Easy Way To Dissolve Pet Hair In Your Washing Machine

We are a nation of pet lovers with many UK homes having at least one furry friend living in it. There’s no better greeting than coming home to find your dog or cat waiting to meet you as soon as you walk through the door.

If, like me, you allow your pet to sit on the sofa and lay on your legs while you’re watching TV, you probably end up covered in pet hairs. The problem with this is those hairs get transferred to the washing machine which can cause problems.

Your pet’s hairs can then cause the washer to become clogged which can lead to permanent damage unless you deal with it. As the wash load gets agitated in the drum, the hair can get trapped in the rubber seal, in the drain hose, drain pump, and filter.

Not to mention transferring to the rest of the wash load. But don’t worry, because in this article I uncover the best way to dissolve pet hairs in the washing machine as well as alternative ways to remove pet hair from the washing machine. Keep reading to find out more.

How To Dissolve Pet Hair in Your Washing Machine

Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for this problem and even though we are going to dissolve the pet hairs, there’s still some preparation work that needs to be done first.

Top Tips On Preparing Pet Hair Covered Clothes For The Washer

There are a few things you need to do to ensure all of the pet hair is dealt with which include;

• Brush the clothes down to remove as many hairs as possible before putting them in the drum
• Ensure your pet has its coat brushed regularly to remove loose hairs
• You need to select a hot water wash to remove pet hair
• Wash pet bedding in a separate wash from your clothes
• Run an empty hot cycle through the washer to flush any dirt and grime away

What Should You Use To Dissolve Pet Hair in The Washing Machine?

The easiest way to dissolve pet hair (or human hair) in the washing machine is to use a product that has been specifically designed for this purpose. There are several pet hair dissolvers available on the market for use in the washing machine all offering similar results.

Let’s take a look at the two most popular which are;

Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver

This product uses active oxygen to help break down the keratin (type of protein) in the hair. This eventually dissolves the strands of hair which then wash away with the wastewater.

This leaves the drum, filter, drain pump and other parts of your washer pet hair free. Which should help to lengthen the life of your appliance.

HG Pet Hair Dissolver

This product works in much the same way as the one above resulting in clean pet bedding and no hair to clog up the components of your washing machine. It is effective for all types of pet hair and all you need is one scoop per wash load.

How To Use These Commercial Pet Hair Dissolvers

To use either of these products all you need to do is;

1. Ensure the drum is empty
2. Shake your pet’s bedding to remove as many hairs as possible
3. Put the bedding in the washer’s drum
4. Place 1 sachet of Vamoosh or 1 scoop of HG pet hair dissolver in the detergent dispenser drawer
5. Add the usual amount of detergent to the dispenser drawer
6. Start a long, hot wash ( the water temperature should ideally be at least 85^o C for the product to work effectively but you’ll need to check the care label on the bedding)

That’s it, once the cycle finishes remove the bedding and dry it in the normal way. 

Alternative Methods Of Removing Pet Hairs In The Washing Machine

Although the above products are effective at dissolving pet hair from the washing machine, there are more natural alternatives that you can use if you don’t want to use chemicals. However, these natural products might not be as effective as the commercially produced products.

To actually dissolve pet hair you need chemicals which is why I suggested the two products above first. This is because hair is made from keratin which is a hard protein and is pretty difficult to remove.

The alternative products mentioned below might not dissolve the pet hair but they will soften or loosen the hair which might still require you to clean the washer after use.

Using Bicarbonate Of Soda To Remove Pet Hair In The Washer

Bicarbonate of soda is probably something you already have in your kitchen. It is such a versatile product and as well as its many other uses it can also be used to remove pet hair. However, it won’t technically remove all of the hair, but it will soften it and loosen it from the pet bedding.

Which means you will need to give the washer a good clean after removing the clean pet bedding. The added bonus with using bicarb is it’s a great deodoriser too. So your pet’s bedding will smell fresh and clean without the use of any harsh or harmful chemicals.

How To Use Bicarbonate Of Soda On Pet Bedding

All you need to do is;

1. Pour 1 cup of bicarbonate of soda into the drum of the washer
2. Shake the pet bedding to remove as much hair as possible
3. Add the pet bedding
4. Select a hot wash cycle
5. Once the cycle ends, remove the pet bedding and dry in the normal way
6. Wipe the drum, door and door seal using a microfibre cloth
7. Remove and clean the washer’s filter

Using Distilled White Vinegar To Remove Pet Hair In The Washer

White vinegar is another household product that many of us already have at home due to its versatility. White vinegar works as a fabric softener and can help to soften or loosen pet hair in the washing machine. 

After using white vinegar in the washer, any remaining pet hair can be wiped away using a soft cloth.

How To Use White Vinegar On Pet Bedding

All you need to do is;

1. Pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into the detergent dispenser drawer
2. Shake the pet bedding before putting it in the washer’s drum
3. Select a long hot wash cycle
4. Start the appliance
5. Remove the pet bedding once the cycle ends
6. Wipe the interior of the machine with a microfibre cloth, wipe the drum, the door seal and the door
7. Remove and clean the filter

Using Bleach To Remove Pet Hair In The Washer

Bleach is a strong chemical that should be used with caution. You can try it to remove pet hairs but the results are not always positive. 

To use bleach to remove pet hairs it has to be done after the bedding has been removed from the drum to prevent damage to the pet bedding or harm to your pet.

How To Use Bleach To Remove Pet Hairs From The Washing Machine

To use bleach to remove pet hairs all you need to do is;

1. Pour 1 cup of bleach into the detergent dispenser drawer on your washing machine
2. Select a long hot cycle and start the washer
3. Once the cycle ends, wipe the interior of the machine using a microfibre cloth
4. Ensure you wipe the door, door seal and the drum
5. Remove and clean the filter

Other Ways To Prevent Pet Hairs From Clogging Your Washing Machine

There are a few products available to catch pet hairs and prevent them from clogging your washing machine. They include;

Pet Laundry Bags

There are various pet laundry bags available on the UK market. All designed to trap the hair inside the bag as the pet’s bedding is washed in the machine.

All you do is place your pet’s bedding in the bag which is then sealed. Then place the bag in the drum of your washer and wash in the usual way.

Once the cycle has finished, you remove the bag from the drum, remove the pet bedding from the bag and dry in the usual way. The bag can then be taken outside, turned upside down and shaken to remove all of that unwanted pet hair.

These pet laundry bags are typically quite large and have secure zips to seal the bedding inside and prevent any pet hairs from getting into the washer.

Some of the more popular pet laundry bags include;

• Fur Magic Pet Laundry Bag
• olyee Pet Laundry Bag
• miuse Pet Laundry Bag

Hair Removing Balls

These reusable plastic balls are made using microfibres which remove hairs from the laundry as it rotates in the drum during a wash cycle. You simply place the balls in the drum along with your laundry and wash in the normal way.

As the clothes rotate the balls rub against the garments and collect the stray pet hairs. However, these balls are not suitable for woollen clothes or knitwear.

How To Remove Pet Hairs From The Washing Machine

If your washing machine has a lot of pet hair left in it after a wash cycle has completed, you need to remove it. There are several ways you can do this depending on how much time and energy you have.

Vacuum It Away

If you don’t need to use the washer again for a while, you can just leave the door and detergent dispenser drawer open and allow the interior to completely dry out for a few days. Then, once it’s dry, simply use a vacuum cleaner with the crevice attachment to remove all that now dried pet hair.

Wipe It Away

If you know that you’ll need to use the washer again in the near future, you will need to remove the pet hair whilst it’s still damp. The best way to do this is using a microfibre cloth and simply wipe all around the drum, door and seal.

You may need to clean the hairs from the cloth a few times to ensure you get them all. 

Is It Worth Calling A Professional To Clean Your Washer?

If, after washing your pets bedding, you feel you can’t get it as clean as you would like it, you could call in a professional to do it for you. In all honesty, you probably don’t need to, but if a free clean and maintenance check was part of the deal when you bought your washing machine, now might be the time to arrange it.

However, if you never got this as part of a deal, it will cost you an additional charge. I recommend checking online to find the best price in your area.

How Can You Prevent Pet Hair From Getting Into Your Washing Machine?

The trouble with pet hair is that it gets everywhere. If you allow your pet onto the furniture and they’re moulting, there’s a good chance that the hair will be all over your chairs.

Once you sit on those chairs, the hair gets stuck on your clothes. Then once you settle down for the evening, your pet sits on your lap for some attention.

You get covered in more pet hairs which can all end up in the washing machine if you’re not careful. 

Tips For Keeping Pet Hairs Out Of Your Washer

Below I’ve listed a few tips to prevent those unwanted pet hairs from getting into your washing machine.

•  Always brush your clothes using a stiff brush or lint roller to remove pet hairs before putting them in the washer
• Regularly vacuum your furniture, carpets and pet’s bedding to remove as much shed hair as possible
• Brush your pet regularly to remove any loose hairs
• Take your pet’s bedding to a launderette to clean it
• Put hair covered items in the dryer on a low heat or permanent press cycle for around 10 minutes Prior to washing them in the washer (don’t forget to empty the lint filter)

SEE ALSO: Is Fabric Softener Bad For Pet Bedding (dogs & cats)?

Frequently Asked Questions