Velcro cleaning

Hey!

Straight forward enough question.

I have 2 dog coats (Have 2 lurchers, they struggle with anything below 5 degrees c) that use velcro to close. Obviously dog hair gets stuck in it and makes the velcro work less. I started cleaning it with some strong duct tape. But it took me about 60cm of tape to clean 1 of the connections. Admittedly because I waited too long, but still...

I'm just wondering if anyone has a more environmentally friendly way to get the hair out there. A way that doesn't involve me using my fingers to painstakingly pull the hairs out (I tried this and it took me about 30 minutes to get exactly nothing worthwhile mentioning done)?

Thanks!

Yay sighthounds! I had a whippet once upon a time, it was fun to have a dog that needed clothes (I now have shepherds, who would rather eat clothes).
What I've done with haired-up velcro is to use a long needle between the "rows" of hooks to lift up the mat of hair one row at a time and then get it out as a unit. Takes a bit of time depending on how big the velcro is, but probably easier than tape.

Tereza Okava wrote:Yay sighthounds! I had a whippet once upon a time, it was fun to have a dog that needed clothes (I now have shepherds, who would rather eat clothes).
What I've done with haired-up velcro is to use a long needle between the "rows" of hooks to lift up the mat of hair one row at a time and then get it out as a unit. Takes a bit of time depending on how big the velcro is, but probably easier than tape.

Thanks! I'll dig up a needle from somewhere and give that a go! It might take longer, but environmentally better than tape, and I'm sure still quicker than using finger tips and nails

I use a comb. It's like a bunch of needles all at once 😉

I use a comb and rounded tip yarn needle. Use the needle at a very steep angle, almost flat, run down  each of the lines of hooks to lift the crud up off the surface, then the comb to remove it all. Metal comb with fine teeth for lice is best, cheap plastic combs will end up with the tips distorted and won't be useful for long.
I do this a lot. I use velcro and have a long haired cat.

Dis ting: https://www.amazon.com/Luwigs-Cleaner-Wooden-Handle-Cleaning/dp/B07THQSZ4F/ref=asc_df_B07THQSZ4F

Made for cleaning combs & brushes, works great for those, velcro, and comes in handy for loads of other little oddball stuff - even on the critters, sometimes.

Haven't tried it, but I would have guessed a carding brush or slicker brush would work. And with a carding brush, it would be ready for spinning, lol!

Jordan Holland wrote:Haven't tried it, but I would have guessed a carding brush or slicker brush would work. And with a carding brush, it would be ready for spinning, lol!

I was thinking a slicker brush as well!! And while we are talking about grooming equipment... how about more frequent grooming? Maybe fewer loose hairs to get caught in the velcro = winning?
I'm not suggesting or assuming that you don't do enough grooming... We've got 3 Pomeranians that definitely don't get enough grooming! LOL! Collars and harnesses are always tricky to install without catching tufts of fur.

Another idea might be an "undergarment" to accompany the coat, so that the coat and fur are not in direct contact? or needing to be tucked in to make the closure? It could be something light and breathable like a mesh? sporty vest or hairnet sort of stuff?
Maybe it's just an additional flap? It could button to the inside of the other side, before pulling the coat closed and velcroing it tight?

Could it even be something stupid like the hook side of the velcro is facing in, therefore able to pick up hairs while aligning the coat? Where if it were on the outside it couldn't? This could be a desire of the manufacturer to not leave unused hooks exposed, so loops placed on the outside? to make a usable one-size-fits-all garment... Now you could re-do the velcro to custom-fit your dogs if you wanted, or even just sew a patch over an exposed/unused section of velcro-hooks.

Jordan Holland wrote:Haven't tried it, but I would have guessed a carding brush or slicker brush would work. And with a carding brush, it would be ready for spinning, lol!

Also my first thought. If a carding brush works a file card might work even better. Similar concept but shorter slightly thicker wires so they are less easy to bend.