Every day is National Pet Day to us animal lovers out there, and despite setting those house rules we can't say no when they jump up on our sofas and cover our blankets in hair.

If you’re wondering how to clean your dogs bed, look no further. We’ve assembled this guide on how to wash a dog bed to help give them a comfortable place to rest their head whilst looking after your appliances

Here's our 5 top tips on how to de-fur your washing machine and keep them in tip-top condition.

Brush your pet regularly

This one is for before those blankets, duvets, and cushion covers reach the washer. When pet hair gets wet it becomes soggy and clumpy which can cause it to cling to the inside of the washing machine. It can also get stuck in your water filter which causes the machine or drains to become clogged up.

You may be wondering what brushing your pet and keeping your washing machine hair-free have in common. Well, brushing your pet regularly removes loose hairs, the fewer loose hairs the less shedding and therefore, less hair in the machine.

If you do find there is still some pet hair, we suggest making sure you use a hoover or lint roller first, before putting the garments into the wash.

Throw pet-hair removing tools in with your laundry

Whilst the bedding is in the washing machine; you can still remove those rogue pet hairs. From lint-removing laundry to pet hair dissolvers and mesh floating filters.

These are all washing machine-friendly products that will dislodge and catch those loose strands of pet hair that you may not have been able to get out before popping the garments in the wash.

Run your laundry through the tumble-dryer before putting it into the washing machine

Usually, it is the other way around. But putting the laundry into the dryer first, allows the fabric to soften and loosens those hard-to-catch hairs which can often be collected in the dryer’s lint trap.

All you need to do is place a load of laundry into the dryer for 10 minutes on a low-to-no-heat cycle. You could even add a slightly damp cloth to the laundry to enhance your fur-fighting strategy.

Regularly deep clean your washing machine

It's important to clean your washing machine regularly, especially when battling with pet fur to ensure you don't need any washing machine repairs.

Start by wiping down the inside of your washing machine. Don't forget to wipe the area under the rubber lip of the machine.

Next, you should run a short rinse cycle. Make sure when putting on the cycle that your machine is empty, that way it will be spotless.

Once a month you should allow for your washing machine drum to air dry, by leaving the door open for at least a day. Additionally, you can use the crevice attachment provided with most vacuums to catch out as much hair as possible.  

Lastly, pop in two cups of white vinegar, one cup of baking soda, and three cups of hot water into the washer tub ensuring a thorough clean before running your next cycle.

Here's our guide to keeping your washing machine spinning.

Hoover your tumble dryer

Just as it's important to deep clean your washing machine it is equally important to deep clean your tumble dryer. This helps to remove any pet hair build-up from the dryer’s lint trap and inside of the machine.

Start by using the crevice attachment of your hoover to remove any excess pet hair from the lint trap. You should then wipe the inside of the dryer with a damp cloth. Aim to do this at least once a month or when you start to see a build-up of hair.

Tumble dryers should be deep cleaned every 6–12 months. However, if you're unsure of how regularly your dryer should be deep cleaned, we recommend checking the manufacturer’s instructions first.

Regularly deep cleaning your dryer helps to keep the dryer working properly and avoids any risk of fire.

Our top tips can help to keep your washing machine and tumble dryer fur-free and in tip-top condition.

About the author

Chloe Taylor

Chloe is our Marketing Executive at Domestic & General and joined in January 2022. A woman of many interests, she's the go-to person for TV recommendations, anything from Reality TV such as Married at First Sight (Australian version of course!) to crime drama programmes such as Ted Bundy and The Staircase.

Chloe is a regular contributor, so expect to see blogs ranging from her love of food and all things sweet, content on family and home life, and all things animals.

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