How to get pet hair out of the washer
Filter, gasket and washer balls. A normal cycle does not take all the hair.
Dog blankets fill the washer filter and gasket. Clothes come out with hair stuck on. Here is the order that fixes it, without taking the whole machine apart.
Before the cycle
Shake the blanket outside or vacuum it. Less hair goes in, less the filter clogs. Turn covers inside out. A separate “pets” load keeps shirts cleaner.
In the drum
Washer balls or a hair-catching sponge rub the fabric during the cycle and collect some hair. They do not empty the filter for you. Take them out and throw the hair away after every pet load.
After: filter and gasket
Open the pump filter (often low on the front) if the manual allows, and pull out the hair plug. Wipe the door gasket. If water will not drain, stop and follow the manual: a clogged filter can leak.
Quick tips
- Do not wash a foam dog bed in the washer.
FAQ
Does vinegar remove the hair?
It helps with smell, not with hair stuck in the filter. Hair comes out by hand or with a ball that catches it.