British gas, octopus, eon, edf and ovo customers warned on washing machine myth

IT COMES AFTER A TIKTOK VIDEO ON A WASHING MACHINE 'HACK' WENT VIRAL 13:32, 03 Jun 2025 Households are being warned about a viral video which claims to clean pet hair from washing

machines. The TikTok video suggests pet owners place Velcro hair rollers in their washing machines to try to capture the hair from dogs and cats. However, experts claim doing this could

create more problems by potentially damaging washing machines, advising against it. READ MORE: PENSIONERS WHO LOST WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS SENT NEW £300 UPDATE GET OUR BEST MONEY SAVING TIPS

AND HACKS BY SIGNING UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER Matt Ayres, an appliance expert at RDO Kitchens and Appliances, warned "using DIY methods like this can come with some problems, leaving your

washing machine damaged or even broken". Article continues below He added: “If the hair roller has a rigid plastic core or hard plastic edges, it could easily damage the rubber door

seal, get caught in the drum holes, and damage the drum itself, especially on a fast spin cycle. “It’s important to note that if the rubber door seal gets damaged by the hair roller, it

could lead to further leakage from your washing machine’s door, causing additional problems which could put your washer out of order. “Beyond it impacting your washer, it could also damage

your clothing. "As the Velcro surface is designed to grip, it tends to snag delicate fabrics like knits or lace, which could cause pulls or tears in your clothing. “Also, the roller

could come apart, potentially blocking the drain pump, leading to drainage issues or expensive repairs." He added: "Instead, pet owners should take some pre-care before placing the

clothes into the washer. “De-fluffing the laundry before it enters the washer drum will reduce the amount of dog hair that stays on the clothes and gets in the drum. You can do this with a

lint roller or a fine pet hairbrush. “The washing machine may also hold onto pet hair, transferring it to the clothes, resulting in potentially more pet hair on the clothes before it went

in. “Pet owners are advised to clean their washing machines about once a month to ensure that the additional pet hair is removed from it. Article continues below “For the best results, turn

your washing machine off and let it air for 24 hours. This ensures that the drum dries completely before beginning the cleaning process, making it much easier to gather the loose pet

hair."