The steps to remember when you want to remove dog and cat hair from your laundry

Freepik

Pet dogs and cats are life-long companions, but their hair and fur gets all over the house. And dealing with this hair can be challenging: washing clothes frequently to remove pet hair from them can prematurely age the garments and the hair itself can damage the washing machine. Given this, we provide some advice on how to tackle this age-old problem below:

Before using the washing machine

The first thing to do is to shake out your clothes vigorously. It takes a bit of effort but it's worth it, and most times, this shaking will remove the bulk of the hair. That said, there are some objects in the home that you obviously can't shake out, like heavy duvets and furniture upholstery.

In these cases, it's best to have all the right "tools" to hand to remove the hair and fur:

• Sticky rollers to pass over large areas/flat surfaces;
• Rubber gloves: put them on and pass them over the surfaces (and it works even better if the gloves are slightly damp);
• Brushes and combs for upholstery: be sure to use brushes with metal bristles only on materials that won't be scratched or frayed. Avoid this risk by using brushes with silicone bristles;
• A dry/damp microfiber cloth: this will also work well in picking up hair and fur.

Once you've used the above implements to remove the bulk of the hair and fur, you can proceed with washing those items you usually put into the washing machine.

Using the washing machine

Pickpik

When it comes to washing clothes that have pet hair on them, there are those who recommend using the dryer first, and not just after wash. In fact, using a drying cycle without heat can remove a lot of hair, which is more easily trapped in the dryer's lint filter. Once done, you can then proceed with a regular wash. Obviously, the washing machine's drum and the dryer's filter should be cleaned out after each wash.

Once in the washing machine, several implements can be used to capture hair, fur and lint that comes off the clothes: there are special "hair catchers" you can buy (often in the shape of balls) and put in with the clothes. Alternatively, you can also use dryer balls, a regular sponge, used fabric softener sheets or even an old towel to catch hair, fur and lint.

Bearing in mind the types of clothes you're washing, a more "intense" wash cycle is best at removing pet hair. Ensure the cycle you set includes a pre-wash and has a high spin cycle (and/or add an extra rinse cycle).

Of course, post-wash, you'll need to clean the washing machine's gaskets, seals and check to see if the filter needs cleaning too. Once every month or two, clean the washing machine thoroughly by putting on an empty wash cycle, adding only a bit of vinegar.

It takes a little extra care when doing laundry if you have pets, but it's worth it, right?