Washing machines are one of the most useful of modern white good appliances that we have today. However, they are only as effective as the way you use them. In the following post therefore, we want to discuss the kind of things you think might be okay to put in the washing machine, but that you should never actually put in the washing machine.
Running Shoes
While normal trainers are mostly fine, especially if they are not particularly expensive, we wouldn’t recommend putting those fancy running shoes into the washing machine. The harshness of the wash cycle could reduce their plushness or even shrink them. If you need to wash those running shoes, it is better then to hand wash them and then just air dry them out.
Stains Caused by Flammable Sources
Most stains can be washed out in the washing machine, apart from one specific group of stains. That is, stains caused by flammable substances such as petrol, diesel and other solvents that are combustible. If you put clothes that have been stained with these kinds of substances, you run the risk of having a fire or even causing an explosion.
Underwired Bras
Who has time to hand wash their underwear every single time without fail? Well, it might be time to start doing that, if you want to get as much life out of your underwired bras as possible. The underwire can easily get destroyed by being thrown around during the wash cycle in your machine. If you can’t face washing them by hand every single time and need to use the washing machine, perhaps because you are in a rush, stick them in a mesh wash bag or even a pillow case to protect them.
Incredibly Small Items (E.g. Baby Socks etc.)
Have you ever put a load of clothes into the washer and been sure there were pairs of baby socks in there only to find when you take the load out, you only have one sock of each pair? You are not alone. Just where do those smaller items go? They get sucked into the vents and hoses inside your machine, or at least, they can. If you are going to wash smaller items in your washing machine, and we don’t really blame you for doing so, you need to follow the same advice as above and use a mesh bag or pillow case to keep them safe. Failing that you could wash them in the sink by hand.
There are a few areas where you need to use a bit of caution, because some types are okay while others aren’t okay to wash in the machine.
- Blankets and Throws
- Sofa Covers – As most are pre-shrunk, they are safe to machine wash. Without the label outlining instructions, it is best to stick with your gut and have them dry-cleaned.
- Pillows and Duvets – It all comes down to the capacity of your washing machine whether you can wash duvets and pillows or not.
We’ve looked at some of the items you really shouldn’t wash in your washing machine in this post, but if you want to know some of the surprising things you can wash, check out this post at Repair Aid.