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how to get cat hair out of clothes

Struggling With Pet Hair in Laundry? Try These Tricks

/7 Comments/in , , , /by Mary Hunt

If you share your home with a furry friend, you know the struggle: pet hair on everything, especially your clothes. It clings like Velcro and somehow makes it through both the washer and the dryer, leaving you wondering if your wardrobe will ever be hair-free. The good news? With the right steps and a few clever tools, you can win the battle against cat and dog hair in your laundry once and for all.

how to get cat hair out of clothes

Dogs and cats shed. A lot. And that hair doesn’t politely stay on the floor or couch. It travels. It settles on rugs, sheets, and, most annoyingly, your “clean” laundry.

Here’s the science-y but practical reason: pet hair is fine and textured, which means it works its way into fabric weaves and refuses to let go. Add in static electricity and suddenly your favorite hoodie has turned into a fur magnet. Some fabrics (fleece, knits, leggings) are basically pet-hair welcome mats. That’s why a regular wash isn’t always enough. You need to break the bond first.

How to Get Pet Hair Out of Clothes Before Washing

Here’s the part most people don’t realize: the washing machine is not your first line of defense. In fact, water makes the problem worse because wet hair clings even tighter.

Instead, start with a 10-minute tumble in the dryer on air-only (no heat). This loosens fibers, reduces static, and sends a surprising amount of hair straight into the lint trap. When the cycle’s done, take those clothes outside and give them a good shake. Then head for the washer.

Pro tip: Clean your lint trap right away. A fresh screen means your dryer is ready to catch even more fur the next time around.

Washing Tips: How to Remove Dog and Cat Hair in the Laundry

Now that you’ve loosened things up, the washer can do its job, but with a few adjustments.

  • Keep hairy items separate. Don’t wash your fleece blanket that looks like it sprouted a second dog with the rest of your laundry. Wash it on its own so it doesn’t share the fur love.
  • Add vinegar to the rinse. A half-cup of distilled white vinegar helps relax fabric fibers so hair releases more easily. Bonus: it’s also a natural fabric softener, odor neutralizer, and whitening booster. Just stick with white vinegar. Leave the apple cider and balsamic for salad.

With these tweaks, your washer becomes a partner in crime-fighting (fur-fighting?) instead of a place where pet hair gets a free ride.

Do Wool Dryer Balls Help With Pet Hair?

kitten playing with a white wool dryer ball

Short answer: yes. Long answer: don’t expect miracles, but they definitely help.

Wool dryer balls bounce around in the drum, separating clothes and improving airflow. That extra movement softens fabric, reduces drying time, and most importantly, helps dislodge stubborn hair. They also cut down on static, which is basically pet-hair glue. Less static means more hair in the lint trap and less stuck to your favorite leggings.

Bonus: wool dryer balls reduce wrinkles, are reusable for hundreds of loads, and are completely fragrance-free. Translation: eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and pet-parent approved. I’ve used them for years, and while they won’t erase every strand of fur, they make a noticeable difference.

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    Prevention Tips to Keep Clothes Fur-Free

    Of course, the best fix is stopping all that hair before it ever hits the laundry. A few small habits can help:

    • Brush regularly. A quick daily brush session does wonders. For heavy shedders, a professional groom every 4–6 weeks keeps things manageable.
    • Use an air purifier. Hair and dander don’t just land on surfaces. They float. A good purifier with a HEPA filter traps what you don’t see before it lands in your laundry basket.
    • Designate “pet-only” blankets. Give your dog or cat their own throw or bed cover. Wash these separately so they don’t turn into fur-sharing ambassadors for the rest of your clothes.

    Cutting down on hair at the source means less lint rolling, less frustration, and more time enjoying the best part of pet ownership: the snuggles.

     

    Question: What’s your secret weapon for dealing with pet hair on clothes? Lint rollers, dryer balls, or just pretending it’s a fashion statement?

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    7 replies
    1. Wendy Tucker (Tockman) says:

      What about those of us who live in apartment complexes with coin operated laundry which are rarely cleaned (yes–we do contact management but sporadic results). Coin operated laundromats are not easily accessible. Is it possible to do regular (every other day) laundry of clothing (and maybe even towels?) successfully in the bathtub or sink? Or even a washtub? I am tired of spending $5 on a single load of laundry which is not really clean. Oh….tenants may not have their own washers and/or dryers. UNLESS YOU KNOW OF SOME DECENT PLUG IN UNIT?????????? Could Mary come to the rescue? Does such a product exist?

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Handwashing towels in the tub is possible but a LOT of work. And yes! there are small apartment/RV type washers that use water and drains from a sink. Check out this option https://amzn.to/4vgnK5q Just note that they usually don’t use hot water but it’s great for small loads and is very efecient.

        Reply
    3. Susan H Odom says:

      I have been using wool dryer balls and white vinegar rinse (I put the vinegar in the softener receptacle before I start the washer) for years. I have 4 cats and have had very little problem with hair on clothes in the wash. Now those “hair bunnies” in the house is another problem altogether……

      Reply
    4. linda says:

      i have two black cats. most of my clothes are black. then again, i don’t consider myself well-dressed without a few cat hairs

      Reply
    5. Linda Wilson says:

      Fur-The Nightmare! I use a rubber very fine nubby floor sweeper, but I take it off the pole to use as a hand held. I spritz a bit of water on it (we live in AZ-dry) to keep static down. Just brush it accross whatever you are trying to de-fur. This does and excellent job of lifting hair, especially off bedspreads and curtains. I also use long strips of packaging tape to lift the really stubborn hairs. Packaging tape is much stronger, stickier, and cheaper than using rollers when it comes to bigger jobs.

      Reply
    6. Rachel Wickart says:

      We have guinea pigs and no dryer. And their hair is just as bad as cat/dog hair. Not sure what we can do short of what we keep doing: shake everything before washing and hope for the best. Then take the clothes brush/lint roller and get the worst off. *sigh*

      The joy we have from them far outweights the furry “reminders”. 🙂

      Reply

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