Your pet is an important member of the family. But like any family member, they probably have some annoying quirks. For instance, their fur probably gets all over your clothes, blankets, sofa covers, and pretty much everything else. While you probably use a lint roller to tackle this problem, there's an easier method you should know about. We tested a popular laundry hack for pet hair to see if it's possible to get your clothes fur-free.
Our tests in the Home Care & Cleaning Lab US revealed that this easy trick truly works to remove pet fur from clothing. All you need is a dryer sheet and a few extra minutes.
Here's what to do: Put items into the dryer for about 10 minutes using a air-fluff (no heat) setting or high-speed spin without water along with a dryer sheet before you wash them to keep pet hair from clinging to your clothes. It might not eliminate every last hair, but it successfully removed most of them in our testing. You could also use this method on blankets, drapes, sofa covers, and other textiles. Just make sure any item you're cleaning can safely go in the dryer and washer.
Below, learn more about this popular laundry hack, including some tips on how to make it work most effectively and an important safety warning.
While this method works surprisingly well, it's worth noting that dryer sheets or tumble dryer sheets are typically designed to be used with wet fabrics, not dry ones. Using a dryer sheet on dry items may leave a soft or slightly coated feel. If you’re washing the items immediately afterward, that’s not as much of an issue, but if you’re not, consider using a used dryer sheet to minimise any potential residue. You can also try lightly dampening the clothing to eliminate this problem.
Ultimately, this hack won’t eliminate every last hair, but it’ll save your washing machine (and you) from doing all the heavy lifting. Just don't forget to clean the lint trap right away. Pet hair can clog the venting system quickly, reducing your dryer’s efficiency and even causing a potential fire hazard.
