As much as we love our furry friends, no one wants to be constantly covered in their pet’s hair. Cats and dogs shed…a lot. That hair gets all over the house, in your drains, on your rugs, and on your sheets and your clothes. It seems no matter how much we brush our little (or not so little) friends, their hair still sticks to fabrics and just never goes away. We have several tips and tricks you can use to remove pet hair from your laundry.
Prevent Hair from Getting in Your Washer and Dryer
The best way of keeping pet hair out of your laundry is prevention. Obviously, you can’t prevent your furry friend from shedding, but you can give them a quick grooming with a brush every day. Keeping up on vacuuming and sweeping will also help prevent pet hair from making it to the laundry room.
Deep Clean Your Washer and Dryer
If you have a pet that sheds a lot, it is crucial that you keep up with deep cleaning your washer and dryer. Once a month, let your washing machine tub air dry. Then use a vacuum cleaner attachment to clean out as much hair as possible. Giving the inside a good wipe down, including the rubber lip of the machine, will ensure you’re getting in all the crevices that your pet’s hair could be hiding. Lastly, throw in two cups of white vinegar, a cup of baking soda, and three cups of hot water into the tub and run the “tub clean” cycle.
Keeping your dryer clean starts with removing pet hair from the lint trap. Once a month or as you see hair build-up, use a vacuum attachment to remove excess hair from the lint trap and inside the machine. Then, wipe the inside of the dryer with a cleaning cloth.
Clean Your Pet’s Bed or Sleeping Area Often
If you’re dealing with an excess of pet hair in the areas that your pet likes to sleep, such as the sofa or bed, consider protecting those areas with designated covers. If your pet has their own bed, get into the habit of washing it weekly to keep hair and pet smells out. Before throwing it into the washing machine, make sure you brush, vacuum, or use tape to remove as much hair from the bed as possible. Check the label for washing instructions. If it will fit, throwing the bed in the dryer with a dryer sheet can help prevent static. If you choose to dry the bed in the dryer, make sure you clean the lint trap periodically throughout the cycle.
Use Pet Hair Removing Tools
Pet Hair-Specific Dryer Sheets
- Dryer sheets, especially designed to remove pet hair, are a great tool for removing unwanted pet hair. The antistatic properties of dryer sheets help loosen the hair from fabrics and usually have a great scent to combat your pet’s smell.
Fur Zappers
- Fur Zappers are slightly tacky silicone pieces that are designed to collect and hold fur during washing and drying cycles. Fur Zappers should not be used with fabric softener or dryer sheets, but can be used with wool dryer balls.You should rinse the Fur Zappers after every few loads, but because of their durable design they last about a year.
Wool Dryer Balls
- This reusable solution is perfect for loosening pet hair and preventing wrinkles in your clothing. Simply place these wool balls in your dryer along with your load of fur-ridden clothing. They’re a great alternative to dryer sheets – especially if anyone in your home is sensitive to strong smells. It’s best to layer the wool balls within your laundry rather than throwing them into the dryer right before or directly after loading all of your clothes into the machine. This will cut down on noise while the cycle is running and make the balls more effective overall.
Pet hair is one of the many things we have to wrestle with as dog owners. However, it’s clear our furry-family members are so worth the extra effort. Hopefully, these strategies make it a little bit easier for you to keep your clothes and home hair-free. And don’t forget to call ASAP for your appliance repair and plumbing needs!