Don’t Let Pet Hair Ruin Your Washer

You love your pets unconditionally. Why else would you tolerate their shedding all over your bed, carpets, blankets, and clothes?

If your pet sheds, you probably do a lot of laundry—especially if your little pal is a double-coated breed like a shepherd, husky, or retriever; or a fluffy feline like a Maine coon or Persian. Removing pet hair is a complicated chore—for you and your washing machine.

“Pet hair is definitely a challenge to remove from most fabrics,” says Randy Radtke, a spokesperson for laundry appliance maker Speed Queen. “Once water is added to the equation, it becomes that much more difficult.” The mix of water and pet hair results in clumps that stick to fabrics and the sides of the washer drum, clogging drain pumps.