Until 1908, we washed our clothing by hand with a washtub. All of that changed when the first washing machine was introduced by the Hurley Machine Company of Chicago.
Since then, we have reveled in the convenience that is the washing machine. But, sometimes people take it a bit too far.
Here are our top 5 things you should never put in the washing machine and why.
1. Too Many Pieces of Clothing
Everyone hates laundry. Therefore, everyone wants to get it done in as few loads as humanely possible. However, you’re doing your clothes and your machine a disservice by overloading the chamber.
Overloading the machine too much can result in the machine breaking down and doesn’t get all the clothing in the load clean. To be most effective make sure that your clothes have some room to move around and you aren’t all the way up to the top.
2. Lingerie and Bras
These fragile items are very expensive and generally made of fragile materials like silk and lace. These shouldn’t be washed in the washing machine.
The rough treatment will skew a bra’s underwire, snag lace, and the clasps of the bra can cause runs and tears in other pieces of clothing. Opt for a mesh garment bag if you have to wash these fragile items.
Do them in individual bags in their own special load of delicates and hang them to dry.
3. Anything with Rubber On It
While washing your bathmat seems really tempting, it’s best to avoid it.
Throwing anything that is made, even partially, with rubber (like the rubber backing on your non-slip bath mat) is a recipe for disaster in your washing machine. The heat of the cycle will destroy the adhesive that holds the piece together.
Then the rubber will at best, come apart from the item, or melt inside your washer. While you might be able to get away with it in a cold water delicate cycle all by themselves, definitely avoid ever putting anything like this in the dryer or else you’ll be buying a new machine.
4. Ties
While it seems a little type A to get your ties dry cleaned it’s for a good reason. Most nice ties are made from materials like silk or wool. The washing machine will cause these materials to shrink, warp, and lose their color.
The good news is you can get a bunch of ties dry cleaned for a relatively low cost.
5. Running Sneakers
Most of your standard sneakers and slip-on shoes that are made of fabric can be run through the washing machine. It’s actually a good idea to do a load of shoes every once in a while to kill any nasty stuff in your shoes and keep the color vibrant.
However, there’s an exception to every rule. If you have running sneakers specifically you’ll want to avoid putting them through the washer. Running sneakers have been specifically molded to fit a runner’s foot.
Exposing them to the high heat of the washer will cause them to shrink and they’ll no longer fit correctly. Only put them in the washer if they are specifically approved for machine washing.
Treat Your Washing Machine and Your Items With Care and They’ll Both Last A Long Time
While you may have been surprised by some of the items on this list, most of the time you simply need to pay attention to the washing directions on the thing you’re considering throwing in the washing machine.
We know that it’s tempting to try anyway even though the tag says not to. But, do so at your own risk. Best case, you get away with it, worst case you’re facing a very expensive replacement for your washing machine.
Have you made some not so great decisions on what should go in your washing machine? Think it could be salvageable? You might be able to do with just a washing machine repair.
Contact us today to schedule a service appointment and we will be happy to take a look at your machine. In some cases, we can get the job done on the same day and get you back to doing laundry right away. Aren’t you excited?
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