How to Get Pet Hair Out of Laundry (Washer, Dryer & Before the Wash)

How to Get Pet Hair Out of Laundry (Washer, Dryer & Before the Wash)
TL;DR Washing machines don't remove pet hair — they redistribute it (onto other clothes and into the drum and drain). The fix is a 60-second pre-wash de-hairing: electrostatic mitt or reusable roller over each item, then a 10-minute no-heat dryer tumble before washing. Hair that never enters the washer can't come back out of it.

Why the washer makes pet hair worse

Wet hair clumps, sticks to fabric, and rides the rinse water into the drum seals, filter and drain hose. Over time it can slow draining and leave every "clean" load wearing a fur dusting. The efficient order of operations: remove dry hair first, wash second.

The pre-wash minute (removes most of it)

  1. Electrostatic mitt or fur roller over each garment — 4–6 passes per side. Dry hair lifts far more easily than wet.
  2. 10-minute tumble in the dryer on NO heat. The airflow pulls loose hair into the lint trap before water ever touches it.
  3. Shake each item out over the bin, then wash normally.

In the wash itself

  • Wash pet blankets and their bedding separately from your clothes.
  • Don't overload — hair needs free-flowing water to rinse away.
  • An extra rinse cycle helps heavy offenders (looking at you, fleece).
  • White vinegar in the rinse compartment relaxes fabric so hair releases more easily.

Keep the machine itself fur-free

Once a month: run an empty hot cycle, wipe the door seal (fur hides in the fold), and clear the drain filter — you'll be amazed what a month of dog collects. Keeping pets' bedding de-haired between washes (a quick roller pass) cuts what reaches the machine at all; general pet-household hygiene basics are covered in the CDC's healthy pets guidance.

Stop it upstream

Laundry hair is just shedding with extra steps. During coat-blow weeks, a daily deshedding glove session removes the fur before it hits clothes, couch or car. For the rest of the house: carpet, car, and clothes you're already wearing.

The 60-second pre-wash tool — Furly Static Mitt →

Laundry FAQs

Do dryer sheets remove pet hair?

They reduce static so hair releases in the dryer — helpful in the no-heat pre-tumble, but they don't replace physical removal on heavy items.

Why is there hair on clothes after washing?

Hair from previous loads lives in the drum, seal and filter, and re-deposits. Clean the machine and pre-de-hair future loads.

Can pet hair damage a washing machine?

Accumulated hair can clog the drain pump filter and slow draining. Monthly filter cleaning prevents it.