Easy thread: How to De-hair (& de-stink) Fleece Blanket

[Bicoastal]

Lighthearted topic as the worst outcome is a blanket will meet its end (too embarrassing gross to donate) and Joey will score a new fleecey.

I have many “dog fleeces.” A large orange one from a thrift store velcros Joey’s black hairs to it. His fur is like a Lab’s: sticks into fabrics and piles up just from petting but this blanket hangs onto even the hairs just sitting on top. Washing makes no improvement.

Is there a trick to de-hairing fleeces? Or do I have to accept trashing them when they’re too icky for me? (and only buy loud patterns!) Seems really wasteful as the blanket is in perfect shape and bonus it’s my ‘trial color.’ It is embarrassing… I carefully hold it away from my body when folding it out of the dryer. It has THAT much fur on it.

I have a huge dark green fleece that at least doesn’t reveal the problem so much but I think it actually holds less hair. However it holds stink! Right out of the dryer it stinks :eek:. Tried the vinegar trick I learned from COTH on an OT day. How much vinegar do I need to use to deodorize? Any other tricks to de-stinking?

I notice my roommate’s “cat fleece” stinks too. But she’s dirty :lol:! Me? I wash (and brush) my dogs and their extensive bedding regularly.

[Superminion]

I haven’t found anything for the de-hairing…as our animals shed enough daily to keep a small country warm and cozy. I usually try to vacumm them, but it fails 50% of the time. I’m intrested in the tricks too!

I run a SUPER hot tub full of water, chuck in 3-4 cups of baking soda, and a pinch of scented bath salts (don’t ask me how I discovered this). Chuck offending blankies in and let soak for an hour or so. Rinse really well with equally as hot water, wring blankie out as best I can, and then throw it outside over the porch railing to dry in the sun. It’s never failed me for de-stinking. I wash our horse blankets the same way.

I usually try to bleach out our washer once a month, because I’ve found that it traps smells. I’ll run a hot, empty load with a just a cup of bleach. No soap. Things tend to come out smelling fresher.

[cowboymom]

I throw them in the dryer and the dryer gets most of the hair off of them. I then wash a few loads of DH or DS’s jeans through to “clean out” the washer/dryer before I use it on my clothes! :lol:

The dryer usually gets it but sometimes I will dampen my hand or a rag and do circles, that can wad up some of the hair. If it doesn’t come off after all that I toss it.

Most of the fleeces I’ve used are pretty bleach resistant-I just add a bit when the washer is full of water…

[Snowflake]

A spray bottle with water set on mist and a rubber glove on your hand. Just do circles like cowboymom says but the rubber glove gives you more grip to pull the hair out of the fabric.

You probably won’t get it completely clean, but much better. You can also try pulling the hair out with a slicker brush.

Other than that - shave the dog.

[vtdobes]

@cowboymom;6361086

I then wash a few loads of DH or DS’s jeans through to “clean out” the washer/dryer before I use it on my clothes! :lol:

HAHA!!! I do this too! After washing saddle pads or dog beds…wash a load or two of BF’s work jeans before I put my stuff in

[Mosey_2003]

Step one: Buy cheap fleecie from cheapy store that matches your pet’s hair color

Step two: Throw away when icky and hairy

Voila!

:lol:

On a more serious note, how bout those brushes with the rubber fingers? And soak in baking soda, then wash in warsher with vinegar.

[Laurierace]

Odo ban will de stink just about anything. You can spray it on or use it in the wash. For getting hair out, use a clipper blade like a comb. Works great on the carpet in the car too.

[Kat_the_Horse]

I usually wash with vinegar and soda (and just a bit of soap), along with my two pair of pull-on canvas shoes–these are my indoor slippers of choice, but I wear them barefooted so they get…ripe, just like the kitties/doggies sleepy blankets.

THEN I throw the whole shebang in the dryer and LEAVE. If I can, I might come back after 20 minutes and clear out the dryer vent because it does get filled up.

The shoes ‘beat’ quite a bit of the animal hair out. I used this process to clean two of my fleece shaped English saddle pads and it worked darned well.

You could also hang them over something outside and beat them a bit with a racketball racket (short handle and metal). Well…I do that with the dog beds which are repurposed Western fleece-and-Navaho print saddle pads. Just make sure the wind is blowing AWAY…learned this the very first time. Huh.