Pets make our homes feel full of joy, love, and… fur. Whether it’s the sofa cover, your favorite hoodie, or your pet’s own bed, animal hair and odor often end up in the laundry pile.
Good news: you don’t need special detergents or a high-tech laundry vending machine to handle it. Making a few simple adjustments to your routine can help keep your clothes fresh and appliances running smoothly.
This guide breaks down simple, step-by-step methods for managing pet fur, odors, and stains, all using tools and habits you can apply right now.
Core Laundry Strategies for Pet Owners
Pet laundry can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into small, precise steps makes it much easier. These strategies provide practical ways to manage fur, odors, and heavy fabrics without placing undue stress on your washer or dryer.
Remove Loose Fur Before Washing
Fur is much easier to manage before it reaches the washer. Taking quick steps to remove it early helps your machine stay clean and keeps your clothes from collecting more lint during the cycle. These habits save you from extra rewashes and reduce the strain on your appliances.
- Shake items outside first: Shaking laundry outdoors removes the majority of loose fur, dust, and dander before it enters your home’s machines. This reduces the amount of pet hair floating around your laundry room. It also means less debris will clog up filters or stick to other clothes in the wash.
- Use a lint roller on trouble spots: A lint roller is handy for targeting areas where fur clings tightly, such as cuffs, sleeves, and seams. Rolling over these sections a few times pulls away hair that even a shake may miss. It also prevents those stubborn hairs from spreading to other fabrics in the washer.
- Try damp rubber gloves for furniture throws: Lightly dampen rubber gloves and rub them across fabric to gather fur into clumps that you can peel off. This works exceptionally well for items like sofa covers or pet blankets that attract heavy shedding. Removing this hair first makes the wash cycle more effective, as it helps the detergent reach the fabric fibers.
Use a No-Heat Dryer Cycle to Loosen Hair
Sometimes, fur is so embedded that the washer alone can’t fully handle it. Running a no-heat dryer cycle first helps loosen and collect hair before you start the wash. This step also keeps clothes from transferring hair onto each other once they’re wet.
- Run an air-fluff cycle for 10 minutes: The tumbling motion of this setting helps release fur without adding heat that could damage fabrics. As the items spin, the lint trap captures much of the loosened hair. Doing this before washing reduces the amount of hair that gets into your washer’s drain system.
- Check and clean the lint trap after: Always empty the lint trap right after the fluff cycle, even if it doesn’t look full. Pet hair can accumulate quickly, blocking airflow and reducing the dryer’s efficiency. Regular cleaning also lowers fire risk and keeps your machine running smoothly.
- Add a microfiber cloth inside: Tossing in a microfiber cloth with the load attracts floating strands of fur during tumbling. The cloth works like a magnet, pulling hair away from clothing and bedding. Once done, you can shake out or wash the cloth separately to reuse it.
Wash Pet Items Separately from Household Laundry
Washing pet items separately helps prevent cross-contamination and makes cleaning more effective. Pet bedding, blankets, and toys often carry heavier odors and more hair than regular clothes. Keeping them separate ensures each load gets the attention it needs.
- Wash pet bedding and blankets alone: These fabrics often contain large amounts of fur, dirt, and odor from everyday use. By giving them their own wash, you prevent hair from spreading to your family’s clothing. This also allows you to use a stronger or longer cycle without worrying about delicate items.
- Use an extra rinse cycle: An additional rinse helps flush out detergent, loosened fur, and hidden dirt that may cling to thicker fabrics. This step also helps avoid residue buildup that could cause skin irritation for your pets. It ensures bedding comes out cleaner and fresher with each wash.
- Dedicate a laundry bag for pet clothes: A mesh laundry bag helps keep small items, such as sweaters or pet jackets, contained during the wash. This prevents tangling with larger items and makes fur easier to rinse away. It also helps protect delicate materials while still allowing water and detergent to circulate.
Add Natural Odor Fighters to the Wash
Pets often leave behind stubborn smells that standard detergent can’t always remove. Using natural odor fighters makes clothes and bedding fresher without relying on heavy fragrances.
These simple ingredients are safe, affordable, and readily available in most homes.
- Pour in half a cup of vinegar: Vinegar neutralizes strong odors by breaking down odor-causing particles in fabrics. It also naturally softens materials without leaving a chemical smell behind. Once the drying cycle is complete, the vinegar scent entirely disappears.
- Sprinkle baking soda in the wash: Baking soda works by absorbing deep-set odors instead of covering them up. It’s particularly useful for fabrics that trap smells, such as towels and blankets. Adding it to the cycle helps restore freshness and extends the life of your fabrics.
- Pair with mild detergent: Combining natural boosters like vinegar or baking soda with detergent gives you a balanced clean. The detergent removes dirt while the boosters focus on odor control. This makes your laundry smell fresh without needing strong perfumes.
Dry with Tools That Reduce Static and Fur
Drying is the final chance to remove hair and odors, and using the right tools makes the process more effective. Static often causes fur to cling to fabrics, so reducing it helps clothes come out cleaner. Simple add-ins can make a big difference.
- Toss in wool dryer balls or tennis balls: These items bounce around inside the drum, separating fabrics and loosening extra hair. They also naturally soften clothing, reducing the need for fabric softeners. The constant movement helps prevent clumps of fur from sticking to one area.
- Use a damp towel during drying: A lightly damp towel acts like a magnet, drawing fur away from clothing and bedding as they tumble. This trick helps capture loose hair that wasn’t removed earlier in the process. Once finished, wash the towel separately to keep it ready for next time.
- Avoid dryer sheets for pet loads: Dryer sheets may seem helpful, but they can leave residue that irritates sensitive pet skin. Some sheets also contain fragrances that may bother both pets and people. Skipping them ensures a safer, cleaner outcome for laundry.
Maintain Your Washer and Dryer Regularly
Machines that handle pet laundry need more frequent care. Hair, dander, and odors can accumulate inside, reducing performance and leading to long-term issues. Simple maintenance steps keep everything running smoothly and extend the life of your appliances.
- Run a hot cycle with vinegar once a month: This deep-cleans the washer drum, hoses, and internal parts by breaking down residue. It also kills lingering bacteria that can cause musty odors over time. Keeping the machine fresh ensures every load of laundry comes out cleaner.
- Clean lint traps thoroughly: Beyond just pulling out lint, wipe the edges and surrounding area where hair often hides. This prevents buildup that restricts airflow and increases drying time. Regular cleaning also reduces the risk of overheating and damage to the dryer.
- Check hoses and filters often: Pet hair can sneak into drains and filters, causing clogs or slow draining. Inspecting and clearing these parts keeps your system working correctly. Whether at home or using commercial coin laundry machines, routine care prevents costly breakdowns.
Extra Hacks to Make Pet Laundry Easier
Even with the basics covered, a few extra habits can make pet laundry less stressful and more efficient. These hacks help you stay ahead of fur, odors, and messes without adding much work.
- Choose bedding or clothing colors that camouflage your pet’s fur: If your pet sheds light-colored hair, opt for lighter fabrics, and vice versa. This makes fur less noticeable between washes, which is especially helpful for daily-use items like throws or pillow covers. While it doesn’t eliminate cleaning, it gives you more time before laundry becomes an urgent task.
- Try fur-catching laundry tools like specialty bags or rollers: Products designed for pet laundry, such as mesh wash bags or fur-catching disks, collect hair while your items are in the cycle. They prevent fur from reattaching to clothing and reduce the strain on your washer. Using these tools regularly extends the life of both fabrics and machines.
- Keep a handheld vacuum near the laundry area for quick cleanups: Hair often falls off when transferring items into machines, creating piles on the floor or inside the washer door. A small vacuum makes it easy to pick up fur before it spreads further. This habit also prevents hair from being pushed back into clothes after washing.
- Rotate multiple sets of pet bedding and covers: Having extras on hand lets you swap them out while one set is in the wash. This keeps your home fresher and avoids rushing laundry cycles at the last minute. It also gives bedding time to fully dry and air out before reuse.
- Store a few supplies dedicated to pet laundry: Keep essentials like baking soda, vinegar, and lint rollers in a small basket near your machines. Having everything in one spot saves time when prepping loads. This type of setup works well even in shared facilities, where a vending machine supplier might provide extras, such as detergent or dryer sheets.
Ready for Cleaner, Happier Pet Laundry?
When pet bedding or blankets feel too big for your home washer, Ace Laundry makes the process simple. Their professional-grade Huebsch machines are designed for bulky, heavily soiled loads, providing a deeper clean without the wear and tear on your own appliances.
For property owners or shared spaces, their complete laundry room management services make it easy to provide reliable, pet-friendly washing options for tenants without the hassle of upkeep.
Even better, with energy-efficient machines and convenient access to parts and supplies, Ace Laundry delivers the right balance of power and practicality, making every pet laundry day stress-free. If you’re ready to simplify pet laundry for your home or property, contact us today to get started.
Read Also: Laundry Mistakes You Might Be Making—And How to Fix Them
