19 tips to get rid of dog hair in the washing machine [2024] –

To remove dog hair in and out of the washing machine, washing balls, fabric softener and a high temperature can help. We also recommend using an animal hair remover, regular brushing and vacuuming the laundry as pre-treatment.

Unfortunately, there is no magic here that makes the hair disappear all of a sudden. In general, however, pretreatment is most effective:

Pre-treatment = removal of hair before washing
Treatment = hair removal from laundry in the washing machine
Post-treatment = removal of hair from the washing machine

Here you will learn over 19 tips on how to solve all these hairy problems.

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#1 Use fabric softener

Fabric softener ensures that the fibers are smoothed and dog hair is less likely to stick. Of course, they also ensure a comfortable fit.

If you're not a fan of chemicals, vinegar can help. It has a similar effect to fabric softener and also dissolves limescale in the washing machine. [1]

#2 Use a pet hair remover

You've probably seen great advertisements for products only to find that they don't work, right? Things are different with this pet hair remover.

Our recommendation: Pet hair remover from Amazon.

This miracle device is not the bestseller on Amazon for nothing. It not only removes hair fully automatically and without electricity, but also collects it in a separate container.

#3 Throw curlers in the laundry

Have you ever noticed that adhesive curlers get caught in your hair so easily? The same applies vice versa – dog hair gets caught in it.

Simply put 3-6 hair curlers in the washing machine. You can then easily remove the dog hair from the curlers.

#4 Dry first

Not only the washing machine can remove dog hair, but also the dryer. Even the “cold program” has the effect of causing the hair to fall off.

The only important thing is that you clean the lint filter regularly. If you use a washer-dryer combination device, I recommend clearing the outlet container regularly.

#5 Get the right washing machine

Some washing machines have a so-called “Pet Hair Removal program”. This program level is specially designed to remove dog hair from laundry.

How? In most models, this is achieved by an additional pre-wash and an additional rinse cycle afterwards. In addition, around 30% more water is used.

#6 Brush your dog daily

The dog's hair is structured in such a way that it falls off on its own at a certain point. However, you can determine when this happens through regular brushing.

Our recommendation: Furminator from Amazon.

I used a classic dog brush with my very first dog. The Furminator is 3 times as effective and our dog Alex loves it.

#7 Throw tennis balls in the laundry

The fuzzy layer of tennis balls has a kind of suction effect on dog hair. Simply throw two separate tennis balls into the washing machine.

You can then easily pull off the tufts of hair again. It is only important that the tennis balls are not damaged and do not contain any coloring dyes. [2]

#8 Use a laundry bag

Washing your laundry in a laundry bag is particularly useful if you want to wash a dog blanket together with your clothes.

The laundry bag does not remove hair, but the hair remains stuck inside the bag. Both your clothes and your washing machine will thank you.

#9 Start the vacuum cleaner

Once the washing drum is dry, you can simply clean it with a vacuum cleaner. A small handheld vacuum cleaner with an “animal hair nozzle” is ideal for this.

There are also attachments that you can use to vacuum clothes before washing. This means the hair doesn't end up in the washing machine.

#10 Use the power of washing balls

These washing balls were specially developed to remove dog hair from the washing machine. They are constructed similarly to hair curlers, only rounder.

Our recommendation: Washing balls from Amazon.

The only thing you should be careful about is after washing. Many dogs confuse the washing balls with a toy or even accidentally swallow them.

#11 Wash a little hotter

Here's a hot tip: If you wash your clothes very hot (95 °C), it will remove the grease from the animal hair. As a result, they usually come off the clothing on their own.

This can be a very effective method, especially in combination with water balls, tennis balls, hair curlers or other hair magnets. [3]

#12 Use a lint roller

If a certain item of clothing or dog blanket is full of hair, then adhesive lint rollers are a great idea. I personally use this almost daily.

Alternatively, you could also use some tape. This works just as well, but you usually need 4 hands to use it because one has to hold the clothing.

#13 Wash “properly”

If you want to remove dog hair from clothes in the washing machine, you should not load the machine to capacity. A filling of around ⅔ or less is ideal here.

At the same time, I recommend switching from the “Eco program” to a program level that requires a relatively large amount of water. This increases the likelihood that the hair will fall off.

But isn't that really expensive? Nope. Water is relatively cheap in Germany. The most expensive thing about washing is the electricity consumption. Heating the water in particular is expensive.

#14 Clean the lint filter

A clogged lint filter in the washing machine means that the hair cannot flow out when it is pumped out. So that's exactly what you don't want.

Normally it is recommended to clean the lint filter every 3 months. If you have a dog in the household, I recommend doing this for 2-4 weeks. Depending on how much you wash.

#15 Pet your dog free of hair

In addition to a classic dog brush, there are now also great other products that can help you get your dog free of hair. Here is one of my favorites:

Our recommendation: Glove brush from Amazon.

The nubs on these gloves are not only very comfortable for dogs, but also remove hair at the same time. This means they don't even get into the washing machine.

#16 Descale your washing machine

In Germany we have relatively calcareous water compared to other countries. You can determine how high the lime content is in your region based on the water hardness.

The problem? Limescale in the washing machine causes otherwise smooth surfaces to become rough and dog hair to stick. Regular descaling can help here.

#17 Shake out the laundry first

To remove dust from a carpet, most people beat an outdoor carpet. I also recommend the same for dog blankets or clothing with a lot of hair.

The more hair you can remove before washing, the fewer problems you will have with your clothes and your washing machine afterwards.

#18 Use old tights

You've probably noticed that some materials absorb more dog hair than others. You can make targeted use of this magnetic effect. How?

Just throw a few old tights in the laundry – even holey stockings are suitable here. The nylon sucks up the hair and keeps it out of the washing machine. [4]

#19 Match the colors to your dog

“If you cannot defeat your enemy, ally with him.” – That is the motto for this trick, which is particularly helpful when keeping heavily shedding breeds.

If you have a dog with gray fur, why not choose the dog bed and dog blanket in gray? This means it doesn’t matter how much dog hair your washing machine removes.