How to Remove Dog Hair From Your Washing Machine (6 Easy Steps)

Dog fur gets stuck to everything, from your bed sheets and blankets to your socks and clothing. It can be extremely hard to remove, especially if your dog is a heavy shedder with a long coat.

Unfortunately, that means your washing machine probably has dog hair stuck to it as well, which means your clothes may actually get more dog hair on them after a cycle. If you’re tired of seeing dog hair on freshly washed clothes, try a few of these methods to help reduce the amount of dog hair in your washing machine.

How to Remove Dog Hair From a Washing Machine

1. Wipe Out the Tub

Take a paper towel and wipe out the inner tub of the machine, getting as much pet hair as you can. If you’re not able to pick up much, try using a damp paper towel or a dry-mop cloth. Try doing this before and after every laundry cycle to help reduce the overall amount of pet hair that gets stuck in the washing machine.

2. Run an Empty Cycle With Cleaner

Running an empty cycle helps to clean the inside of the machine while also shaking loose the excess pet hair. Select the cleaning option on your machine or a warm water cycle, then add washing machine cleaner. If you don’t have any cleaner, a small amount of laundry detergent will work in a pinch. Bleach will also work, but make sure it is safe to use with your machine.

Once the empty cycle ends, wipe out the loosened pet hair in the tub with paper towels or washcloths.

3. Warm Water and Vinegar

When washing your clothes, use warm water and white vinegar with your laundry detergent. White vinegar will help clean and soften your clothing, which will help get rid of pet hair stuck on your clothes. After removing the washed clothes out of the washing machine, wipe the inside of the tub to remove any pet hair.

4. Clean out the Pump Filter Trap

One of the most overlooked things on a washing machine is the water pump filter, which collects any debris while water pumps through. These filters can get clogged with pet hair, lint, and even coins or plastic, so it is crucial that you clean them out once in a while. Cleaning out the pump filter should also reduce the amount of pet hair in your laundry, which is another reason to do it routinely.

5. Use a Floating Lint Trap

To help cut down the amount of fur sticking to your wet clothes, try using a floating lint trap. You put them on top of your laundry in the machine and start the cycle. The floating lint traps help collect fur, lint, and hair during the wash cycle. Unfortunately, they’re only for top-loading washing machines, but they can help cut down on unwanted pet hair.

6. For Pet Bedding, Remove as Much Fur as Possible

Dog beds are always covered in dog hair, so remove as much before washing and drying as possible. Use a vacuum, lint roller, and shake it outside, then put it in the dryer first. Drying it on the lowest setting for 10 minutes will help collect more pet hair. After it is done drying, remove the lint and pet hair. Wash and dry it like normal, and wipe out both machines to keep pet hair to a minimum.

Dog hair can be a nuisance, especially when it is inside hard-to-clean surfaces and appliances. It is even more of a nuisance when your freshly washed laundry seems to be covered in dog hair no matter what you do. We recommend trying the methods we mentioned to remove any unwanted pet hair from your washing machine. If you have a dog that sheds a lot or you own multiple dogs, cleaning out the pump filter will be especially helpful. Using the methods above, you can reduce the amount that ends up in your machine and off of your laundry.

Featured Image Credit: Steve Buissinne, Pixabay