding along to the washer.
- Clean the lint filter, then wash. Empty the filter, wash the blanket as its care label says, and clean the filter again after drying.
Why the dryer comes before the washer
The single most useful change is to put the blanket in the dryer before the washer, not only after it. Consumer Reports recommends a 10-minute, no-heat cycle, usually called air fluff, to loosen hair from clothes and bedding, and Maytag gives the same order: tumble on a no-heat setting, check after 10 minutes, then wash as normal. The tumbling flexes the fibers and lifts hair that a glove cannot reach, and the lint filter traps it while the blanket is still dry, so it never mats into wet fabric or clogs the washer drain.
A dryer sheet or wool dryer balls in that first cycle reduce static, which is what keeps hair bonded to a soft blanket. Clean the filter after the fluff cycle and again after the final dry; Consumer Reports calls for cleaning it after every load, and a clogged filter lets hair drift back onto the next load.
How to get dog smell out of blankets
Hair and smell need different fixes. Hair comes off mechanically, while odor comes from oils and, sometimes, accidents soaked into the fibers, so it needs something that breaks it down or absorbs it.
- For accidents, use an enzyme cleaner first. The AKC notes that enzyme-based cleaners break down odor-causing compounds instead of masking the smell.
- Vinegar and baking soda for everyday odor. The AKC says vinegar mixed with water 1:1 helps neutralize odor, and a small amount of baking soda, around 1/4 cup, absorbs it.
- Go easy on vinegar in the machine. Consumer Reports warns that repeated vinegar use can damage a washing machine, so use it now and then, not every wash.
- Dry it fully. A blanket put away damp starts to smell again, so finish it in the dryer or in open air.
How to get dog hair off blankets: methods compared
| Method | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Shaking outside | Loose surface hair | Leaves embedded hair behind |
| Damp rubber glove | Fleece and sherpa pile | Rinse the glove as it fills |
| Lint roller or tape | Small, heavy patches | Slow on a whole blanket |
| No-heat dryer cycle | Hair worked deep into the fabric | Clean the lint filter afterwards |
| Dryer sheet or wool balls | Static that holds hair on | Follow the blanket’s care label |
Keeping a dog blanket cleaner between washes
Give the dog its own blanket on the sofa and shake it out every few days, before hair has time to work in. A quick pass with the glove once a week keeps the wash-day routine short.
Brushing the dog helps more than any blanket trick, because hair removed with a brush never reaches the fabric. If a blanket is special, such as one printed with the dog’s face, follow the care label that comes with it and treat stains early.
Photo blankets, pillows and pajamas made from one picture of your dog are in custom dog gifts, and the photo guide shows which pictures print well.
Gifts for dog lovers who are done with dog hair
The tools in this guide make a practical gift for a dog lover: a rubber glove, a lint roller and a set of wool dryer balls are small enough to wrap and do real work. Add a note that dry removal comes before the wash, which is the one step the washer cannot do for you.
For a gift that looks like the dog, pair the kit with a blanket made from the dog’s own photo. A photo blanket gift from MyDogPics starts from one sharp picture the owner already has, and each product page lists its size, material and options.
Dog mom gifts and dog dad gifts both work this way, with something useful for the laundry room and something personal for the sofa. Browse dog mom gifts, dog dad gifts and our guide to the best gifts for dog lovers.
Who this guide helps: gift ideas for every dog person
Dog hair is a shared problem, so each card names one dog person, what the hair does to them and the step from this guide that answers it.
Dog moms
A dog mom tired of lint-rolling her favorite throw every evening can change the order of the job. Shake the blanket outside, pull a damp rubber glove across it, then run a no-heat dryer cycle before the wash.
Dog dads
A dog dad whose dog owns the sofa worries about hair clogging the washer. Loosening it dry first sends the hair to the lint filter instead of the washer drain.
Gift buyers for a dog lover
A friend who loves dogs and already has everything still has dog hair to fight. A rubber glove, a lint roller and a set of wool dryer balls are the three tools this guide uses, and they make an easy gift for a dog lover.
Kids and parents
Kids fall asleep under the dog’s blanket and parents dread laundry day. A quick pass with the rubber glove once a week keeps the wash-day routine short, which is this guide’s own advice.
Matching families
In a family that shares one sofa blanket with the dog, the hair travels onto everyone’s clothes, and that is the real problem. Give the dog its own blanket and shake it out every few days so the shared one stays cleaner.
Couples
Couples who share a dog and a sofa throw find it frustrating to pick hair off one patch at a time. Split the job: one person shakes the blanket outside while the other runs the glove, and the no-heat dryer cycle loosens what is left.
Grandparents
Grandparents far away miss the grand-dog, and the hair left on the guest blanket after a visit is the part nobody enjoys. Shake it outdoors soon after the visit, before the hair works into the pile.
New puppy owners
A new puppy owner will meet dog hair soon enough, and puppyhood goes by fast. Start two habits now: brush the dog, because hair removed with a brush never reaches the fabric, and shake the puppy’s blanket outside before the hair mats.
Holiday and occasion hosts
Hosting at Christmas turns into a last-minute hunt for lint rollers while the guests are due. Run the dry steps first, shake then glove then a no-heat dryer cycle, and the loose hair is out before the wash begins.
Grieving owners
When a dog has passed away, the house can feel empty and the hair on their blanket can feel precious. Nothing says to clean it before you are ready. A blanket made in memory of the dog from a favorite photo is a gentle keepsake.
Multi-dog households
In a home with two dogs, keeping up with the hair is a struggle, and one dog’s blanket is always the one left out of the routine. Give each dog its own blanket and shake them all outside together.
Self-purchasers
Looking after a blanket can feel boring, and wool dryer balls are nobody’s idea of a treat. Treat yourself anyway, just because a cleaner sofa is a quiet win, and the routine takes about 20 minutes of hands-on time.
Gifts made from your dog’s photo
Each piece is made to order from the photo you upload, and MyDogPics checks the photo before printing.
Custom Dog Gifts
Kids Button Down Pajamas – Custom Dog Face Kids Satin Set, Pink Plaid French Bulldog
Custom Dog Gifts
Boys Plaid Pajama Pants – Custom Dog Face Kids Satin Set, Blue Plaid French Bulldog
Christmas Dog Gifts
Youth Christmas Pajamas – Custom Dog Face Kids Satin Set, Green Plaid French Bulldog
Christmas Dog Gifts
Boys Christmas Pajamas – Custom Dog Face Kids Satin Set, Red Plaid French Bulldog
Dog hair and blanket questions
How do you get dog hair out of blankets in the washer?
Loosen it before the washer, not in it. Run the dry blanket through a 10-minute no-heat dryer cycle with a dryer sheet, clean the lint filter, then wash as the care label says. Washing a hairy blanket first mats the hair into the fabric and spreads it through the load.
What is the fastest way to get dog hair off a blanket?
A damp rubber glove. Run it over the blanket in one direction and the hair rolls into clumps you can pick off; rinse the glove when it fills. For a whole blanket, follow it with a short no-heat dryer cycle to lift what the glove missed.
Do dryer sheets help with dog hair?
Yes: dryer sheets reduce static, which is what keeps hair clinging to soft fabric, so the hair lets go and the lint filter catches it. Wool dryer balls do the same job without a sheet. Check the blanket’s care label first, since some fabrics should skip them.
How do you get dog smell out of a blanket?
Treat any accident with an enzyme cleaner, which breaks down the compounds that cause the smell. For everyday odor, a little baking soda or a 1:1 vinegar and water mix helps, but not in every wash. Dry the blanket completely, since a damp blanket starts to smell again.
Why does dog hair keep coming back after washing?
Usually because the hair was never removed before the wash, or the lint filter was full. Water spreads loose hair around the drum and onto the next load. Loosen hair dry, clean the filter before and after drying, and run an empty wash cycle now and then to clear the drum.
What is a good gift for a dog lover who is tired of dog hair?
A rubber glove, a lint roller and a set of wool dryer balls are the three tools this guide relies on, and they wrap easily. Add a note that dry removal comes before the wash. For something personal, pair them with a blanket made from a photo of their own dog.
Want a blanket with the dog’s face on it? Upload one sharp photo on a custom dog blanket page and we check it before anything prints. Count on free US shipping on every order, 25% off your 2nd item when you pair two, and 30 days to have it remade or refunded if it arrives with a print defect, damaged or wrong.
Sources
- Consumer Reports — Don’t Let Pet Hair Ruin Your Washer
- Maytag — 4 Hacks for Removing Pet Hair from Your Laundry
- American Kennel Club — How to Get Dog Pee Out of Carpet: Smells and Stains on Fabric
Related guides: Name or photo on a dog blanket · How to put a picture on a blanket · Custom dog blankets
Last reviewed: October 4, 2026
