Fur babies make your world ever brighter...except maybe when it comes to your clothes! With all the fur and odors clinging to your laundry, it can be a challenge balancing loving your pets and keeping your clothes clean — unless you're prepared with the proper tools!
In honor of National Dog Month, our experts at Millar's of Bay City decided to share the washer and dryer tips you need to keep your laundry fur-free and smelling fresh! You won't believe the secrets we have in store for you!
Pre-Wash Preparation to Remove Pet Hair
Before you start the laundry cycle, a little pre-wash preparation can go a long way in effectively removing pet hair. These steps will help you get the best results, ensuring your clothes come out clean and fresh.
- Use lint rollers or pet hair brushes to remove as much fur as possible from your clothes before washing them for a more thorough cleaning.
- Dampen a pair of rubber gloves and run your hands over the fabric. The friction will help lift pet hair off your clothes.
- Shake out items outside to dislodge loose hair. Alternatively, use a vacuum with upholstery attachments to remove hair from larger items like blankets and bed covers.
- Soak your clothes in a mixture of one part white vinegar and three parts water. Vinegar helps break down odors and loosen pet hair. Let the items soak for about 30 minutes before washing.
Optimizing Washing Machine Settings
When tackling pet hair on your clothes, your washing machine can be your best friend. Follow these steps to optimize your washing machine settings and keep your laundry fur-free and fresh:
- Don’t forget to go through the pre-wash settings to loosen and remove as much pet hair as possible before the wash.
- Choose a warm to hot water setting. Warm water helps dissolve oils and loosen fur from the fabric, making it easier to wash away.
- Opt for a heavy-duty or allergen cycle if your machine has one. These cycles provide the deep cleaning necessary to remove embedded pet hair and dander.
- Set your machine to a high spin speed. High spin speeds help lift and separate fur from your clothes, ensuring it gets washed away during the rinse cycle.
- Add an extra rinse cycle to your wash. This additional rinse ensures that all fur and detergent are thoroughly removed, leaving your clothes clean and fresh.
Pro Tip:
Make sure every load is balanced and evenly distributed in the drum for a thorough clean. And use mesh laundry bags to protect small pet items!
Must-Have Washing Machine Features for Pet Owners
In addition to optimizing your settings, consider a washer with extra features just for pet owners! These specialized options can transform your laundry routine:
- Pet Hair Removal Settings: Some washing machines have cycles specifically designed to tackle pet hair, utilizing longer agitation times and higher water levels, ensuring that fur is thoroughly dislodged from fabrics.
- Built-in Steam Cleaning: Steam penetrates deep into fabrics, loosening embedded hair and eliminating stubborn odors while removing allergens, making your laundry cleaner and healthier.
- Self-Cleaning Options: To prevent fur buildup inside your machine, self-cleaning cycles use high temperatures and strong water jets to clean the drum and internal components. Running a self-cleaning cycle monthly keeps your machine running smoothly and fur-free.
- High-Efficiency Filters: High-efficiency filters play a crucial role in trapping pet hair during the wash cycle. Regularly maintaining these filters ensures they remain effective (check your manual for maintenance instructions!).
Choosing the Right Detergents and Additives
To truly tackle pet hair and odors, using the right detergents and additives is essential. However, you don't need to use all these options at once; choose the ones that best fit your needs for each load.
- Detergents: Enzyme-based detergents help break down pet-related stains and odors by targeting the proteins in organic matter. In contrast, hypoallergenic and sensitive skin detergents are gentle for both your skin and your pets’!
- Vinegar: Adding a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help neutralize odors and soften fabrics, which aids in removing pet hair.
- Baking Soda: Sprinkling half a cup of baking soda into your wash can enhance your detergent's effectiveness in combating odors and breaking down pet hair.
- Commercial Additives: Look for products specifically designed for pet laundry. These additives are formulated to deal with pet hair and odors more efficiently, providing a deeper clean.
Optimizing Dryer Cycles
Washing your fur-covered clothes is just one step; drying them the right way is a whole other kettle of fish. To do that, you’ll need to optimize your dryer cycle with these key tips:
- Dryer Balls or Anti-Static Sheets help reduce static, which makes pet hair cling less to fabrics. Dryer balls also improve air circulation, helping to separate pet hair from clothes.
- Low Heat Settings can prevent pet hair from becoming more embedded in the fabric. High heat can sometimes cause hair to stick more stubbornly to clothes.
- Steam Cycles help loosen pet hair from fabrics and reduce odors. Steam penetrates deep into fabrics, making it easier to remove embedded hair.
- Reverse Tumbling changes the direction of drum rotation during the cycle. This action helps prevent pet hair from sticking to clothes and promotes more even drying.
Wash Away the Fur-mageddon!
As you can see, keeping your home fur-free doesn't have to be a hassle. With the right settings, features, and techniques, your laundry can be clean and fresh, no matter how much your pets shed! But if your current laundry machines don’t make pet hair and odor removal a breeze, it’s time to visit us at Millar's of Bay City to find the laundry machines that will!
And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call or stop by!