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Home > General > How to Remove Pet Hair From Laundry: 8 Easy Ways

How to Remove Pet Hair From Laundry: 8 Easy Ways

lint roller on laundry

Finding pet hair on clothes and furniture is a common issue that pet owners experience. There are many things you can do to manage shedding in your home, and one thing you can try is changing up your laundry routine. You can see a reduction in pet hair that remains on your clothes by adding one or two simple steps to your usual laundry routine. Here are some ways you can remove pet hair from your laundry.

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Before You Start

Simply changing up your laundry routine won’t remove pet hair from your clothes for good. It’s a good idea to also look for methods to reduce shedding around the house altogether. As long as your dog has hair, they will shed, even if they have a low-shedding coat. However, you can do some things to minimize the amount of loose hair scattered around your home.

First, make sure to keep up with grooming routines and brush your dog regularly. This will help pick up dead and loose hairs from your dog’s coat before they can get on any of your clothes or furniture. You can also use deshedding tools and shed control shampoo to help manage shedding.

Make sure to also wash your dog’s blankets, pillows, and furniture regularly. These items will trap a lot of hair, which will end up traveling to your clothes and furniture. If your dog sleeps on your bed, it’s important to wash your own bedding regularly to get rid of pet hair.

The 8 Ways to Remove Pet Hair from Laundry

1. Remove Hair Before Washing

It does take extra time, but using a lint roller, tape, or pet hair remover tool before putting your clothes in the washer is an effective way to help your wash cycle get rid of pet hair. You can also try using a hand-held vacuum to pick up hair from your clothes. By removing some hair before washing, you’ll reduce the amount of hair that tumbles around your washer and dryer.

Woman removing hair from yellow knitted jacket with lint roller
Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

2. Dryer Sheets

One reason why pet hair clings to clothes in the dryer is because of static. Dryer sheets can help lift pet hair from fabrics by reducing static and letting the hairs fall into the lint trap. Because pet hair on clothing is so common, you can find several kinds of dryer sheets specifically designed to help remove pet hair.


3. Dryer, Washer, Dryer Method

Sometimes, it helps to put your laundry in the dryer before putting it in the washer. A quick tumble in the dryer can help soften the fabric, which then loosens pet hair. Just run the dryer for about 10 minutes on a no-heat or low-heat cycle. Then, toss them in the washer and continue doing your laundry as you normally would.

opens a washing machine or dryer at night with many colorful clean fresh hand towels
Image Credit: r.classsen, Shutterstock

4. Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls are an eco-friendly alternative and perform similarly to dryer sheets when it comes to removing pet hair. When they’re added to a dryer cycle, they help separate wet clothes and improve air circulation. They also reduce static by absorbing moisture at the beginning of the cycle and releasing it near the end. So, along with helping to remove pet hair, they can reduce time and energy usage from your dryer.


5. Fur Zappers

Fur zappers are like wool dryer balls, except they’re made with silicone. They can be used in either the washer or dryer, and they’re designed to lift and pick up pet hair from clothes so that pet hair lands in the lint trap or goes down the drain more easily. They’re also reusable and an eco-friendlier option than individual dryer sheets.

Black cat looking at laundry machine with green rubber pet hair remover
Image Credit: AndriiKoval, Shutterstock

6. Clean the Washer and Dryer Regularly

Cleaning and maintaining your washer and dryer regularly ensures that they’re working in their most optimal condition. Always wipe up lint from the lint trap before using your dryer. Run a cleaning cycle for your washer every once in a while, and make sure to check for any clogging in the detergent drawer. It’s also helpful to inspect the washing machine filter and clean out any debris caught in it.


7. Rinse Clothes With Vinegar

Vinegar helps to soften fabrics and loosen pet hair from them. It can also be used to brighten your clothes. As a rule of thumb, you can add between ¼ cup to ½ cup of vinegar to your wash cycle.

Just keep in mind that vinegar isn’t meant to be used regularly with your laundry. Using vinegar too frequently can damage your clothing. Some materials, like elastic and vinyl prints, can deteriorate when they’re soaked with vinegar. Using too much vinegar too frequently can also damage rubber pieces in your washer.

Close up hand pouring the vinegar into the front-loading drawer
Image Credit: Leestudio, Shutterstock

8. Use Washer Steam Setting

Some washers have a steam setting that’s designed to sanitize and remove allergens from fabrics. When you use the steam setting, your clothes will get more thoroughly soaked, which helps to loosen pet hairs from the fibers on your clothes. Just keep in mind that steam settings tend to use a considerable amount of extra water and energy than a regular wash cycle. So, it’s not recommended to use it frequently.

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Removing Pet Odors from Laundry

Pet hair isn’t the only stubborn thing that sticks to clothes. Pet odors can also linger even after they go through a wash cycle. Fortunately, there are some things you can try to get rid of odors for good. Scented dryer sheets can help deodorize smells, so using them is an effective and efficient way to get rid of pet hairs and odors at the same time.

Baking soda is another effective deodorizer, and you can pair it with vinegar to loosen pet hair and give your laundry detergent an extra boost to remove stains. However, one of the best ways to get rid of pet odors from clothes is to invest in a high-quality pet deodorizing spray. All you have to do is spray your laundry before putting it in the washer, and it’ll work to lift and remove odors from your clothes for good.

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Conclusion

Changing up your laundry routine every once in a while can help reduce the amount of pet hair that clings to your clothes. Just keep in mind that it’s more effective to tackle pet hair from multiple angles. Setting up house cleaning routines and grooming routines is a great way to reduce the amount of loose hair that gets caught in clothing and furniture. When you already have these routines established, you’ll find that using pet hair removal tricks with your laundry will work better, and your laundry will come out with much less pet hair on it.

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