We love our pets, but we don’t love wearing their fur coats. Even with unconditional love for your four-legged friend, nobody wants to leave the house covered in lint and fuzz.
Removing pet hair from clothes doesn’t have to be a constant battle. With a few simple laundry hacks and preventative measures, you can keep your wardrobe fresh, professional, and fur-free.
Key Takeaways
- Prevention is key: Brush your pet daily and vacuum frequently to minimize the amount of loose hair in your home.
- Pre-treat laundry: Run clothes through a 10-minute “no heat” dryer cycle with a dryer sheet before washing to loosen hair.
- Use additives: Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle to relax fabric fibers and release trapped hair.
- Maintenance matters: Clean your washing machine filter and dryer lint trap after every use to prevent clogs and fire hazards.
Can Pet Hair Ruin a Washing Machine?
Yes, pet hair can absolutely ruin your washing machine over time. While it is tempting to toss fur-covered blankets directly into the wash, wet hair clumps together instantly.
These wet clumps can get trapped in the water filter, clog drain pumps, and stick to the sides of the drum. This prevents water from draining properly and creates a breeding ground for mold and bad odors. Eventually, this can lead to expensive plumbing repairs or a broken machine.
How to Remove Pet Hair From Laundry
Protect your wardrobe and your appliances with these proven methods for removing pet hair.
1. Brush Your Pet Daily
Stopping the problem at the source is the most effective strategy. We recommend brushing your pet daily to trap loose fur before it ends up on your sofa or sweater. There are plenty of effective grooming tools available, such as the Hertzko Slicker Brush. Always dispose of the collected hair in the trash immediately.
2. Manually Remove Excess Hair
Before you throw clothes in the hamper, give them a quick pass with a lint roller or a pet hair remover. This prevents the bulk of the hair from entering your plumbing system. If you are out of lint roller sheets, use a damp rubber glove or a wet sponge. Simply run the glove over the fabric, and the friction will ball up the hair for easy removal.
3. The Dryer Trick (Pre-Wash)
This is the most important step for heavy shedders. Toss your dry, hairy clothes into the dryer before you wash them. Run a “no heat” or “air fluff” cycle for 10 minutes along with a dryer sheet or wool dryer balls. The movement and airflow loosen the hair, which gets caught in the lint trap. Shake the clothes out, then wash them as normal.
4. Choose Resistant Fabrics
If you are buying new clothes or furniture covers, keep your pet in mind. Tightly woven fabrics repel hair better than loose knits. Materials like velvet, corduroy, and fleece act like hair magnets. Conversely, synthetic blends, leather, satin, and tightly woven cotton are much easier to keep clean.
5. Clean Your Washer and Dryer
Hair buildup reduces your machine’s efficiency. We recommend cleaning your washing machine once a month to flush out hidden fur. Wipe down the drum and the rubber door seal after heavy loads to catch stray hairs.
Safety First
6. Protect Pet Beds
Your pet’s bed is likely the hairiest item in the house. Use a removable, washable cover on their bed or favorite sleeping spot. When it gets dirty, you can easily unzip the cover, shake it outside, and wash it separately. Washing pet bedding separately prevents cross-contamination with your work clothes.
7. Vacuum Frequently
Reducing the amount of hair in your environment keeps it off your clothes. This means vacuuming floors and upholstery more often, perhaps even daily during shedding season. Consider getting a vacuum specifically engineered for fur, like the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser.
8. Use Distilled White Vinegar
Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to your washing machine’s rinse cycle. The acid in the vinegar relaxes fabric fibers, making it easier for the water to flush out trapped hair. It also acts as a natural fabric softener and deodorizer. If you dislike the smell, you can add a drop of pet-safe essential oil, though the vinegar smell typically vanishes once dry.
Warning
How to Remove Pet Hair From Bedding
If your pet sleeps in your bed (or sneaks in while you are at work), your sheets likely need extra attention. Follow this process for the best results:
- Manual removal: Put on damp rubber gloves and wipe them over the duvet and pillows to ball up loose hair. Dispose of the clumps in the trash.
- Pre-dry cycle: Toss the bedding into the dryer with dryer balls. Run on a no-heat cycle for 10 minutes to loosen remaining debris.
- Clear the trap: Empty the lint trap immediately after this pre-cycle.
- Wash with vinegar: Transfer bedding to the washer. Add your regular detergent plus one cup of white vinegar to the rinse compartment.
- Avoid overcrowding: Do not stuff the washer too full. The clothes need room to tumble so the water can flush the hair away.
- Final dry: Dry as normal. Clean the lint trap halfway through the cycle if the bedding was particularly hairy.
- Wipe down: Once finished, wipe the inside of your washer and dryer drums with a damp cloth to pick up any stragglers.
FAQs
What Dissolves Pet Hair in the Washing Machine?
Chemicals that fully dissolve hair (like drain cleaners) are too harsh for clothing. However, in the UK, a product called Vamoosh claims to dissolve hair during the wash. For US readers, distilled white vinegar helps loosen hair, and chlorine bleach can help break down hair fibers, but bleach should only be used on pure white fabrics according to the care label.
Do Dryer Balls Get Rid of Pet Hair?
Yes, dryer balls are excellent for this. They separate clothes during the tumble cycle, allowing more airflow to blow hair into the lint trap. They also reduce static electricity, which is what makes hair stick to fabric in the first place. They are a great alternative to dryer sheets.
Does Fabric Softener Help Remove Pet Hair?
Fabric softener coats fibers, making them slicker, which helps release pet hair. However, it can also cause buildup in your machine over time. A DIY spray of water and a teaspoon of softener can be used on upholstery to loosen hair before vacuuming. For laundry, we prefer white vinegar as a safer, natural alternative that achieves similar results.
How Do I Get Dog Hair Off a Fleece Blanket?
Fleece loves to hold onto hair. To clean it, vacuum the blanket first using an upholstery attachment. Next, run it through the dryer on “air fluff” (no heat) for 10 minutes to pull off loose fur. Finally, wash it with vinegar in the rinse cycle. Avoid using standard fabric softener on fleece, as it can affect the texture.
What Fabrics Repel Pet Hair Best?
If you want to stop using the lint roller every morning, look for tightly woven, smooth fabrics. The best materials for repelling hair include:
- Leather (and faux leather).
- Silk and Satin.
- 100% Cotton (tight weave).
- Denim.
- Rayon/Viscose.
- Microfiber.
- Spandex and Nylon.
- Canvas.
Avoid velvet, corduroy, flannel, and loose knits, as hair embeds itself deep into these fibers.
What Can I Put in the Dryer to Remove Pet Hair?
To maximize hair removal, add dryer sheets or wool dryer balls to the load. These reduce static cling, preventing the hair from sticking to clothes. You can also buy sticky silicone “paws” (like FurZapper) that tumble with the clothes and help knock hair loose.
Do Washing Machine Hair Catchers Work?
Yes, floating mesh bags and silicone hair catchers can work well, especially in top-loading washing machines. They float on top of the water and trap hair and lint that floats to the surface, preventing it from clogging the drain or re-depositing on your clothes.
How Do I Clean Pet Hair Out of the Washer Drum?
After a hairy load, leave the washer door open to let the drum dry completely. Once dry, use the soft brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to suck up the hair clumps. finish by wiping the drum and the glass door with a damp microfiber cloth.
Fur-Free Laundry
Dealing with pet shedding can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to ruin your appliances or your outfit. By adding a pre-wash dryer cycle and using vinegar in your rinse, you can keep the fluff under control.
Remember, the best defense is a good offense: brush your pets regularly, and your washing machine will thank you.
