How to Get Dog Hair Out of Your Washing Machine & Laundry
How to Get Dog Hair Out of Your Washing Machine & Laundry
If you have a dog at home, you already know that fur has a way of getting everywhere.
Your clothes, towels, blankets, bedsheets—and eventually even your washing machine—can collect loose dog hair. And while washing your laundry should make everything cleaner, heavily shedding clothes can sometimes leave hair behind inside the washer.
The good news is that you don't need to completely change your laundry routine.
With a few simple habits, you can reduce loose dog hair on your clothes and help keep your washing machine cleaner.
Why Does Dog Hair Stay on Clothes After Washing?
Dog hair can cling strongly to fabric, especially when clothing becomes covered with loose fur before it enters the washing machine.
During a wash cycle, some of that hair may loosen from clothing, while other strands can remain trapped between fabric fibers.
Loose hair may also collect around parts of your washing machine, including the door seal, drum, filter, or other areas depending on the appliance.
That's why removing excess hair before washing can make a noticeable difference.
1. Remove Excess Hair Before Washing
Before putting heavily hairy clothes into the washing machine, take a moment to remove as much loose fur as possible.
You can use:
- A lint roller
- Clothes brush
- Rubber glove
- Fabric brush
- Your hands for larger clumps
You don't need to remove every strand. The goal is simply to reduce the amount of loose hair going into the washer.
2. Shake Your Clothes Outside
This is one of the easiest methods.
Take heavily fur-covered clothing, blankets, or towels outside and shake them thoroughly.
Loose hair can fall away before the laundry reaches your washing machine.
If you live in an apartment or don't have outdoor space, shake the items over an easy-to-clean surface instead.
3. Separate Very Hairy Items
If your dog's favorite blanket is covered in fur, don't automatically throw it into a mixed load with your everyday clothes.
Separating heavily hairy items can help prevent loose fur from spreading across other garments.
Consider creating a separate load for:
Pet blankets + towels + heavily hairy fabrics
and another for:
Regular clothing + lightly affected laundry.
4. Check the Washing Machine After Hairy Loads
After washing heavily hairy laundry, inspect the areas around your machine where hair and lint may collect.
Depending on your washing machine, check areas such as:
- Door gasket
- Drum
- Lint/filter area
- Detergent drawer
- Drain or filter area, where applicable
Always follow your washing machine manufacturer's cleaning and maintenance instructions.
5. Use a Dryer When the Fabric Allows It
For clothing and fabrics that are suitable for tumble drying, a dryer cycle can help loosen some pet hair from fabrics.
Before using a dryer, always check the garment care label.
Afterward, clean the lint filter according to your dryer's instructions.
This simple step can help keep accumulated lint and hair from building up.
6. Try Reusable Pet Hair Remover Balls
A reusable pet hair remover can be a convenient addition to your laundry routine.
Place the balls inside your washing machine or dryer with your laundry.
As the clothes move through the cycle, the textured surface of the balls is designed to help collect loose pet hair, lint, and fuzz.
After the cycle:
- Remove the balls.
- Pull off collected hair and lint.
- Clean the balls.
- Let them dry.
- Reuse them for your next load.
It's a simple approach for households dealing with pet hair regularly.
7. Groom Your Dog Regularly
The easiest hair to clean is the hair that doesn't reach your clothes in the first place.
Regular grooming can help manage loose fur before it ends up around your home.
Your dog's grooming needs depend on factors such as breed, coat type, and shedding pattern.
If you're unsure about the right grooming routine, speak with a professional groomer or veterinarian.
8. Wash Pet Bedding Regularly
Pet bedding can collect a significant amount of loose hair.
Wash your dog's blankets, bedding, and washable accessories regularly according to their care instructions.
Before washing:
Shake → Brush → Remove Excess Hair → Wash
This can help reduce the amount of loose fur entering your washing machine.
9. Don't Overload the Washing Machine
An overloaded washing machine can restrict movement inside the drum and prevent laundry from being cleaned effectively.
Follow your appliance manufacturer's recommendations for load size.
Giving clothes enough room to move through the cycle can help the washing process work as intended.
10. Create a Simple Dog-Hair Laundry Routine
You don't need a complicated cleaning system.
A simple routine can make pet hair management much easier:
Before Washing
Remove excessive loose hair.
During Washing
Use your normal appropriate cycle and consider a reusable pet hair remover.
After Washing
Check your laundry and clean your appliance as recommended.
Weekly
Clean commonly affected areas and maintain your washing machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Can You Completely Remove Dog Hair From Laundry?
Probably not from every load.
The amount of hair that remains can depend on:
- Fabric type
- Amount of shedding
- Laundry load size
- Washing method
- Dryer use
- How much loose hair was removed beforehand
Instead of expecting every single strand to disappear, focus on reducing the amount of loose hair throughout your laundry routine.
How NovaCart Can Help
NovaCart Reusable Pet Hair Remover Balls are designed to be used with your regular washing or drying routine.
With 4 reusable balls in every pack, they're an easy laundry accessory for homes with dogs and cats.
Simply add them to your laundry, run your normal cycle, remove collected hair and lint afterward, clean the balls, and reuse them.
Less loose fur. Cleaner laundry. A simpler routine.
