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Pet Hair in the Laundry: The Dryer Step Most People Skip

Washing alone pushes pet hair deeper into fabric. Tumble first, clean the lint trap and add a hair catcher so the hair ends up in the trash.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read

Time
15 min
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Easy
An open dryer drum with dark towels inside and a wad of gray pet hair and lint stuck to the lint filter
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Dryer safety when you wash pet items
  9. Which loads need the most help
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

To get rid of pet hair in laundry, run the clothes in the dryer on no heat or low heat for 10 minutes before washing, then clean the lint trap. That loosens hair so the dryer traps it instead of the wash working it into the fabric. A reusable pet hair catcher in the washer and dryer picks up more of what is left.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 15 minutes extra

Tumble first, then wash

  • Tumble dry the items on no heat for 10 minutes before washing
  • Empty the lint trap, then wash
  • Wipe the drum, rubber seal and pump filter after each pet load
  • Wash pet bedding on its own, not with clothes

How long it lasts: As long as you keep doing it. It works every load but adds a step.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Reusable pet hair catcher for washing machine and dryer (illustration)
Illustration

A reusable pet hair catcher for the washer and dryer

The tumble step moves the hair around. A catcher in the drum gathers it into one clump, so less lands back on your clothes and less ends up in your drain. It makes the routine easier to keep up.

What to get: Reusable pet hair catcher for washing machine and dryer

How long it lasts: Years. You toss it in with each load and clean it out after.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Dryer lint trap

    Empty it before and after every load

    You have it

  • Damp cloth or rubber glove

    Wipe hair from the drum and the rubber seal

    You have it
  • Wool or rubber dryer balls (illustration)
    Illustration

    Wool or rubber dryer balls

    Help loosen hair and cut static

    Check price
  • Our pick
    Reusable pet hair catcher (illustration)
    Illustration

    Reusable pet hair catcher

    A rubber or fin-style piece that goes in the washer and dryer

    Check price
  • Washer drain hose lint filter (illustration)
    Illustration

    Washer drain hose lint filter

    A mesh bag that catches hair in the drain water, only where the hose allows it

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Hair works into the fabric in the wash

Water and agitation push fine hair into fleece, flannel and knits. When the load dries, the hair is stuck in the weave.

2

Static in the dryer

Synthetic fabrics build static in a tumbling dryer. That charge holds hair to the clothes instead of letting the lint trap catch it.

3

A full lint trap or drum

A lint trap that is already packed cannot catch more hair, and an overloaded drum does not let clothes tumble freely.

4

Too much hair going in

Wet, hairy bedding or a coat covered in fur adds far more than a normal load. Shake or vacuum it first.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Shake or brush off the worst of it

    Tool used: Damp cloth or rubber glove

    Take items outside and shake them hard. A damp rubber glove run over a blanket or jacket pulls off most of the loose hair before it goes in the machine.

  2. Tumble dry on no heat first

    Tool used: Wool or rubber dryer balls

    Run the clothes in the dryer on air-only or low heat for about 10 minutes. Add a few dryer balls if you have them. The tumbling loosens hair and the airflow carries it to the lint trap.

    Wool or rubber dryer balls (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Wool or rubber dryer balls · Help loosen hair and cut static

    Check price on Amazon

  3. Clean the lint trap, then wash

    Tool used: Dryer lint trap

    Empty the trap before you wash and again after every load. A clogged trap catches nothing and is a fire risk. Then wash the load as normal.

  4. Add a pet hair catcher to the wash and dryer

    Tool used: Reusable pet hair catcher

    Toss a reusable pet hair catcher in with the load. It gathers loose hair as the drum turns. Clean it out after each cycle.

    Reusable pet hair catcher (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Reusable pet hair catcher · A rubber or fin-style piece that goes in the washer and dryer

    Check price on Amazon

  5. Wipe the drum and seal after each pet load

    Tool used: Damp cloth or rubber glove

    Wipe the washer drum, the rubber door seal and the dryer drum with a damp cloth. Check your washer's drain pump filter every few weeks, since hair can build up there.

When free fixes aren't enough

The tumble step alone solves most hair problems, but it adds time to every load. If you wash pet bedding, towels or a coat every week, the routine gets old and hair still ends up in the wash. A reusable catcher takes some of that work away, and owners report it gathers a clump of hair each load. It will not catch everything, so keep the lint trap clean. If hair keeps clogging the washer's drain, fix that at the pump filter and ask a technician about it. Never run a dryer with a full lint trap or a blocked vent.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Reusable pet hair catcher for washing machine and dryer (illustration)
Illustration
Reusable pet hair catcher for washing machine and dryer
loose hair circling in the drum and landing back on clothes People who wash pet bedding, towels or fur-covered clothes every week. Check price
Budget pick
Wool or rubber dryer balls (illustration)
Illustration
Wool or rubber dryer balls
static and hair clinging to clothes in the dryer Anyone who wants a cheap way to loosen hair and cut static. Check price
Upgrade pick
Washer drain hose lint filter (illustration)
Illustration
Washer drain hose lint filter
hair going down the drain and clogging the pipe People with a laundry sink or standpipe who wash pet items often. Check price
Best pick
Reusable pet hair catcher for washing machine and dryer (illustration)
Illustration

Reusable pet hair catcher for washing machine and dryer

Fixes: loose hair circling in the drum and landing back on clothes

Look for: Safe in both the washer and the dryer; A shape with fins, rubber or mesh that grabs loose hair; Easy to empty and rinse; A size that does not crowd the drum.

Who it's for
People who wash pet bedding, towels or fur-covered clothes every week.
Honest downside
You rarely wash pet items. The tumble step and a clean lint trap may be enough.
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick
Wool or rubber dryer balls (illustration)
Illustration

Wool or rubber dryer balls

Fixes: static and hair clinging to clothes in the dryer

Look for: Wool or rubber, a set of at least three; No added scent; A size that fits the drum.

Who it's for
Anyone who wants a cheap way to loosen hair and cut static.
Honest downside
You need a catcher that gathers hair. Balls loosen it, but do not collect it.
Check price on Amazon
Upgrade pick
Washer drain hose lint filter (illustration)
Illustration

Washer drain hose lint filter

Fixes: hair going down the drain and clogging the pipe

Look for: A fit for your drain hose size; Fine mesh that is easy to empty; Straps or clamps that hold it in place.

Who it's for
People with a laundry sink or standpipe who wash pet items often.
Honest downside
Your washer drains straight into a wall pipe. A filter can cause overflow in that setup, so check your manual.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on washer and dryer manuals, dryer-safety advice from fire safety groups, and the problems and fixes people report in reviews of pet hair catchers. We do not test products by hand.

Dryer safety when you wash pet items

Pet hair and lint are fuel. Clean the lint trap before and after every load, and have the vent pipe cleaned once a year. If dryer cycles take longer than they used to, or the outside of the dryer is hot, the vent may be blocked. Stop using it and have it checked.

Which loads need the most help

Fleece, flannel, wool and towels hold the most hair. Wash pet bedding and blankets separately from clothes, and never fill the drum more than about three-quarters full. Lighter loads tumble better and drop more hair.

What to skip

More detergent and extra rinses

More soap or extra rinse cycles do not lift hair out of fabric. Hair is a fiber, not dirt. Loosening it in the dryer first, then trapping it in the lint trap, does far more.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get rid of pet hair in the washing machine?
To get rid of pet hair in the washing machine, wipe the drum and the rubber seal with a damp cloth, then run an empty hot cycle. Check the drain pump filter for a hair clump. Put a hair catcher in the drum next time.
How do I get pet hair off clothes when washing?
To get pet hair off clothes when washing, tumble the load on no heat for 10 minutes first, clean the lint trap, then wash. Add a catcher or dryer balls. Shake bulky items outdoors before they go in.
How do I stop dog hair in the washing machine?
To stop dog hair in the washing machine, remove as much as you can before the wash. Use a damp rubber glove on blankets, tumble first and wash pet bedding separately. A catcher keeps loose hair from landing on other loads.
Why is dog hair not coming off in the wash or the dryer?
Dog hair not coming off in the wash is common, since water works it into the fabric. In the dryer, a full lint trap and static keep it on the clothes. Use the tumble step, clean the trap and add dryer balls.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Reusable pet hair catcher for washing machine and dryer (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Reusable pet hair catcher for washing machine and dryer

Check price