By the Nini's Choice Team · Updated November 2026
If you live with a shedding dog (or cat), the wash is often where fur shows up again: on clothes, on bedding, and in the dryer filter. Here's a practical routine for how to remove dog hair from laundry, from brushing beforehand to washer, dryer and lint-filter habits, plus a reusable catcher that can help in the machine.
We don't have lab tests to quote, and no catcher or brush will make a heavy-shedding household lint-free. The aim is to take off as much hair as you can before it goes in the wash, then catch more of what's left.
1. Start on the pet, not in the machine
The less loose fur that goes into the hamper, the less you'll wrestle with later.
- Brush your dog or cat regularly, especially in shedding season, over a floor that's easy to sweep or outside.
- A Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush ($15.90, in the Holiday Sale) works for many coats; press the self-clean button to release the collected fur rather than pulling it off with your fingers.
- An Undercoat Rake for Dogs ($18.90, not in the sale) is for loose undercoat on double-coated dogs. Use it gently, and don't scrape the skin.
- Silicone Pet Grooming Gloves ($14.90, not in the sale) help lift loose hair while you pet or during a bath, and they're useful on dogs who dislike a hard brush.
More grooming tools are in Fluffy Grooming.
2. Shake and lint-roll before you wash
- Take bedding, blankets and heavy sheds outside (or over a trash can) and shake them hard.
- Run a lint roller, a rubber glove, or a slightly damp rubber brush over clothes and throws. A used dryer sheet can sometimes lift surface hair from upholstery, but it won't replace a proper brush-and-shake.
- Wash pet bedding separately from work clothes when you can, so one very furry load doesn't share hair with everything else.
3. In the washer
- Don't pack the machine tight. Hair and lint need water and movement to loosen.
- Use your usual detergent and the cycle that's right for the fabric. We don't recommend a special "pet hair" chemical, and we won't claim a miracle setting.
- A reusable catcher can help trap fur that comes off in the wash. The Pet Laundry Hair Remover ($12.90, in the Holiday Sale) is a set of reusable silicone lint catchers, in a paw shape or a round shape (four pieces in each set). Put them in with the load, following the product instructions, then rinse them off after the cycle and let them dry.
- If your washer has a lint filter or a drain-pump filter, clean it on the schedule in your machine's manual. A clogged filter is a common reason hair recirculates or a washer drains slowly.
4. In the dryer
- Clean the lint screen before every load, and again if you're drying a very furry batch. Hair-heavy lint is a fire hazard if it builds up in the filter or the vent, so this step is about safety as well as cleaner clothes.
- Check the dryer's venting path if drying takes much longer than it used to, or if lint is showing up around the machine. Follow your dryer's manual or a qualified technician; don't ignore a blocked vent.
- A short dryer cycle can lift remaining hair toward the filter. For items that can't go in the dryer, air-dry them and do a final lint-roll once they're dry.
- Empty the lint screen into the trash, not into the sink, where wet hair can clog a drain.
5. A weekly habit that actually sticks
- Brush the pet once or twice a week (more in a heavy shed), and empty the brush outside.
- Shake bedding on those same days.
- Toss the silicone catchers in with pet-heavy loads, rinse them, and clean the washer filter as your manual directs.
- Clean the dryer lint screen every load.
This combination, not any single gadget, is what keeps hair from taking over the laundry room. More home helpers, including a litter mat for cat hair and litter tracking, are in Cleanup Crew. If you're gifting the routine rather than just the tool, Practical Gifts for Dog Owners and Black Friday Pet Gifts Under $20 have current prices and sale notes (15% off select gifts in the Holiday Sale through December 1).
FAQ: removing dog hair from laundry
Do silicone laundry catchers replace brushing?
No. They help with hair that makes it into the wash. Brushing and shaking first still do most of the work.
Can I use the catchers with every load?
They're meant for the wash. Follow the product instructions, rinse them after use, and skip any load where a manufacturer of the garment or the machine tells you not to add extras (for example, some delicate bags or compact washers). If a catcher shows wear, replace it.
Why is there still hair on my clothes after drying?
Usually some combination of a full lint screen, an overloaded dryer, hair that wasn't shaken off first, or a vent that needs attention. Work backward through those steps before you assume the wash didn't work.
Will this also help with cat hair?
Yes, the same routine applies. The slicker, gloves and laundry catchers are all listed for dogs and cats.
What if a product arrives damaged?
Contact us within 30 days of delivery for a refund or a replacement, with no return needed. See the FAQ.
This article is for general information and isn't veterinary advice. If you think your pet has eaten something harmful, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison helpline right away. Questions about an order? Email us at hello@ninischoice.com or see our FAQ.