Efficiently eliminating pet hair from garments in a snap: My preferred Velcro laundry trick as a professional cleanliness tester.
If you're a furry friend owner, then you're all too familiar with the struggle of removing pet hair from your clothing and household linens. Although you could spend hours trying to get rid of it with lint rollers, I've discovered a simpler laundry solution - a Velcro hair roller.
Taking inspiration from an Instagram reel, I've now sworn by this time-saving laundry hack that removes pet hair from fabric without leaving it stuck in the washing machine seal.
Velcro Hair Roller Laundry Hack
This straightforward laundry hack is as uncomplicated as it gets. All you need is a Velcro hair roller, available in packs of four from Walmart, and your washing machine. Simply place the roller in your washer and run the laundry cycle as normal to remove pet hair from your laundry load.
The original laundry tip was shared by content creator Kiki.Border.Collie on Instagram, and it shows them pulling out all the collected mats of hair from the Velcro.
Being tired of pulling hair out of the filter and door seal when cleaning the washing machine, I decided to give this cleaning shortcut a try. While I don't own any pets myself, my partner and I both have fine hair that sheds excessively, and there's a neighborhood cat that loves to rub itself on our legs in the backyard.
So, I threw one of my Velcro rollers in the drum before loading up my washer and running a normal laundry cycle with non-toxic Ecover Non-Bio Laundry Detergent, available on Amazon. After washing, I was astounded by the amount of hair the roller picked up - all strands that would have otherwise risked clogging up my appliance (making this a great washing machine maintenance tip to extend its lifespan, too).
Despite the rough texture of Velcro, I didn't notice any damage to my clothing after this laundry hack. However, as with any hack, be cautious to avoid making this a bad laundry habit that could potentially ruin your items. As the original creator noted, "Silk, lace, athletic wear, and other delicate fabrics should be washed separately! Don't test these life hacks on those materials. Cotton, bed linens, jeans, t-shirts, etc. are safe - go ahead and wash them like that."
Caution and Precautions
Elizabeth Shields, operations manager at Super Cleaning Service Louisville, suggests removing hair before washing as normal to prevent disappointing results post-wash. As she explains, "Pre-removing lint, pet hair, and all those tiny fuzzies means they don't have a chance to cling to other clothes."
For delicate items, we like this reusable, washable gel lint roller from Walmart, which can be used over and over again without creating waste and saves money in the long run.
What to Shop
- Mesh Laundry Bags - Ideal for keeping smaller items and delicate garments safe, mesh laundry bags prevent them from snagging on zippers, buttons, or Velcro.
- Self-Grip Hair Rollers - Specifically designed to hold hair, these self-grip hair rollers make an excellent trap for hair in washing machines.
- Bounce Dryer Sheets - Perfect for reducing wrinkles and catching lingering pet hair in dryers, these dryer sheets are specially formulated to minimize static cling on your clothing and release stuck-on hair.
This Velcro hair roller laundry hack can help manage pet hair in your home-and-garden, offering a simpler solution for removing pet hair from your laundry. After trying this hack with non-toxic Ecover Non-Bio Laundry Detergent, I found it effective at picking up pet hair, preventing it from clogging up my washing machine and potentially damaging my appliance. Yet, it's essential to be cautious with this hack and avoid using it on delicate fabrics such as silk, lace, or athletic wear. Instead, opt for reusable, washable gel lint rollers or self-grip hair rollers for these items.
