A Simple Dryer Hack to Lift Pet Hair From Clothes (and Hair Tools)

Pet hair has a knack for finding its way into every corner of a routine—on black knitwear, inside hoodie linings, and even into the bristles of hairbrushes tucked in a gym bag. A recent Good Housekeeping piece spotlights a surprisingly effective laundry trick: using your tumble dryer briefly before washing to loosen fur, making it easier for the wash cycle to remove. It’s not glamorous, but it is clever—and for anyone juggling lint rollers, sticky tape and last-minute outfit changes, it’s a method worth understanding properly.

While this is primarily a clothes-care tip, it also has a quiet knock-on benefit for haircare: less pet hair and fluff on scarves, coats and pillowcases means fewer stray fibres transferring back onto freshly styled hair. The overall result can feel like a cleaner finish, especially on smooth blow-dries, sleek ponytails and curls defined with leave-ins.

What the “dry before you wash” trick actually does

The idea is simple: pop the furry items into the tumble dryer for a short cycle first, then wash as usual. That pre-dry movement helps dislodge hair from fabric fibres. With the right amount of airflow and agitation, pet hair can gather and detach more readily, rather than getting damp and clinging more stubbornly during the wash.

Many UK households already rely on a tumble dryer to finish laundry; this flips the order when pet hair is the main problem. You’re using the dryer as a “de-furring” step, not a drying step.

How to do it well (without ruining your clothes)

Because this technique relies on movement and airflow, you’ll get best results when you avoid overloading the drum and stick to fabrics that can safely tolerate a quick tumble. Always check care labels—especially for wool, silk, delicate synthetics, and anything that’s “dry clean only”.

• Start with a short tumble: A brief cycle is the point here, not a full dry. Think of it as loosening lint and fur.
• Use a lower heat setting if in doubt: Many garments do better on low heat or an air/fluff setting (if your machine has it).
• Don’t cram the dryer: Items need room to move so hair can lift and detach.
• Clean the lint filter immediately afterwards: This is non-negotiable—pet hair will build up quickly and reduces efficiency. A clogged filter can also be a safety issue.
• Then wash as normal: Once hair is loosened, your wash has a better chance of rinsing away what’s left.

Real-world practicality: if you’re short on time, pick your “worst offenders” (pet throws, lounge joggers, bedding, fleece layers) and run only those through the pre-dry step—then keep a lint roller by the front door for quick touch-ups.

Why this matters for haircare (yes, really)

Haircare doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Stylists often talk about “friction” and “fabric contact” when troubleshooting dullness, flyaways, or styles that don’t last: scarves, coat collars, hats and pillowcases all interact with your hair daily. If those fabrics are coated in pet hair, lint and fluff, you can end up with:

• Visible fibres in sleek styles (especially on dark hair, smooth blow-dries and heat-styled looks).
• More frequent re-styling because hair looks less polished after you put on a coat or wrap a scarf.
• Messy hair-tools and brushes as fibres transfer from clothes to your hands, then onto brush bristles.

This trick won’t “fix” hair, but it can support the kind of tidy, low-friction environment that helps styles look fresher for longer. If your hair is prone to static in winter, reducing lint on knitwear and coats may also make those contact points feel less clingy and chaotic.

Common mistakes and simple upgrades

The biggest pitfall is assuming the pre-dry step replaces other good laundry habits. It doesn’t—it complements them. Here are the issues professionals who work in wardrobe departments (and plenty of busy households) commonly run into, plus easy improvements:

• Forgetting to clean the filter: Removing fur from a filter is the main “work” of this hack. Do it every time.
• Mixing very linty fabrics together: Towels with fleeces can be a fluff storm. Keep furry culprits grouped, and wash heavy lint-shedders separately where possible.
• Overheating delicate items: If the label says no tumble drying, skip it. Try manual removal methods (a garment brush, damp rubber gloves, or tape) instead.
• Ignoring pet bedding and throws: These are often the main source of fur transfer back onto “clean” clothes—and then onto hair and hands.
• Not cleaning the dryer drum occasionally: A quick wipe can help avoid hair and lint redepositing on the next load.

To make the habit stick, keep a small routine: pre-dry, clear the filter, then wash. It’s a three-step loop that takes minutes, but saves you the tenth lint-roll of the day.

Key Takeaways

• A short tumble-dryer cycle before washing can help loosen pet hair from clothing, making it easier for the wash to remove.
• Give clothes space to move in the drum and choose low heat or air/fluff settings if you’re unsure about fabric tolerance.
• Clean the lint filter straight after the pre-dry step—pet hair builds up quickly and can reduce dryer performance.
• Less pet hair on coats, scarves and pillowcases can mean fewer stray fibres transferring onto freshly styled hair.
• Next step: trial the method on one “high-fur” load (throws, joggers or bedding), then adjust heat/time based on care labels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pre-tumble drying work on all fabrics?
Not always. It can be effective on many everyday items, but delicate fabrics or “do not tumble dry” garments should be treated with gentler removal methods and label-led care.

Should I use high heat to remove more pet hair?
Not necessarily. Heat can shrink or damage some materials. The goal is airflow and movement to loosen hair—many loads will benefit from lower heat or an air/fluff setting depending on your machine.

Will this replace a lint roller?
It can reduce how much you rely on one, but it’s not a total replacement. For finishing touches—especially on dark clothing—a lint roller or clothes brush remains useful.

Is it better to do this before every wash?
If pet hair is a constant issue, it can be a helpful routine for specific items (throws, bed linen, loungewear). For low-fur loads, your normal wash may be enough.

How can I stop pet hair transferring back onto my hair and hair tools?
Start with the fabrics that touch you most: pillowcases, coats, scarves and hoodies. Keeping those cleaner and less linty can reduce fibres ending up on your hands, brush bristles and freshly styled hair.