How to Remove Dog Hair From Shoes in 9 Easy Steps

If you have dogs, there’s a good chance you’ve gotten their hair all over your shoes at least once. Each hair finds its way into the trickiest spots, making it seemingly impossible to remove. I’ve lived with dogs for almost two decades, so I’ve dealt with this issue more than once!

To remove dog hair from shoes, use a microfiber cloth to scrub the surface hair, then wipe the shoes with a lint roller to collect the rest. Tweezers can pull tiny hairs in hard-to-reach areas. Vacuum them to remove the leftover dog hair and dry your shoes. You can wash the laces in the laundry.

This page will also teach you the following information about how to remove dog hair from your shoes:

• My simple 9-step process to get rid of every trace of dog hair
• How to effectively remove dog hair without harming your shoes
• Tips to keep your shoes dog hair-free for many years to come

Remove the Dog Hair with a Microfiber Cloth

Microfiber cloths are tightly woven to remove and dry most surfaces. You can use them to scrub away excess dog hair from your shoes. I have a snap towel that I use to remove dog and cat hair whenever they get on my clothes. It’s easy because you can get most of it off within a few seconds.

Using circular motions, scrub your shoes and collect all of the dog hair. Toss it in the trash as you go. Make sure you’re applying light pressure. The last thing you want is to push the dog hair further into the shoe. Most shoes are semi-porous, which is why they hold the hair so tightly.

Once you’re done removing the bulk of the dog hair from your shoes, it’s time to get rid of the rest. Don’t try to get everything done with the microfiber cloth or you’ll drive yourself crazy. They’re not designed to collect fine hair sunk in your shoes, but they’re great for surface level issues.

Use a Lint Roller or Duct Tape

You have three options for this step:

1. Use a traditional lint roller (I prefer the small style since it’s easy to fit inside shoes). Pop the lint roller in your shoe and rotate it in circles until you’ve collected enough dog hair. You can also use it on the outside to clean your shoes.
2. Try duct tape rolled around your hands (you’ll have to use a few sheets because it collects debris quickly). Flip it inside out around your knuckles and dab the tape all over your shoes. This method allows you to reach deep inside the shoe, getting those hard-to-reach spots.
3. Get the Pet Hair Remover by Brellavi. This tool is designed to instantly remove pet hair from clothing, furniture, floors, and more. It has a wide surface that fits perfectly in your shoes. You can also use it to scrub away dog hair all over the outside of your footwear.

The Krazy Coupon Lady suggests using rubber gloves since they attract pet hair via static electricity.

Pull Out Leftover Dog Hair with Tweezers

According to NCBI, if your dog is shedding too much, you might need a better shampoo and conditioner. Dog’s have sensitive hair that can shed like crazy if you’re not keeping it under control with proper cleaning techniques. Those tiny hairs can find their way into your shoes.

Use tweezers to pull out dog hair that won’t come out with lint rollers and microfiber cloths. Small pet hair can wedge into into the lining of your shoes, making it impossible to get out with tape and other suggestions mentioned above.

You can use your tweezers to pull the hair out. Unfortunately, this is the most time-consuming part of the process. Depending on how much dog hair is in your shoe, it’ll take between 5 to 10 minutes. I prefer to regularly maintain and care for my footwear, so it’s much quicker.

Scrub the Edges with Soap and Water

If your shoes have canvas, rubber, or plastic, you can use a sponge, soap, and warm water to remove dirt and dog hair. It saves a lot of time instead of pulling out each hair. If your shoes are covered in hair from being outside and playing with your dog, this step is essential.

My preferred method is to use a washcloth or sponge in the bathtub or over a bucket. Scrub your shoes with warm water and soap until the hair is gone. Go the extra mile to shine them and you’ll love the way your shoes look! It’s an easy process that takes about two minutes or less per shoe.

Vacuum Your Shoes

It might sound a bit weird, but you can clean your shoes with a vacuum. If your vacuum has a detachable hose, you’re in luck. Pull it off and vacuum the inside and outside of your shoes after you’ve wiped them down with water and soap. It’ll dry your shoes and collect any dog hair clumped by the scrubbing process.

If you don’t have a vacuum hose, you could use a blow dryer. It probably won’t pull hair out, but it’ll dry your shoes and leave dog hair ready to wipe away. This step isn’t necessary, but it’s more than worth it if you want the picture perfect result.

Wash the Laces in the Laundry Machine

You should wash your shoe laces regularly. If you don’t, they start to collect all sorts of debris, especially dog hair. Much like the soles and outer surface of your shoes, the laces are susceptible to holding small dog hairs that are extremely difficult to remove.

The good news is you can remove the shoelaces and toss them in the washer and dryer. Make sure you refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent them from melting or burning. Some shoelaces use plastic, wax, and rubber tips that can become damaged from dryers.

Remove the Sole and Hidden Dog Hair

If your shoes have removable soles, take them out right away. Sadly, a ton of dog hair hides under the soles. It could be from one even, but it’s more than likely that there’s months of pet hair trapped down there. You probably don’t notice one or two strands daily, but it adds up.

For those of you who don’t have removable soles, there won’t be much hair (if any) trapped under their from your pets. They’re sealed to prevent water and debris penetration. Some people prefer foot support soles, which can be removed and cleaned.

Air Dry Your Shoes

Last but not least, dry your shoes. I dry my shoes in the sun or in front of a fireplace. It’s quick and easy, just make sure they don’t get too toasty or they’ll start to melt. Another option is to use floor fans and cross ventilation to dry them.

Keep Them Out of Sight

The Spruce shows the best way to get rid of dog hair is to brush your pup regularly. You probably already know the importance of weekly brushing sessions, so hopefully, this issue brings it to light. Brushing is good for you and your dog, and it only takes a few minutes!

Here are three ways you can keep your shoes free of dog hair:

1. Place them on a shelf in your closet. If you have a closet shelf, clean it and place your favorite shoes up there.
2. Keep the shoe box. Most people toss the box once they know they’re going to keep the shoes. Your shoe boxes can keep them clean from dog hair, lint, and more.
3. Get a door-mounted shoe rack. They hang inside of your bedroom door and most of them have protected pockets to keep debris away from your footwear.

Conclusion

Removing dog hair from your shoes is much easier than you might think. Whether you’re heading to an important meeting or on a night on the town, you want to look your best. Dogs are sweet and have zero intention of causing you stress. Keep that in mind as you pluck away their hair from your shoes!

Here’s a breakdown of the post:

• Use lint rollers and duct tape to gather most of the dog hair from your shoes.
• Place them in high, out-of-reach areas to prevent excess hair from settling on them.
• You can wash your shoelaces to remove leftover dog hair.
• Consider vacuuming or blow-drying your shoes when you’re done with the process.

Did you get dog hair on your contact lenses? Review my article about cleaning contacts dropped on the floor.