What dissolves pet hair in the washing machine?

Using white vinegar or bleach helps to loosen the pet hair in the washing machine. However, if you are looking to dissolve the pet hair, you may need to chemically treat them using a commercial pet hair remover like vamoosh.

Dissolving a pet’s hair is different as compared to loosening it.

In order to dissolve a pet’s hair, you need to chemically treat it, whereas loosening it can be done by simply using DIY home remedies like white vinegar or bleach.

There are three approaches that you can take to dissolve or deal with accumulated pet hair in the washer.

• Use a DIY pet hair dissolver
• Use Vamoosh or commercial pet hair dissolver
• Prevent Pet hair from accumulating in the washer

Let’s take a quick look at each approach in detail so you can decide which one is best for you.

Using DIY pet hair dissolver

Most DIY techniques work toward softening the pet hair instead of dissolving it.

Let’s be honest, pet hair is stubborn and requires a strong chemical-based dissolver, which you won’t find in most do-it-yourself cleaners.

That being said, here are some proven home remedies you can try to loosen the pet hair in your washing machine.

Distilled White Vinegar

Using distilled white vinegar in the laundry is a common practice.

Vinegar not only acts as a natural fabric softener but also helps to eliminate dirt and grime.

The fabric-softening properties of vinegar help to loosen the pet hair so that it can be easily removed from fabrics as well as from the washer.

To use white vinegar for loosening pet hair in the washer, add one cup of white vinegar to your washing machine detergent tray. Next, run the washer on an empty cycle and the hottest temperature settings.

Once the wash cycle completes, wipe the inside part of the washer using a microfiber cloth.

Next, clean the filters to get rid of the pet hair.

Bleach

Bleach is another effective home remedy to loosen and dissolve pet hair up to a certain extent.

Since bleach is highly acidic, it may help to break down the pet hair to some extent.

To use bleach, add one cup of diluted bleach to your washing machine’s detergent tray. Then, run the washer on a hot cycle.

Once the wash cycle completes, wipe the internal areas of the washer, followed by cleaning the filters.

Baking Soda

Just like vinegar, baking soda works by softening the pet hair.

Baking soda also helps to eliminate any odors that might be lingering in the washing machine.

To use baking soda, add one cup of baking soda to your washing machine. Next, select the empty cycle or clean cycle and run the washer on the hottest possible settings.

Once the wash cycle completes, remove the filter and clean the loosened pet hair.

Using Vamoosh Pet hair dissolver

If you don’t want to use home remedies, you can always use a commercial pet hair dissolver like Vamoosh.

Vamoosh is a commercial pet hair remover that is chemically formulated to dissolve pet hair in the washing machine.

The cleaner the washer, the higher the quality of the wash, which also means there are fewer chances of pet hair clinging to your clothes.

Active Ingredients in Vamoosh pet hair remover

The active ingredients in Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver include 30% oxygen-based bleaching agents, less than 5% non-ionic surfactants, TAED, phosphonates, and added fragrance.

To ensure that the pet hair dissolver works effectively, 10g/100g TAED and 40g/100g SPC are included as biocidal precursors, along with 0.1% PAP.

Prevent Pet hair from accumulating in the washer

Preventing the buildup of pet hair is the best thing you can do to keep your washer free from pet hair.

Here’s how you can keep the pet hair out of your washing machine.

Remove pet hair from bedding and clothes before placing them in the washer

The most effective method for preventing pet hair accumulation is to remove pet hair from garments and bedding before washing them.

Follow the below step-by-step instructions to remove pet hair from clothes and bedding.

Step 1: Get Rid of Loose Pet Hair

The first step is to get rid of loose pet hair on your clothes.

In order to to do this, either use a lint roller or a brush.

Alternatively, you can pretreat the bedding or clothes by dipping them in a bucket or sink filled with water and gently remove the loose pet hair using a soft brush.

Step 2: Put the bedding or clothes in a dryer

This is a vital step since it removes any remaining pet hair.

Simply place the bedding or garments in the dryer with a pet hair remover dryer sheet or wool balls for about 10 minutes on low heat settings.

If the fabric does not tolerate heat or if the care labels recommend avoiding heat, simply use no-heat settings.

Note: It’s important to read the care label first before putting your bedding or clothes in the dryer. In most cases, tumble drying in no-heat settings should do the trick.

Step 3: Remove from Dryer and put it in the washer

Once the dryer completes the cycle, take the clothing out from the dryer and gently shake and pat them.

By this stage, most of the excess pet hair should be removed.

Next, put the beddings or clothes inside the washer and pour half a cup of vinegar into the washer’s detergent tray. Finally, run the wash cycle on settings recommended by the bedding or clothing manufacturers.

Step 4: Run an empty or clean cycle

This step is often ignored by many people, but it’s actually very important.

Once you’ve removed all the pet hair from your clothes and bedding, you should finish the whole process by cleaning the washer.

Just add half a cup of vinegar to the detergent tray and run an empty cycle or clean cycle on the hottest temperature settings.

Alternatively, you can use a washing machine cleaner designed specifically to dissolve pet hair.

Just follow the instructions on the label for the appropriate dosage.

Tips to Remove Pet Hair from Clothes

Here are some quick tips to remove pet hair from clothes and prevent the buildup or accumulation in the washer.

Vacuum the fabric before washing

Vacuuming the fabric before washing helps to pull out excess pet hair from the clothes.

So, if you are maintaining the hygiene by frequently vacuuming your clothes and upholstery, there are fewer chances of pet hair being attracted to your clothes.

Use a lint roller to remove pet hair from clothes

Lint rollers are very effective in removing pet hair from clothes.

Just run the lint roller over the clothes in order to remove the pet hair from the clothes quickly and efficiently.

Try using a sticky tape roller to remove pet hair from clothes

You can also use a sticky tape roller to remove pet hair from clothes.

However, make sure to use a fresh piece of tape for each stroke, as you don’t want the pet hair to get stuck on the roller.

Add a pet hair dryer sheet to your laundry load

Another quick and easy way to remove pet hair from clothes is to use pet hair dryer sheets.

Just put one or two dryer sheets in your laundry load along with the clothes in the dryer and run the cycle on a low heat setting as usual.

This will help to remove the pet hair from the clothes and also make them smell nice.

Brush your pet

If you have a pet that sheds a lot of hair, then it is advisable to brush them on a daily basis.

Doing this will not only help to remove the loose hair from their coat, but also prevent them from shedding hair all over the house.

Regularly brushing your pet means fewer chances of pet hair getting into your fabrics.

Wash your dog or cat’s bedding regularly

Make sure to wash your pet’s bedding regularly.

Washing their bedding on a regular basis will not only help to remove the hair, dirt, dander, or allergens but also maintain hygiene.

Final Thoughts

Pet hair can be very adamant and difficult to remove not only from clothes and bedding but also from the washer.

The most effective technique to deal with pet hair is to keep it out of the washing machine in the first place.

Vacuuming regularly, using lint rollers or sticky tape rollers, and using a pet hair dryer sheet to your laundry load are some quick and easy ways to remove pet hair from clothes.

This way you reduce the chances of pet hair entering your washer.

Lastly, don’t hesitate to use Vamoosh or other pet hair removal products if you detect pet hair in your washing machine.

Frequently Asked Questions