June 6, 2025, 4:18 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Pet owners are familiar with the hairy issue: laundry covered in pet hair that won’t come off even after washing. However, a surprisingly simple household trick is said to help—and it has been tested.
Do you know the problem of pet hair still being in your clothes after washing? I personally love wearing black–but my cat Remo is orange and white. My winter coat, with its special fabric, often has “furry decorations” that sometimes drive me to despair. However, a simple trick during washing is said to help finally remove these pesky hairs. My colleague Lena Hackauf from the myHOMEBOOK editorial team has already tested it. Simple wet wipes are supposed to help remove stubborn pet hair when washing textiles! The application is easy, and the effect is surprisingly noticeable–even if there are some limitations.
Hair on Clothes–Despite Washing
In households with multiple residents–especially with pets–laundry is often not only dirty but also heavily covered with pet hair. Although many hairs are removed during washing, a large portion remains stuck in the fibers. Clothing, bedding, and home textiles are particularly affected.
The Wet Wipe Trick from the Household
A simple household helper promises relief: regular wet wipes. According to recommendations, you place one to three wet wipes directly into the washing drum, depending on the size of the load. Then, start the wash cycle as usual. It’s important to remember how many wipes were used–because they need to be removed at the end. If one is missing, check the machine’s lint filter.
During the wash cycle, the wet wipes pick up the pet hair, bind it, and prevent it from redistributing onto the textiles. The clothing remains undamaged–a clear advantage over mechanical methods like rubber balls or lint rollers.
What the myHOMEBOOK Editorial Team Says
What to Keep in Mind
Wet wipes are made from soft materials that can decompose at high temperatures. Therefore, the washing temperature should be relatively low. Firm wipes are particularly suitable for this purpose. However, this method is environmentally questionable–wet wipes are not biodegradable and create additional waste.
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Other Options Against Pet Hair
In general, the more hair removed before washing, the better the result. Pet hair removers help to remove most of the hair from clothing, blankets, or home textiles like sofas and carpets. The washing machine can then take care of the last remnants. Two common methods for hair removal in the household are special lint brushes or rubber lamella rollers–their effectiveness varies depending on the material and area of use.
Those who also have the luxury of using a dryer often experience lint- and pet hair-free clothing. If you don’t own this appliance, you might consider visiting a laundromat for particularly stubbornly furry items.
Conclusion:
Simple, effective, and without additional devices–the trick with wet wipes can indeed help remove pesky pet hair from laundry. However, environmentally conscious individuals should not use it permanently but as an occasional solution for particularly “hairy cases.”