Am I just doing laundry wrong?!

February 26, 2020 1:11 PM

MY ISSUE: my laundry comes out of the washer SO LINTY AND DOG HAIRY. I have run everything through the dryer so they are clean-looking enough to wear, which sucks because I'd rather hang them on the line. MY QUESTIONS: Is this just how life is with an old washing machine? Is my dog hair level just that unmanageable? Do I just need to replace or clean a doodad on my washing machine? Am I doing something wrong? Things I've already tried and more below the fold!

I have a crappy old top loading washer in my rental, but it seems to be working correctly. I have had this problem at most of my crappy rentals with crappy washing machines.

I have already reduced my load size considerably, in my early years of doing my own laundry I would CRAM THAT SHIT IN THERE. Now I don't fill the washing machine over half full.

I use Arm & Hammer detergent, do not use liquid fabric softener, and use a wool ball as a de-static-er in my dryer

I don't separate whites from colors, but certainly could start I guess.

My current process is: Wash a load of laundry, put it in the dryer for 20ish minutes with no heat, just air, then air dry outside. For my blacks and work clothes, I dry them entirely in the dryer so they actually look black & clean.

I am reluctant to start using liquid fabric softener because I don't like it at all, and certainly don't mind stiff fabric fresh off the clothes line.

My dream would be that I wash my clothes with a simple & effective detergent, they come out clean, and I hang them on the line to dry.

We do have A LOT of dog.

Help me grown up, please.

posted by Grandysaur to Home & Garden (16 answers total)

Your washing machine has a filter. You can google the make and model and you should come across some instructions on how to clean the filter.
posted by TORunner at 1:14 PM on February 26, 2020 [7 favorites]

Your old machine might have a lint/hair trap. See for example this thing about cleaning it.

My current process is: Wash a load of laundry, put it in the dryer for 20ish minutes with no heat, just air, then air dry outside. For my blacks and work clothes, I dry them entirely in the dryer so they actually look black & clean.

I'm guessing that the hair isn't getting sucked off in the dry cycle, but are you finding the same problems with all of your clothes? Or more so with the stuff you air dry? What happens if you dry on low heat for five minutes instead of air dry for 20?

(On an unrelated note: I air dry my better/work clothes because tumbling dry can beat them up more quickly.)
posted by bluedaisy at 1:16 PM on February 26, 2020

After you clean the filter and/or lint trap, you may want to try something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/FurZapper-2-Pack-Hair-Remover-Laundry/dp/B074CHX3HH

I have no experience with this specific item, but there seems to be a whole category of things to solve this problem, so... at least you are not alone?
posted by nkknkk at 1:22 PM on February 26, 2020 [1 favorite]

Do you take your day clothes off when you get home? The simplest solution might be to change right away and only dry your "night clothes" in the dryer.
posted by nakedmolerats at 1:24 PM on February 26, 2020 [4 favorites]

FWIW I have to run my things through the dryer to catch all the lint and, in our case, cat hair. Just washing and line drying leaves them hairyish and lintish. We got a new washer this past year and now that I read your question I actually think they are less hairy and linty out the wash than with our old machine. But still the dryer catches the rest.

However what you describe sounds like there is indeed an issue with your old washers.
posted by like_neon at 1:24 PM on February 26, 2020 [4 favorites]

I was on team "Separating clothes is a waste of time" for a long time, but recently I started separating a little bit. Like, my fuzzy slipper socks don't go in with the darks because then there's lint on everything.
posted by cabingirl at 2:03 PM on February 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

Separating by color could certainly help — I recently started washing my blacks separately from everything else, and it made a HUGE difference in the amount of lint on the black clothes. I used to have to lint roll everything black before wearing it, but not anymore.
posted by mekily at 2:11 PM on February 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

I find a lot of black cat hair on my clothing and linens, but have had good results drying them with an unscented dryer sheet. The clothing is not slick or any different from when I don't use a sheet, in fact I usually find that a half sheet is sufficient. I find lots of pet hair on the dryer filter. FWIW I have a very new top of the line washer, so lots of fur is making it to the dryer despite that. I do clean the dryer filter frequently.

If your washer filter quest doesn't help much, perhaps a dryer sheet will.
posted by citygirl at 2:12 PM on February 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

Have your landlords had your ducts cleaned within the past couple years? If not, that might explain why your dryer isn't doing a great job of catching lint.

As for the washer lint and hair trap, I've lived in places with top-loader washers with a recommended once-a-month cleaning schedule for the lint traps. The manufacturers really weren't kidding - at least with older GE Spacemakers, once those traps fill up they will start spewing old lint all over your clothes.
posted by blerghamot at 2:28 PM on February 26, 2020

+1 to the half unscented dryer sheet trick, dried on low to medium heat. It's the only way to get cat hair out of some materials (fleece blankets especially). Assume it would work on dog hair too?
posted by soylent00FF00 at 2:29 PM on February 26, 2020

Pet hair is a thing. Some dry cleaners will flat out charge you more if your stuff has pet hair on it -- or they'll refuse to take it.

Have you tried delicate cycle? Sometimes those use a little more water. I wouldn't do it all the time, but for an occasional difficult piece it might work.

You might also want to try de-linting before you wash. Also -- you're probably doing this -- just reducing the pet hair in the environment by de-linting couches, brushing the animals frequently, etc.

FYI top loaders are much better than front loaders. With front loaders, you MUST keep the door open to avoid mold -- which is terrible if you have small animals that like to climb inside things and nest. Also, somebody eventually closes the door (or, if you're renting, the previous tenants will have closed the door), and your clothes will always have a slight mildewy thing going on. Sure, you can run commercial cleaner stuff through, but that stuff is always heavily perfumed and it won't remove all the mildew. There's basically always mildew inside.

Oh, and the detergent drawer thing? Never clean. Go ahead, take it apart, see what you've got.

Congratulations on your probably awesome machine, which is also going to be WAY easier to repair than a front-loader, very probably.

So, please keep the machine.
posted by amtho at 3:51 PM on February 26, 2020

From my experience (living in multiple places with different laundry situations) it seems like the dryer is the main place that stuff like pet hair gets removed from clothing, not the washer.
posted by needs more cowbell at 4:50 PM on February 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

Check filters, wipe out the drums, check your dryer's lint trap, clean your dryer vent, and, going forward, get in the habit of rolling a lint brush over your clothes right before you take them off and put them in the hamper. Hang a roller with tear-off sheets right by wherever you disrobe, put another by the hamper itself for missed patches, and even a third by the washer if you need to.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:24 PM on February 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

Line dry your clothes until nearly dry, then finish them in the dryer.
posted by Oyéah at 7:37 PM on February 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

My experience is that it doesn't matter what kind of washer you have, pet hair is only coming out if you use a dryer sheet.
I've read that vinegar loosens the fur but then you'd probably want to wipe the inside of the machine, also.
posted by sm1tten at 8:10 PM on February 26, 2020

Don't put super-linty hairy items in with non-hairy items. Especially socks (which get hairy from the floor). Either lint-roll the hairy items really well before laundering, or do separate "hairy" and "non-hairy" loads.

For me that means socks, pajamas, jeans, and towels get washed together. Nice work clothes get washed together, and NOT with the lint-making hairy home clothes. I would never put a linty towel or hairy sock in with a black sweater!

And yes, separate into darks / whites. Get 2 hampers, it's easier. That way the lint blends in to the clothing and is much less noticeable.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:51 PM on February 26, 2020