How to Remove Dog Hair in the Laundry

Dog breeds with double coats of hair such as the Siberian husky, malamute, collie, corgi, golden retriever and Labrador retriever are very prone to shedding. The fine fur that comprises their undercoat tends to stick to clothing, pet beds, blankets and carpeting. However, dog hair can be effectively removed by laundering. The key to removing pet hair in the laundry involves pre-soaking to loosen the hairs, cleaning the lint trap before and during the drying cycle, and the use of dryer balls to capture even more dog hair during the laundering process.

Things You'll Need

  • Lint brush or lint roller
  • Washing machine
  • Detergent
  • Clothes dryer
  • Water
  • Paper towels
  • 2 dryer balls, such as those made with Velcro
  • Dryer sheets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Bring heavily furred items such as pet beds outside and shake them to remove all loose pet hair.

    • 2

      Swipe a lint brush or lint roller over clothing items, dog beds and other items that need to be laundered. Use this process to remove heavy accumulations of pet fur.

    • 3

      Fill the washing machine with water and add detergent. Add the items that will be laundered and let them sit in the soapy water for 20 minutes. This will loosen the pet hair.

    • 4

      Start the washing machine cycle and launder as normal.

    • 5

      Clean out the dryer's lint trap and rinse the wire mesh to remove dust and small fibers. Dry it with paper towels. A clean lint trap will be more effective in collecting pet hair.

    • 6

      Replace the lint trap in the dryer and load the washed clothing, pet beds and other laundry items.

    • 7

      Add a dryer sheet and 2 dryer balls, such as those made with Velcro. These balls will collect even more dog hair during the drying cycle.

    • 8

      Turn on the dryer and dry on medium or high heat.

    • 9

      Stop the clothes dryer after 30 minutes and remove the lint trap. Remove pet hair and lint from the trap and rinse it in the sink. Dry with paper towels and replace it into the dryer and resume the cycle. This is only necessary on very hairy loads of laundry.