How to Remove Pet Hair from Laundry

You love your pets, but you certainly don’t like their hair sticking to everything, including clothes and blankets. Before tossing pet-stained clothes in the washer and dryer, brush away loose hairs to prevent clogging, followed by a fabric softener or vinegar to remove the fur. Don’t forget to clean the washer and dryer when it’s done!

Table of Contents

Remove loose fur before washing

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Use a dry sponge to brush all over the fabric to remove pet hair. Choose a sponge that you don’t plan on washing dishes anymore. Sweep the rough side of the sponge over clothing or blankets to brush away pet hair. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Do this step above the trash so that the fur doesn’t fall all over the floor.
With the furs firmly attached, you can use a damp sponge to brush. Wet the sponge, then wring out the water before applying it to the fabric.

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Remove any remaining hairs from the fabric with a duster. Use the clean side of the duster to roll over the fabric with a smooth, one-way brushing motion. Pay special attention to hairy areas. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Peel off the hairy part of the paper to use a new piece of paper; otherwise, the dust roller will lose its hair removal effect.
You can also de-shed your pet’s hair before using the duster by spraying the fabric with anti-static water.

How to make a temporary duster

Wrap a strip of tape around your hand, adhesive side on the outside. Use your hand to wrap the tape over the fabric to remove hair.

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Use a steam iron if fur gets on delicate fabrics. The warmth and moisture of the steam also helps the trapped hairs to loosen and wash away easily. Pour water into the drawer in the iron, then glide over the fabric in a downward direction. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Steam irons are safe for delicate materials like wool or velvet, but you should check the label on the product if you are unsure.
Hang the item up for easy handling.
If you don’t have a lot of money, you can buy a portable steam iron, which usually costs only a few hundred thousand dong instead of a standing steam iron for up to 2 million.

Removes fur on clothes when washing and drying

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Put the clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes before washing. Place the pet hair-covered item in the dryer and turn on a low-temperature drying cycle, such as the anti-wrinkle cycle. Check again after 10 minutes of drying. If the item still has a lot of hair on it, let the dryer run for another 5-10 minutes. ^{[4] X Trusted Source Consumer Reports Go to Source}

Clean the lint filter bag after putting the clothes in the dryer to remove the fur in them.

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Use fabric softener to remove the fur from the fabric. Read the instructions on the fabric softener bottle to find out how much to use for a load. Measure the correct amount of fabric softener and pour it into the reservoir before running the machine. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Most fabric softener bottles have a measuring cap that you can use to measure out just the right amount. The fabric softener compartment also often has a level mark that you can rely on to pour the right amount of fabric softener.
Depending on the model, the fabric softener dispenser can be a tall cylindrical tube in the center of the drum or a small top-mounted compartment near the washer door.
Never pour fabric softener directly into the drum.
With older washing machines, you’ll need to read the manual to see if fabric softener needs to be poured into the drum just before the last rinse. Newer models will do this automatically.

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Add white vinegar to the rinse cycle if you want a natural solution. The acetic acid in vinegar has a softening effect on the fabric, helping to loosen pet hair trapped in the fabric. Measure out ½ cup (120 ml) of vinegar and pour it into the fabric softener compartment in the washing machine before running it. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Consumer Reports Go to Source}

You can use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar if you like.
If you have an older washing machine, you may need to add vinegar before the final rinse. With the new washing machine, you can add vinegar from the beginning, and the machine will automatically pour vinegar into the drum when draining.
Re-read your washing machine manual to make sure you can use vinegar in your washing machine.

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Drop 1-2 sheets of scented paper into the dryer to eliminate scented static electricity. Drying scented paper helps to remove static electricity that can cause fur to stick to fabrics. Put the scented paper in the dryer with the wet clothes and turn it on. If the batch has few clothes, 1 sheet of scented paper is enough. Medium or full load requires 2 sheets of fragrant paper.

For fabrics with a lot of static electricity like flannel, you should use an extra sheet of scented paper.

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Put 3-6 wool balls in the dryer if you want an eco-friendly solution. Also works to remove static electricity and pet hair like scented paper, but the drying ball is a biodegradable and reusable material. They also don’t contain artificial ingredients, so there’s no fragrance. Put these tennis ball-sized wool balls in the dryer with the wet clothes and run the machine. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can find dry wool balls in the laundry section of supermarkets or buy them online.

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Clean the lint filter bag halfway through drying. If the lint filter bag gets clogged during drying, the fur can stick to the clothes. Stop the dryer when it reaches the halfway point of the drying cycle and pull out the lint filter bag. Remove any accumulated fur or lint, then attach the lint filter bag back and continue the drying cycle. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Consumer Reports Go to Source}

Depending on the dryer model, the lint filter bag is usually above or just inside the dryer door.

Clean pet hair in washer and dryer

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Run a wash cycle after taking out all the clothes. This will wash away any pet hair left in the machine. You just run the machine on its normal wash cycle but nothing inside. ^{[9] X Trusted Source Consumer Reports Go to Source}

For a thorough cleaning, choose the hottest and longest wash on the washing machine.
Wash cycles marked “white” or “stains” typically use the hottest water.
Select “extra rinse” if your washing machine has this option.

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Clean the inside of the washer and dryer if there is still any pet hair left behind. If you do not clean the machine, pet hair will stick to the clothes in the next wash. Use a damp rag or paper towel to wipe away any remaining hairs in the machine. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Consumer Reports Go to Source}

If you want the machine to be cleaner while cleaning, you can add a few drops of laundry detergent to a rag or towel before wiping.
Be sure to clean all nooks and crannies, including the washer door and washer door seals.

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Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining fur in the washer or dryer. Use the soft brush attached to the vacuum cleaner to suck out the hair inside the washer and dryer. Suction the entire inside of the machine cage, both above and around the sides of the machine. If it’s a washing machine, make sure it’s dry before vacuuming. ^{[11] X Research Source}

To dry the drum of the washing machine, you can leave the door ajar to dry naturally or wipe it with a dry rag.
Various brush heads to attach to the vacuum cleaner are available at home appliance stores, or you can purchase them from online retailers.

Steps

Remove loose fur before washing

Removes fur on clothes when washing and drying

Clean pet hair in washer and dryer

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