FurZapper Review: Does This Tool Banish Pet Hair from Your Laundry?

As a certified animal behavior consultant, I write about pets for a living. And as a pet owner, I know the struggles of excess fur (which is why I always keep a lint roller on hand). Two years ago, I started testing the FurZapper—and today, because fall shedding season increases the amount of pet hair I find all over me, I still use this laundry tool to fight the furry blizzard.

In the fall, cats and dogs grow thicker coats to prepare for colder weather. The new fur growth pushes out the old, so we end up with shed fur in drifts that we need to vacuum, or clinging to bedding (if you share a pillow with your furry love). But indoor pets shed year-round. Short fur proves even more difficult to remove from clothes, upholstery and carpet, because it needles into the fabric. There are many products for removing pet hair, but they often are ineffective or labor-intensive.

So, when I heard FurZapper is a laundry pet hair remover, I thought it sounded too good to be true. I put the product to the test by washing and drying hairy clothes to see if it lowered the fuzz quotient. And I share how the product has held up over many months of use.

What is the FurZapper?

The FurZapper loosens and removes pet hair from fabric and acts as a washing machine hair catcher. It rinses away hair or collects the fur on the dryer filter. FurZapper comes in a blister pack with two 4-inch-round disks, each 0.5-inch thick with paw-shaped cut-outs. The sticky disks go right into the washer and dryer along with your fur-covered clothes, and lift out the fuzz.

FurZapper Features

• Reusable laundry discs: Includes two 4-inch discs designed to remove pet hair from clothes, blankets and bedding during wash and dry cycles
• Sticky, flexible material: Soft, tacky surface grabs loose fur, lint and hair from fabric without damaging clothing
• Works in washer and dryer: Loosens pet hair in the wash so it rinses away, then pulls additional fur into the dryer lint trap
• Bright easy-to-find colors: Neon yellow and green discs stand out in laundry loads for quick retrieval
• Compatible with most fabrics: Safe to use on everyday clothing, pet blankets, coats, sweatshirts and bedding
• Long-lasting design: Reusable construction holds up for years with occasional cleaning using dish soap and water
• Reduces lint rolling: Helps cut down on manual pet hair removal from dark clothing and upholstery
• Helpful during shedding season: Especially useful for homes with cats and dogs that shed heavily
• No setup required: Simply toss the discs into the washer and dryer with your laundry
• Best with lighter loads: Works more effectively when laundry has enough room to circulate freely
• Avoid fabric softeners: Dryer sheets and fabric softener can reduce the product’s stickiness and overall effectiveness

How We Tested It

To make sure my FurZapper review would be as thorough as possible, during the first few months of testing, I included hair-covered pet blankets, lap throws we use daily and even my fur-covered winter coat. I also snuggled with my cat, Karma, and my dog, Shadow—what a hardship on them! The extra cuddles ensured that several sweatshirts and sweaters collected even more dog and cat fur.

Before washing and drying each load, I emptied the dryer lint trap to better measure any hair captured. I prepared to wash laundry as I use do, by placing washables inside the washer, but then I also dropped in one or two FurZapper discs (depending how hairy my pieces had gotten) and ran the cycle as normal. The FurZapper circulates with the clothes, dislodging hair and pet fur, so it rinses out and drains with the water.

I only saw a few stray hairs clinging to the FurZapper, but, in the wash cycle, the loosened fur washes down the drain. Pro tip: Don't overload the washer or dryer, as the disk needs room to circulate. Also, don't add fabric softener, as it interferes with hair removal.

When the washing process was finished, I placed my clothes into the dryer along with the disks. Warmth from the dryer helps activate and increase the "stickiness" to pull off even more pet hair. In the dryer cycle, the loosened hair collects in the lint catcher, not on the disk itself. Another tip: Avoid dryer sheets, which reduces the effectiveness.

My dog and both cats have relatively short fur and a thick undercoat, so I don't see the sort of dramatic results one might expect from a long-haired breed. Also, in the wintertime, I really need the added anti-static properties of fabric softener or a dryer sheet, so I disliked choosing between static or fur.

Still, I noticed a marked improvement in the clothes coming out of the dryer, and an increase in debris in the lint trap. The disks don't collect all of the fur, but they seem to loosen it enough to wash through or be caught by the lint trap. For me, the FurZapper worked moderately well, especially in the dryer. With heavily shedding pets, you'll notice the most improvement during the spring and fall shed season.

Over the couple years of use, the FurZapper continues to hold up well. I don't use it all the time, but it helps enormously during the spring and fall peak shedding seasons. Between washes, you can run pet hair-covered clothes in the dryer with a FurZapper disc to pull off extra fuzz.

To "refresh" the product, it does need cleaning from time to time. The product packaging recommends handwashing the FurZapper with dish soap after every two or three laundry loads of use. I was worried the stickiness would eventually wash away, or that the disk would stick to the sides of the washer or dryer. But nearly two years after my initial FurZapper review, the stickiness remains nearly as good as straight out of the package!

Pros

• Reduces pet hair on clothes and fabrics
• Easy to use—just throw it in the washer and dryer
• Reusable and lasts a long time
• Little to no maintenance
• Affordable

Cons

• Works best for short-coated pets
• Shouldn't use with fabric softener or dryer sheets

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

There are more than 60,000 FurZapper reviews on Amazon. Here's what other real-life shoppers had to say:

"I was surprised how well these actually work!" writes verified purchaser, Thomo. "When I used these the first time, it looked like there was a whole cat's worth of hair stuck to them! They work great with bulky items like blankets and with regular clothing. It probably cut down my lint rolling by like 50%. I clean it between washer and dryer cycles, and it gets off even more hair! So happy I found these!"

Five-star reviewer, T Poisson, says, "I have a very big dog—140 pounds worth of furry. He has a fuzzy undercoat that is incredible, but it gets everywhere. I use both of the FurZappers in the load. I put them in the washer and the dryer. For those loads with a lot of fuzz on them, I put the load in the dryer with the FurZappers before I wash to remove some of the excess. Then I wash the load with both FurZappers and then put them in the dryer. It beats trying to use a lint brush on your laundry before you wash."

Deb.Bee, another verified buyer, shares, "Exactly what I needed! I have two German Shepherds, so controlling the fur is a never-ending battle. I am really happy to report that this product lives up to their claim. All of my dark clothes are coming out of the dryer practically fur-free. I use both disks at the same time and hand-wash them with dish soap to remove the fur and make them sticky again."

Product Comparison

Over the years, I've tried many products to help control the fur on my clothes. Most other products, like lint rollers for pet hair, pet hair removers and fabric scrapers that de-pill sweaters and remove fur from clothes, require a lot of work. Brushing and combing your clothes takes time and, if you're like me, you have better things to do.

Pet hair dissolvers only work in front-loading, high-temperature washers, with mixed reviews. For an easy-to-use, inexpensive answer to reducing pet hair on clothes, the FurZapper can't be beat.

Final Verdict

Does the FurZapper live up to the hype? There are mixed reviews, and frankly, that probably has to do with a couple of things. First, following the directions gives the FurZapper the best opportunity to work. I'll admit that, for the first couple of loads I tested, I added a dryer sheet without thinking about it. When I remembered to leave it out, I had better results.

Also, the FurZapper doesn't collect the fur, so you won't see satisfying clumps of hair on the product. Finally, your success depends on your individual pet, how many animals you have and the clothes involved. After all, every dog's and cat's fur interacts differently with a variety of fabrics. In my experience, it works best in the dryer rather than the washer.

The FurZapper isn't a miracle worker, but it's easy to use and offers modest-to-great results (depending on the pets and fabrics), and at an economical price. Even better, the FurZapper lasts virtually forever—one reviewer noted she's had hers since 2017, and they still work!

For me, it's well worth adding the FurZapper to my laundry routine, especially when I'm washing winter dog coats and fur-covered blankets.

Where to Buy the FurZapper

You can snag a two-pack of the FurZappers for around $13 at Amazon, Walmart and Chewy. Just think—you already do laundry, so why not try removing pet hair in a smarter way in the process?

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FAQ

Are there any non-dryer sheet pet hair solutions?

There are many options for removing pet hair from laundry, including the Fur Zapper, dryer balls, pet hair dissolvers and nylon balls with little hooks that grab onto pet hair.

What's the best tip or product to catch pet fur in laundry?

Other than picking up a Fur Zapper or similar product, for best results, keep up with your pet's grooming and use lint rollers or fabric scrapers ahead of washing clothes.

Is there actually a good way to deal with pet hair in the washing machine?

Yes, for sure. First, make sure to remove as much pet hair as possible before popping your clothes in the wash. You can accomplish this by regularly brushing your pets and lint-rolling your clothes and furniture. Then, throw a Fur Zapper in with your clothes in the washing machine and watch it work its magic!

Will the Fur Zapper work on human hair?

Yes, the Fur Zapper does work on human hair, though that's not its intended purpose. Per one Redditor, "I find my hair wrapped up in it all the time. You use it in the washer and the dryer. It helps get hair, lint, and fur into the lint trap as well."

Why You Should Trust Us

As a certified animal behavior consultant and longtime pet writer, Amy Shojai has spent decades covering pet care products, grooming tools and life with shedding pets. For this review, she tested the FurZapper in a real-world home environment with her own cats and dog, using it on everything from blankets and winter coats to everyday laundry over an extended period of time.

Paul Rankin, Content Updates Editor at Vernl, updated and contributed research to this article. Paul also writes for Reader's Digest, Bob Vila and Taste of Home and has written shopping guides since 2021.

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