Laundry question for pet owners

[Buc-O-Mama]

We're a family of 5, with 3 cats and 2 dogs as well. My problem is hair. Somehow, a lot of our laundry comes out of the washer with bits of critter hair still on it, and it comes off in the dryer. How do I get this stuff to stop sticking to our laundry so that I can start air drying again? The pets don't lay in our laundry or anything, we just pick it up somehow. Ideas?

[frugalwarrior2]

Sometimes I will put it in the dryer. Wash it. dry it. I don't think air drying is an option around here. Make sure you empty your lint trap every time too. Just part of owning pets.

[krbshappy71]

I snap mine when I pull them out of the washer before hanging them to dry. My only suggestion would be to just keep cleaning it up around the house so there's less to stick to your clothes. Change the furnace filter often, vacuum often, keep clothes in hampers that the cats can't get into to sleep, etc.

[mek42]

We just live with the transference. We get dog hairs on us when we pet them, so I haven't noticed whether or not it come out of the laundry with hairs still attached. Our dryer broke some time ago and we never fixed or replaced it. In fact, we just sold it cheap to a coworker who bought his first house (it still spins and blows, just doesn't have as much hot air as I do ).

Truthfully, I'm more irritated when I have to pull my wife's long hairs off clothes than the dogs'.

[janeysaurus]

My dog hairs show up the worst on my black clothes, so I tend to do a partial air-dry and partial dryer dry on those, as well as use lint brushes/rolls. It really motivates one not to buy black clothing.

All other colors and items, I ignore it.

[Libby]

Perhaps using 1c white vinegar during the rinse cycle can help release the hairs from sticking? Also, a quick 2 minute tumble in the dryer before hanging to air dry may help. All this on top of vacuuming more often may help

[McD]

I have teh same problem with my hair. I have a thyroid problem that makes my hair fall out quite a bit. We have hair everywhere---stuck to towels, the carpet, etc. It's gross.

No real suggetions for you because I havent' discovered anything that has worked yet.

[Mom2-3]

I have the same problem as the OP. I vacuum everyday and there is still hair. I line dry the clothes and pop them in the dryer for 5 minutes before I fold them. I use the same dryer sheet all week.

This has seemed to cut down most of the problem. We still find stray pet and human hairs, but we keep a lint roller by the door.

HTH

[baxjul]

I also have pet hair, mine seems to all come off in the dryer. I just make sure to empty my lint trap between every load.

[Contrary Housewife]

Yeah, isn't that the million dollar question. Find the answer and you could be rich. Some days I wish I could vacuum the cat. We have two and have cat hair on the furniture, clothing, even walls. It's all I can do to keep it out of the food. I've tried clothing bushes, lint rollers, pet hair removers, nothing really works 100% and I hate spending $$ on specialty gadgets like that.

Sometimes I use the dryer on tumble (no heat) just to remove cat hair and dust from our bedding. I suppose I could hang it in a line and whack the heck out of it, but we haven't got one (they were not part of our "modern" housing development back in 1969). That just seems like trading energy of one kind for another, and I have enough to do in my day already.

[Russ]

. Some days I wish I could vacuum the cat.

If you do, get video. :rofl:

Dog hair drives me nuts. :gaah: The white/yellow lab was the worst though. That hair showed up everywhere.

[krbshappy71]

My parents used to vacuum the dog, he was such a fruit-cake, he just liked the attention. My dogs are horrified by the vacuum cleaner. They get the heck out of the way, though, at least.

[Judi Dial]

I'd say in addition to the usual stuff, try combing and/or brushing the pets more often so that you contrl where the fur winds up.

Judi

[shoiji]

I try to avoid wearing any fleece clothing. Just seems to be more of a magnet. Other than trying to keep up with vacuuming I dry most of my clothes in the dryer with a fabric softner sheet. This seems to work really well. I also stock up on the sticky lint rollers at the dollar store. Really comes in handy, especially when wearing anything black.

It would be great if I could vacuum them but one of the cats runs in terror when I just open the closet with the vacuum. lol

[DaughterOfErin]

Same problem in this house.

We have a dog and 2 cats and my sister who is living with us right now has a cat, so pet hair is a BIG problem in this house.