How to Get Pet Hair Out of Laundry
Minimizing Pet Hair at the Source
Reducing the amount of fur in your laundry starts with managing your pet’s shedding. Some breeds require more frequent trips to the groomer than others—and some don’t need to go at all—but even shorthaired breeds can be heavy shedders. Even if your pet isn’t particularly shaggy or fluffy, try to brush them frequently to help loosen and remove fur before it ends up all over your clothes. For dogs, regular bathing can help wash away dead hair. Just be sure not to give Fido a bath too often, as over-bathing can lead to skin irritation.
Taking Care of Pet Hair Before Washing
Before throwing your clothes or sheets in the laundry, try to remove as much pet hair as you can. For clothing, use a lint roller or opt for a microfiber or rubber brush, for a reusable option that creates less waste. Many specialized pet-hair removal brushes utilize microfiber or rubber bristles to easily pick up fur from fabrics and upholstery (bye bye, hairy couch!). And if you’re washing something like throw blankets or pet beds, sometimes a good shake outside will remove a decent amount of pet hair, too.
For a less hands-on method, you can use your dryer. Before washing your laundry, throw it in the dryer on the lowest tumble setting, either low or no heat. For an added boost, use an anti-static spray like Truly Free Home Wrinkle & Static Releaser. This will help make it easier for the dryer to loosen the fur from your laundry and pull it into the lint trap—just don’t forget to clean the lint trap after.
Taking Care of Pet Hair While Washing
It’s important to remove as much fur as possible before it gets to the washer, but once in the laundry, there are additional methods for managing pet fur. Some newer washing machines even have specific pet hair cycles. These settings often include increased water flow or pressure and longer wash times to loosen and remove the hair. Even if your machine doesn’t have one of these settings though, there are still things you can do to get fur out in the wash.
Use a fabric softener like Truly Free Home Softening Rinse to reduce static cling. Static electricity is what makes pet hair stick to clothing and upholstery. Both fabrics and your pet’s fur carry an electric charge. When these two things rub together and create friction, static electricity is generated, making them cling together.
Taking Care of Pet Hair After Washing
While laundering your clothes can help remove pet hair from the clothing, it can also get it stuck in the washing machine. When fur gets wet, it clumps together and can stick to the drum or clog drains. Cleaning your washer regularly is important, but especially after washing pet hair-heavy items, it’s good to give it a little extra care. Wipe out the washer drum with a damp reusable cloth to remove any residual pet hair that may be sticking around. This helps make sure that pet hair isn’t redeposited into your laundry next time you go to do the wash.
For best results, combine these methods to keep your laundry pet hair free—and get back to snuggling with your furbaby without worrying about the hair.
