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How to Get Pet Hair Out of a Washing Machine
You wash the dog's blanket, then your favourite black top, and it comes out wearing more fur than it went in with. That's the washing machine passing it on. Some pet hair doesn't leave with the rinse water: it clings to the drum, works into the rubber door seal and clogs the filter, and once it's in there, it transfers onto whatever you wash next, pet-related or not. Here's how to get pet hair out of a washing machine, and how to stop it coming back.
Why doesn't normal detergent clear pet hair?
Detergent is built to lift dirt and oil, not fur. Fur is fibrous and grips onto rubber seals and drum surfaces in a way regular washing doesn't dislodge — which is why machines used for pet bedding often develop a lingering smell and a fur residue that shows up on unrelated loads.
How do you get pet hair out of a washing machine?
- Get as much fur off the bedding as you can before it goes in: a few passes with the Fur Wiper or the All-Surface Tool — less fur going in means less fur left behind.
- Check and clear the filter after washing anything pet-related; that's usually where the worst of it collects.
- Wipe the rubber door seal after pet loads, where hair collects in the folds.
- Run an empty hot maintenance wash twice a month, following your machine's manual. Our Machine Tablets make that wash do a bit more for the drum, but no tablet dissolves hair: the seal and the filter still need clearing by hand.
- Wash pet bedding separately from clothing where you can, so any residue that does linger doesn't transfer onto what you wear.
This is one part of a bigger fur problem — see our full guide to clearing pet hair from sofas, car seats and carpets for the rest. The Fur-Free Home Kit covers the pet, the sofa and the bed, with 30 days to try it: if it doesn't work for your home, we refund you in full. No need to send it back.
Where hair collects in a washing machine
| Part | What builds up | How often to clear it |
|---|---|---|
| Drum | Hair and residue after pet bedding | Wipe after pet loads, hot empty wash once a month |
| Rubber door seal | Hair, grime and trapped water | Pull back and wipe once a week |
| Drain pump filter | Hair, fluff and small objects | As your manual says, often every few months |
| Detergent drawer | Softener and detergent residue | Rinse it once a month |
How to clean pet hair out of a washing machine
- Shake it out first. Take pet bedding and blankets outside and give them a good shake, or tumble them for 10 minutes on no heat so the dryer filter catches the loose hair.
- Wash pet items on their own. Keep pet bedding out of your clothes wash so the hair has nowhere else to go.
- Wipe the drum and the door seal. Straight after the wash, run a damp cloth round the drum and inside the folds of the rubber seal, where hair and grime collect.
- Run an empty hot wash. Once a month at least, twice a month if pet bedding goes through it, run the drum empty on a hot or drum-clean programme, with a drum cleaner or a washing machine tablet if you use one.
- Empty the drain pump filter. Lay a towel and a shallow tray down, open the small flap at the bottom front, unscrew the filter anticlockwise, pull out the hair and rinse it.
- Leave the door open. Let the drum and seal dry between washes so smells don't build up.
Questions people ask
Where is the drain pump filter?
On most front-loaders it sits behind a small flap at the bottom front of the machine. Lay down a towel and a shallow tray first, because water will come out, then turn the filter anticlockwise to remove it. Your manual shows the exact spot.
Can pet hair damage a washing machine?
Over time it can. Hair that builds up in the filter and pump slows draining and can cause smells or error codes. Clearing the filter regularly prevents most of it.
Does vinegar help remove pet hair in the wash?
Some owners add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse to loosen hair from fabric. Check your manufacturer's guidance first, as some advise against regular vinegar use on rubber seals.
Do lint catchers work in front-loading machines?
Floating lint traps are designed for top-loaders. In a front-loader, a reusable hair-catcher ball or a wash bag for pet bedding works better.
Should I wash pet bedding separately?
Yes. Washing it on its own, after shaking it out, keeps hair off your clothes and makes the drum easier to clean afterwards.
