No matter how much we love and care for our furry family members, they still shed. Worse still, pet hair tends to cling to fabrics, making it even more difficult to get rid of. If you don't take proper precautions, your washer and dryer could become a fur factory. What should you do if you discover pet hair in the washing machine?
Loose pet hair can build up in the washer or dryer and cause much bigger problems. When pet hair gets wet, it clumps and gets stuck inside the machine. They can also clog the machine or drain if they get caught in the water filter. Learn the best ways to get rid of pet hair in the washing machine and dryer below.
You should first try to prevent pet hair in the washing machine.
Brush pet regularly and use lint roller
Comb your pet with special combs to remove loose hair to keep your machine hair-free. Before putting your bedding and clothing in the washing machine, vacuum them or use a lint roller to remove any remaining hair. A lint roller can be a useful tool for removing pet hair from clothing, especially when it comes to knitwear. Instead of using a lint roller, you can dab the hair-covered areas with tape.
Anti-lint balls and pet hair removers
Need a solution to keep pet hair outyour clothingto wash? You can remove and collect pet hair by using an anti-lint ball or pet hair remover in the washing machine or dryer.
Scrub your washing machine thoroughly
You should clean your washing machine regularly: Once a month, use the vacuum attachment to remove as much hair as possible from the washing machine drum after letting the drum air dry (by leaving the door open for a day). Then clean them thoroughly with a damp cloth, making sure to get between the rubber seals. To clean the drum thoroughly, add 500ml of white vinegar, 300g of baking soda and 750ml of hot water before the wash cycle.
Clean dryer often
The dryer's lint traps and pet hair buildup inside need to be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis, much like your washing machine. Use the vacuum attachment to remove excess hair from the drum and filters, and wipe the inside of your dryer with a cleaning cloth once a month or when hair begins to build up. To ensure that the dryer continues to function properly and reduce the risk of fire, it should be thoroughly cleaned every 6 - 12 months.
Gently steam delicate fabrics with a handheld steamer
Use a hand steamer to remove pet hair from delicate clothing. The softer fabric makes removing pet hair a breeze. You can then remove the hair from the fabric with a lint roller, a clothes brush or by hand.
Dry before washing
One way to remove pet hair is this helpful method. Tumble dry hair-covered items on low heat instead of washing them first. This setting allows you to loosen pet hair on dry clothes and allows the lint trap to catch the residue. Simply use the dryer on low for about 10 minutes. After drying the laundry in the tumble dryer, you can continue with the normal washing process. Always check the care label at what temperature and how often you use yoursto make the laundryshould. This way you can significantly reduce the amount of pet hair in the washing machine.
Use dryer sheets
Dryer sheets can help minimize static on clothes, whether you use a regular laundry load or the dry, wash and dry method. The reduced static electricity makes it easier for the dryer's lint trap to catch pet hair that would otherwise cling to clothing. To keep the dryer working optimally, keep the lint trap clean after each load.
Lacking dryer sheets? No problem. Dryer balls are a good alternative to traditional dryer sheets because they prevent static and trap less pet hair.
Pet hair in the washing machine: vinegar helps
Vinegar is a practical household product for removing pet hair and other stubborn dirt. The softening properties of vinegar help remove stubborn dog hair from your clothes.
Add about 100 ml of white vinegar to the washing machine during the final rinse cycle. You can do less at firstUse vinegar, if the smell bothers you, but it usually disappears when the clothes are dried.
Remove animal hair with baking soda
Baking soda can remove pet hair and also unpleasant odors from the washing machine, which is an advantage considering that pet supplies occasionally have an unpleasant smell.
This is how it works:
- Add 300g of baking soda to the drum of the empty washing machine.
- Start a hot wash cycle (without clothes!).
- After washing, clean the drum thoroughly with a microfiber cloth.
- Also clean the area under the door seal.
- You should also clean the filter thoroughly.
