My tricks stop pet hair from sticking to your clothes and around your house – plus a tip to get rid of ‘wet dog’ smell
AN animal lover with a keen sense of style has revealed how she keeps her clothes free from stains, damage, and unpleasant odors after walking her dog.
She said muddy splashes when strolling with beloved canines and their excessive fur shedding around the house can wreak havoc on clothes.
Charlie Cooke is a fashion expert at Fairfax & Favor, founded by childhood friends Marcus and Felix in 2013.
She shared her top cleaning tips for keeping clothes in premium condition.
NO SCRUBBING
Owning a dog can be messy with daily walks and there isn’t a quick fix for keeping clothes free from dirt.
The style guru recommends looking at care instructions before putting clothes that can be easily damaged in the washing machine.
“This advice is all the more important if you have a waxed cotton jacket, as the excess water will strip the waxed coating,” she said.
“Typically, brush excess dirt off and wipe your coat clean to remove the majority of mud, ensure the mud is dry before you do this.
“You can try vacuuming excessive dirt to get rid of this before you attempt to dry clean your item.”
Charlie said suede items need slightly different care as the color can transfer if brushed with too much force.
She recommends testing a fabric sample and starting lightly to avoid damaging suede boots, clothing, or jackets.
She also warned that leaving any mud to sit on leather clothes could dry out the material over time.
“This is caused by the movement of your leather goods whilst they have mud on them,” she said.
“The dirt and oil become abrasive and break down any surface dye which leads to cracks.
“Wiping or brushing off mud at the earliest opportunity will enable you to prevent long-term damage to your leather jacket or boots.”
INVEST IN A HUMIDIFIER
She advises pet owners fed up with pet hair sticking to their clothes to use a humidifier in their home.
She explained that it adds moisture to the air to prevent the static buildup that makes pets shed hair.
Tip to remove yellow sweat stains
Yellow armpit stains affects everyone, whether people care to admit to it or not. But there is help at hand. To remove yellow stains from your clothing, experts recommend the following methods:
- Baking soda paste: The pros at The Laundry Cafe recommend mixing one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of salt, and ½ cup of baking soda. Apply directly to the stain with a toothbrush, rub, and let the mixture sit for at least an hour, then wash as normal.
- Oxygen bleach: This method is just as useful for removing yellow stains. Mix one part of oxygen-based bleach with one part of ammonia in a non-metal bowl. Wear gloves during this application. Rub into the fabric with a toothbrush and allow the solution to sit for at least ten minutes before laundering as normal.
- Stain remover or detergent: Stains on collars can be stubborn to remove as armpit stains. So pretreat the area using a solvent-based stain-removing agent or detergent. Work the product into the collar with a toothbrush and allow it to sit for at least ten minutes before washing.
“Dampening your carpet slightly before using a humidifier can increase the results from this by creating more moisture in the air,” Charlie said.
The fashionista said brushing and bathing dogs to keep their coat healthy also reduces the number of stray hairs around the house.
KEEP FRESH
“If the heavens opened whilst on your walk, you may feel the urge to store your rained-on jacket out of sight, but this could cause more bad than good,” she said.
“This can cause mold and damp if you leave wet items in storage.
“You should hang your jacket on a stand or a hanger and let it air dry before you put it back into storage in your closet.”
Charlie said the smell of “wet dog” in your clothing can be avoided by using a lint roller to remove excess hairs before washing clothes.
This should be followed by putting the clothes in a dryer with a dryer ball to remove any remaining traces of odor.