How to Get Pet Hair Out of Laundry

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You love your pet, but you do not love the hair they leave all over everything, including your clothes and blankets. Before you toss the fur-covered laundry in the washer and dryer, brush off the loose strands so you don't clog your machines. Then add either fabric softener or vinegar to the wash to help remove the hair. Don't forget to clean your washing machine and dryer when you're done!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Getting Rid of Loose Pet Hair Before Washing

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  1. Take a kitchen sponge that you don’t plan on using for washing dishes anymore. Run the abrasive scrubbing side against the clothing or blanket to swipe off pet hair. [1]
    • Do this outside or over a trash bag so you don’t get hair all over your floors.
    • For hair that's tough to get off, you can use a damp sponge. Wet the sponge, then wring out any excess water before brushing the fabric.
  2. [2] Start with a clean adhesive sheet on your roller. Then roll it over the item, using smooth strokes in one direction. Pay special attention to any areas with a lot of hair.
    • Rip off the sheets as they become covered in hair to expose fresh sheets. Otherwise, the roller won’t be as effective at pulling up the hair.
    • You can also loosen the hair before using the lint roller by spraying static guard on the fabric.
    • Make your own lint roller by wrapping a piece of masking or packing tape around your hand with the sticky side facing out. Run your hand over the fabric to pick up hair. [3]
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  3. The warmth and moisture of the steam also releases trapped hair so it will be easier to remove in the wash. Fill the tank of the steamer with water, then lightly run the steamer over the fabric in downward strokes. [4]
    • Steamers are safe to use on delicate materials, like wool or velvet. Check the care instructions on the label of the item if you aren’t sure.
    • It’s easier to steam items when they’re hanging up.
    • If you’re on a budget, you can buy a handheld steamer, which typically costs around $30 to $40, instead of a standing steamer, which can cost over $100.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Removing Hair from Clothes in the Washer and Dryer

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  1. Put the hair-covered items in the dryer and turn it on a low-heat cycle, like permanent press. After 10 minutes, check the laundry. If there’s still a lot of hair on the pieces, run them in the dryer for another 5 to 10 minutes. [5]
    • Clean the lint trap after tossing the clothes to clear all of the hair from it.
    • It's important to get as much hair off of your garments as you can before washing it, so it doesn't get onto the rest of your clothes or stay in the washing machine. [6]
  2. Check the back of the bottle to find instructions on how much softener to use per load. Then, before turning on the washing machine, measure the right amount of fabric softener and pour it into the dispenser. [7]
    • Most fabric softener bottles have measuring caps that you can use to portion out the liquid. The dispenser in the machine itself may also have a fill line that you can use as a guide.
    • The fabric softener dispenser will either look like a tall cylinder in the center of your machine or a small compartment towards the top of the machine, depending on your model.
    • Never pour fabric softener directly into the drum of the washing machine.
    • For older washing machines, read the manual to find out if you need to wait and manually add the softener immediately before the last rinse cycle. Newer models do this automatically.
  3. The acetic acid in vinegar softens fabric, which frees up the pet hair that's stuck in the material. Measure out 1 ⁄ 2 cup (120 ml) of vinegar, then pour it into the fabric softener dispenser of your washing machine before turning it on. [8]
    • You can use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar if you’d like.
    • If you have an older washing machine, you may need to manually add the vinegar before the final rinse cycle. On newer models, you can put it in at the beginning and the machine will automatically dispense it when it’s rinsing.
    • Check the manual for your washing machine first to make sure it’s okay to use vinegar with your model.
  4. Dryer sheets eliminate static, which can keep hair stuck to the fabric. Place them in the dryer along with the wet clothes before you turn on the machine. If you have a light load of laundry, 1 sheet will work. For medium to heavy loads, use 2 sheets.
    • For fabric with a lot of static, like flannel, use an extra dryer sheet.
  5. Dryer balls remove static and stray hair just like dryer sheets, but the balls are biodegradable and reusable. They're also free of artificial ingredients, so they don't have a scent. Set the balls, which are about the size of tennis balls, in the dryer with the wet laundry before drying.
    • You can find wool dryer balls in the laundry aisle of big-box stores, or you can buy them from an online retailer.
  6. If the lint trap gets clogged while your laundry is drying, the hair can get spit back onto your clothes. Stop your dryer when it reaches the midpoint of its drying cycle and pull out the lint trap. Brush off any hair or lint that has accumulated, then replace the trap and resume the cycle. [9]
    • Depending on your dryer model, the lint trap is usually either on top of the dryer or just inside the door.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Pet Hair from Your Washer and Dryer

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  1. This will rinse out any extra hair that’s still inside the machine. Simply set the washing machine on a regular wash cycle and let it run without anything inside. [10]
    • For the deepest clean, choose the hottest setting and longest cycle on your washing machine.
    • Settings that are labeled “white” or “stains” tend to use the highest heat.
    • Choose “extra rinse” if you have that option on your machine.
  2. Otherwise, the next time you go to do laundry, the pet hair will just get tossed in with the clothes. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to pick up any strands that were left behind in the drums of either machine. [11]
    • If you want to sanitize your machine while you wipe it down, squeeze a few drops of laundry detergent onto your cloth or towel first.
    • Make sure you get in all the nooks and crannies, including the door and door seal, too.
  3. Use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to suck up any hair that was left behind in both machines. Do a sweep around the entire drums, including the tops and sides. If you're vacuuming the washing machine, make sure it's completely dry first. [12]
    • To dry the drum of the washing machine, leave the door open so it can air out, or wipe it down with a dry cloth.
    • You can buy different brush attachments for your vacuum cleaner from a houseware store, hardware store, or online retailer.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you get dog hair out of clothes?
    Safir Ali
    Laundry Specialist
    Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.
    Safir Ali
    Laundry Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Use a lint roller, or even some packing tape wrapped around your hand inside out, to pick up the pet hair from your garments. Repeat the process as best as you can, since pet hair can get onto other clothes during the washing cycle, or remain in the washing machine indefinitely.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
  • Question
    Can you remove pet hair in the washing machine?
    Safir Ali
    Laundry Specialist
    Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.
    Safir Ali
    Laundry Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It's best to remove the pet hair before you put the clothes in the washing machine because the pet hair will likely transfer all over your other laundry if you don't.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.stain-removal-101.com/removing-pet-hair.html
      2. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      3. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/cleaning-with-a-clothes-steamer
      5. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-let-pet-hair-ruin-your-washer/
      6. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      7. ↑ https://www.stain-removal-101.com/removing-pet-hair.html
      8. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-let-pet-hair-ruin-your-washer/
      9. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-let-pet-hair-ruin-your-washer/
      1. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-let-pet-hair-ruin-your-washer/
      2. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-let-pet-hair-ruin-your-washer/
      3. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a21448/pet-hair-removal-tip/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To get pet hair out of your laundry, remove as much hair from the clothes as you can before washing them. Brush loose hair away with a dry sponge, then remove stubborn hair that’s still clinging with a lint roller. You can also use a fabric steamer to loosen pet hair sticking to delicate garments. Before washing your clothes, tumble them in the dryer for 10 minutes to catch hair in the lint trap. When you put the laundry in the washing machine, add fabric softener to the dispenser, since this can help loosen stubborn hair. Alternatively, add ½ cup (120 mL) of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser. Transfer your clothes to the dryer and add 1-2 dryer sheets or 3-6 wool dryer balls to help reduce static, which can make hair stick to the clothes. Pause the dryer half-way through the cycle and clean the lint trap to remove any pet hair that’s caught there, then restart it and finish the cycle. To learn how to clean pet hair out of your washer and dryer, read on!

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