Pet hair can take varying amounts of time to break down in a washing machine, depending on several factors such as the pet hair quantity, the efficiency of the washing machine, the type of detergent used, and the length and type of pet hair.
In general, pet hair is not easily broken down or dissolved by water and detergent alone. It tends to clump together and can stick to the fabric during the washing process. Some pet hair may be dislodged and washed away during the cycle, while other hair may remain trapped in the fabric or the washing machine's filters.
To minimize the amount of pet hair in your washing machine, you can take the following precautions:
Pre-treatment: Before washing, shake or brush off as much pet hair as possible from the items to be laundered.
Lint rollers or sticky tape: Use a lint roller or sticky tape to remove excess pet hair from the fabric before washing.
Pet hair removal tools: Consider using specialized pet hair removal tools or gadgets that are designed to collect and remove pet hair from clothing and fabrics.
Pet hair traps or laundry balls: Some products on the market claim to collect pet hair in the washing machine. These can be placed in the machine during a wash cycle to help gather loose hair.
Wash smaller loads: Overloading the washing machine can make it harder for the machine to handle pet hair effectively.
Regular maintenance: Clean the washing machine's lint filter and other accessible parts after each cycle to prevent hair buildup.
Despite these precautions, some pet hair may still find its way into the washing machine and could potentially clog the drainage system or get trapped in the filters. It is advisable to clean the machine periodically and address any clogging issues promptly.
In summary, pet hair doesn't break down in the washing machine like organic matter would. Instead, it can be removed or reduced with the right pre-treatment and maintenance practices.