How to Remove Pet Fur From Blankets & the Washer

Are you tired of always vacuuming and cleaning your home, yet still finding pet fur in your clothes and bedding? Blankets are made with thicker, more dense material than clothing fabric and often attract unwanted pet hairs in its fibers. It is important to be thorough before, during and after washing them. This can make all the difference in having a fresh, clean blanket or one with old pet fur still collected within it.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-inch-wide masking tape
  • Lawn Chair
  • Broom
  • Clothing Detergent
  • Dryer Sheets
  • Liquid Fabric Softener
  • Pet shedding brush
  • Polarfleece blanket (optional)
  • Scotch Fur Fighter (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Gather your blankets, pillow cases and any other bedding from your living space and bedroom. Take them outside and hang the blankets over a railing or lawn chair. Beat them with a dust broom to loosen the pet fur from the fibers. If needed, shake the remaining excess hair from the blankets and other bedding.

    • 2

      Check your empty washer to make sure fur and hair has not collected at the bottom or around the washer ring. If so, put on some rubber latex gloves and run your hand across the entire surface on the inside of the washer. Carefully, cut with scissors or singe, any small piece of hair around the washer ring if it has become stuck. Gently pull the remaining fur and hair from the ring, being careful not to move the washer ring out of alignment.

    • 3

      Place the blankets and bedding into the washer. Be careful not to overstuff the washer so that it can cycle with ease and clean thoroughly. Use a detergent that specializes in pet odor removal, such as Downy Simple Pleasures or OxiClean. Wash the blankets and bedding.

    • 4

      Check the duct behind your dryer, removing any built-up fur, hair and other material that may have clogged the passage. Remove the lint catcher from your dryer and clean any lint and excess hair from the catcher.

      Take your blankets and bedding out of the washer and place into the dryer. Add static-reducing dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener to the wash, which will help soften the blankets and bedding and allow the pet fur to be removed easier during the drying cycle. Dry on a normal heat, tumble-dry cycle.

    • 5

      Check the blankets and bedding to see if all, or most, of the fur has been removed. If not, clean out the dryer duct again. Place another dryer sheet in the dryer and repeat for another cycle on low heat.

    • 6

      Remove the bedding and blankets from the dryer. If a small amount of fur or hair is still present, press your index, middle and ring together, then spool two-inch-wide masking tape around those fingers three times and cut. Use this piece to gently sweep and tap your clothes to remove any remaining hairs.