Removing Pet Hair From Laundry | NoScrubs Laundry For Pet Owners

Our furry friends bring great joy, but with great joy comes great fur. Everywhere. Pet owners know the struggle of finding fur all over clothes and linens. Regardless of how elegant your clothes might be, all it takes is one strand of pet hair on it to ruin your image. Apart from ruining outfits, pet hair can clog machines and leave residue. Removing pet hair from laundry is good for both your image and your washing machine. 

Especially if you have a dog, laundry can be brutal. Here are actionable dog hair laundry solutions without any fluff (or fur). These step by step techniques and expert tips allow you to remove pet hair from your laundry once and for all.

Why pet hair clings to laundry

If you’ve ever wondered why your dog’s hair is all over your clothes, there’s actually a scientific reason for it. Pet hair naturally electrostatically attaches to the fibers on your clothes. 

Fabrics more prone to pet hair:

• Fleece
• Wool
• Cotton

In standard washing machines, water and tumbling simply transfers the pet hair to laundry items that are with it. This can clog filters and drains over time.

How to get dog hair out of laundry before wash

You can actually take this actions before you chuck your clothes into the laundry machine instead of having to battle with the dog hair laundry after.

Shake or roll 

Shake the garments outside firmly to get any pet hair off. Use dog brushes or try to get most of the hair off before the laundry heads into the machine.

Pet Hair Removal Brush or Lint Roller

These sticky rollers will get hair off much quicker than simply shaking or trying to get the hair off manually. Sticky rollers attach to the hair immediately while rubber hair removal bulrushes also lift hair effectively. 

Soak in Vinegar

• Add half a cup of vinegar to cold water and toss in your laundry
• Let this soak for 30-60 minutes for full effect
• Vinegar balances pH and reduces any static cling so the pet hair which helps in removing pet hair from laundry

How to remove dog hair from clothes in washing machine

Once the laundry has hit the machine, there are still steps you can take to make sure it comes out clean, fresh and fur-free. 

Use Dryer Sheets in the washer

Dryer sheets break up static before you use the dryer. This allows the pet hair to loosen and rinse away. Static reduction is the primary aim to get pet hair off your clothes and this prevents the hair from embedding onto your clothes. 

Clean the lint trap

Pet hair accumulates quickly and blocks airflow which can ruin laundry loads quietly. Make sure to check and clean the lint trap even if it doesn’t look full, right after a load with pet hair.

Use a microfiber cloth

In a sacrificial act, the microfiber cloth will act as a magnet and attract all the pet hair that could be on your clothing or bedding. Once you’re done with the load, you’ll need to wash this cloth out separately and make sure not to reuse it. 

Use a damp towel

Similar to the microfiber cloth, a damp towel will attract pet hair as a magnet. The rest of your laundry will be clean, hair and fur free. This towel must be washed separately later on. 

Add tennis ball/dryer ball to the wash

These agitate the clothes and knocks hair off your clothes or laundry items. This removes pet hair from laundry and also softens up your clothes in the process. If you don’t have a dryer ball, a tennis ball will do the trick!

Dry correctly

Always try to air dry when possible. If that’s not an option then go for dryers. This isn’t recommended though because dryer heat can set stains and accelerate any yellowing caused by oxidation. UV light from sunlight actually naturally bleaches whites, especially cotton which helps whiten your clothes. 

Dog hair and laundry for pets

What about items like 

• Pet bedding
• Pet clothes
• Pet bedsheets

Or any other items of laundry that has a large amount of pet hair on it? For these items you must follow a step-by-step process to make sure your washing machine isn’t affected.

• Pre-treat your laundry. Try to get as much of hair off as possible before the laundry is put into your washing machine. Use brushes, shake vigorously or use a lint roller to achieve this.
• Clean the lint trap: Right after washing, empty the lint trap so that pet hair doesn’t build up and clog your dryer. This is a dangerous fire hazard and can go unnoticed if you don’t do it immediately.
• Use vinegar to clean your washing machine: Run an empty cycle with hot water and cup of white vinegar. This will keep your washing machine smelling fresh and break down and residue.
• Wipe down your machine: Do this after you finish a load of pet laundry because the hair leftover on the machine could potentially transfer to clean clothes in the next load. 

Laundry tips for pet owners

• Brush your pet regularly to manage pet hair around the house and on clothing.
• Make sure your pet receives frequent trims and cuts as necessary.
• Use a dedicated pet detergent for odors and sensitivity.
• Never use fabric softener with pet laundry because they can trap pet hair and reduce absorbency.
• Use enzymatic detergents or detergents made for odor control if you find pet laundry smells after washing.
• Use vinegar and baking soda to handle odor from pets on your laundry.

Why busy pet owners use NoScrubs 

NoScrubs is a laundry pickup and delivery service that handles pickup, wash, dry, fold and drop off in as little as 4 hours. We save you the time it takes to clean numerous items and reduce the wear that this could have on your home washer. You won’t have to worry about clogging your washing machine or taking hours to do laundry. Explore our pricing plans or build your own with us! Let us know about your pet laundry concerns when placing your order and scheduling a pickup. We’ll take care of it from there so you can say goodbye to stressful laundry days.