You wash the dog's blanket, then the next load of clean shirts comes out fuzzy. Pet hair is stubborn in the wash: water loosens it, the drum spreads it around, and some of it settles right back on the fabric. The good news is that most of the problem is solved before the washer even starts.
1. Get the loose hair off before washing
This is the step that makes the biggest difference. Take pet bedding, throws and covers outside and give them a good shake. Then go over the worst spots with a lint roller, a rubber glove or a reusable pet hair remover. Every clump you remove now is one less clump floating around in the drum.
2. Run a short dry cycle first
Ten minutes in the dryer on low or no heat, before washing, loosens a surprising amount of hair. Most of it ends up in the lint filter. Clean the filter right after.
3. Wash pet items separately
Don't mix the dog bed cover with your work clothes. Wash pet bedding, towels and blankets on their own, and don't overfill the drum. Laundry needs room to move so water can carry hair away.
4. Add something to catch hair in the wash
If you have a top-load washer, a floating hair catcher sits in the swirling water and collects some of the loose hair and lint during the wash. It won't catch everything, but it helps keep more of the fur off the next load. Our Laundry Pet Hair Catcher (2-Pack) is reusable: empty the net after each wash and use it again. Floating catchers are made for top-loaders and don't work well in front-load (drum) machines. With a front-loader, lean harder on steps 1, 2 and 5.
5. Clean the washer afterwards
After a load of pet bedding, wipe the drum and door seal with a damp cloth, clear out the drum filter if your machine has one, and run an empty rinse cycle now and then. Otherwise leftover hair can end up on your next load.
6. Dry, then clean the lint filter again
The dryer catches a lot of what the washer missed. Clean the lint filter before and after drying pet items.
The real fix: less loose hair in the first place
Brushing a few times a week catches loose undercoat on the brush instead of on your blankets. A slicker brush or a deshedding glove makes it quick. For more on shedding season, read Why Is My Dog Shedding So Much in Fall?, and for the couch, How to Get Dog Hair Off Your Couch.
Quick checklist
- Shake and de-fur bedding before washing
- 10 minutes in the dryer on low or no heat first
- Wash pet items separately, and don't overload
- Top-loader? Use a hair catcher in the wash
- Wipe the drum and clean the filters afterwards
