How to Get Pet Hair Out of Laundry: The Complete Guide

Last Updated: March 9, 2026 Reading Time: 5 minutes

Quick Answer

You may be here because your "clean" clothes come out of the dryer covered in pet hair. It's one of the most frustrating pet ownership problems—you wash your clothes to get them clean, and they come out furrier than before.

The short answer: Remove pet hair from laundry by (1) pre-treating clothes before washing (shake, lint roll, or tumble in dryer), (2) adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle (loosens hair), (3) using wool dryer balls or FurZapper discs, and (4) cleaning your lint trap and washing machine regularly.

Why Pet Hair Survives the Wash

• Hair wraps around fabric during agitation
• Wet hair clings harder than dry hair
• Lint traps in washers are small and ineffective
• Static in dryers makes hair stick to everything

Step-by-Step Laundry Hair Removal

Before Washing

Step 1: Shake clothes outside 10 seconds of vigorous shaking removes 30–50% of loose hair.

Step 2: Tumble in dryer (10 minutes, no heat) The tumbling action loosens hair; the lint trap catches it. This single step is the most effective pre-wash technique.

Step 3: Lint roll if needed For heavily covered items, a quick pass with a lint roller catches what shaking missed.

During Washing

• Add 1/2 cup to the fabric softener dispenser
• Vinegar loosens hair from fabric
• Also reduces static (less cling in dryer)
• Won't leave a smell after drying
• [FurZapper](https://amzn.to/49lXrB1) — silicone discs that attract hair in wash and dryer
• Place 2 discs in washer, 2 in dryer
• Hair collects on discs and lint trap instead of clothes
• Full loads = less water movement = hair stays on clothes
• Leave room for agitation

During Drying

• 3–4 wool balls per load
• They bounce around separating fabric
• Hair releases to lint trap
• Also reduces drying time
• Check trap halfway through
• Full lint trap = hair redistributes back to clothes
• Clean between every load during shedding season

Best Products for Pet Hair Laundry

Best Overall: FurZapper Laundry Pet Hair Remover

🏆 Sniff Test Rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾 (4/5) Price: ~$12 for 2 Check Price

• Sticky silicone grabs hair during wash and dry cycles
• Reusable (lasts years)
• Works in both washer and dryer

Best Dryer Addition: Wool Dryer Balls

🏆 Sniff Test Rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾 (4/5) Price: ~$10 for 6

• Create space between clothes for hair to release
• Reduce static (less cling)
• Reduce drying time
• Chemical-free alternative to dryer sheets

Washing Machine Maintenance

• Run empty hot cycle with 2 cups white vinegar
• Wipe rubber gasket (front-loaders) where hair hides
• Clean dispensers
• Wipe inside drum with damp cloth
• Check and clean drain filter
• Run quick rinse cycle if heavy hair

Pro Tips

• Wash pet beds, blankets, and "pet clothes" separately
• This prevents cross-contamination
• Put heavily furred items in mesh bags
• Hair stays inside the bag, not on other clothes
• Silk and satin (smooth, hair slides off)
• Tight-weave cotton
• Avoid: fleece, velvet, corduroy (hair magnets)

The Bottom Line

The pet hair laundry system: 1. Pre-dry (10 min tumble, no heat) — removes most hair 2. Vinegar in wash — loosens remaining hair 3. FurZapper discs — catches hair in both cycles 4. Wool dryer balls — reduces static and releases hair 5. Clean lint trap — every load, mid-cycle if heavy

Total cost: Under $25 for all tools. Permanent solution.

Next Steps

• [The Complete Pet Hair System](link) — Whole-home guide
• [Best Lint Rollers and Hair Removers](link) — For clothes you're wearing
• [How to Get Pet Hair Off Furniture](link) — Living room solutions