7 Things You Should Never Put In the Washing Machine, According to an Appliance Expert
These common items can lead to a laundry disaster.
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Your washing machine is probably one of the most-used appliances in your house. It’s where you throw all your sweaty crumpled workwear, your kids’ shirts soiled with watermelon stains and grass-stained pants, and anything else that hasn’t had a thorough washing in a while. While this machine is a pretty reliable workhorse, it can only handle so much. “One of the biggest myths is that modern washing machines can safely clean absolutely anything as long as you use a ‘gentle’ cycle,” says Amy Chernoff, vice president of marketing at appliance retailer AJ Madison. “A machine may clean something, but that doesn’t always mean it can clean it safely.”
While most of your wardrobe might be able to withstand the high moisture and powerful movement from this household appliance, some items, such as delicate fabrics, rubber materials, and bulky objects, aren’t as equipped to endure such a strong cycle. When you wash these things in your machine, you run the risk of damaging the garment, the appliance, and your house. “Delicate fabrics may shrink, warp, pill, or lose their finish, while heavier items can throw the washer drum off balance or damage internal components,” Chernoff explains. In some cases, throwing off-limits items in the washing machine can even lead to house fires.
To keep your outfits intact, your appliance working efficiently, and your household safe and sound, here are seven things you should never put in your washing machine, according to Chernoff.
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Fragile Fabrics
Garments made of silk, cashmere, velvet, suede, and leather are too delicate to handle the high heat and machine friction of a washing machine. When you run these fabrics through a cycle, they become more susceptible to pilling, shrinking, stretching, and discoloring. They require a much gentler approach to washing, whether that be hand-washing, spot-cleaning, or dry-cleaning.
Tailored Jackets
In the washing machine, structured blazers, suit jackets, and other tailored pieces can lose their shape. “These garments rely on internal canvassing, padding, and construction that can be destroyed by water and agitation,” Chernoff notes. To preserve their structure and longevity, hand them off to a dry cleaner instead.
Embellished Garments
If you toss clothing items covered in sequins, sparkles, beads, or other decorative details in your washing machine, the harsh spin cycle can tear off the adornment and even rip the fabric. When they become loose in the machine, these embellishments are more likely to clog the drain. To prevent these pieces from detaching or snagging, pay a visit to the dry cleaner or wash them by hand.
Memory Foam
Whether it’s a pillow, mat, dog bed, or mattress topper, memory foam absorbs a lot of water in the washing machine, making it more inclined to warping. “The agitation and spin cycle can cause memory foam to crack, crumble, or lose its shape,” Chernoff says. Vacuuming a memory foam mattress topper and spot-treating stains should suffice, but for pillows, Chernoff advises spot-cleaning with mild detergent before letting it air-dry.
Structured Hats
Structured hats like baseball caps and fedoras rely on their shape, and a washing machine can quickly damage that design and defeat their sole purpose. Since the intensity of a spin cycle can deform the brims and ruin the structural lining, forgo the washing machine and spot-clean with mild detergent instead. Be sure to air-dry them after, as the heat from a dryer can distort them.
Underwire Undergarments
Underwire exists for structure and support, but putting your undergarments in the wash can bend the wire or push it through the fabric. “Underwires can bend or break loose during a wash cycle and potentially damage the washer drum,” Chernoff explains. Securing them in a mesh laundry bag and choosing a delicate cycle is a much gentler approach, but hand-washing is the safest bet.
Rubber-Backed Mats
If you have non-slip rugs or mats in your bathroom or beneath your kitchen sink, chances are, they’re fixed with rubber, a material that can easily deteriorate during a harsh spin cycle. “Rubber-backed items are often better cleaned by hand or with spot treatment depending on the manufacturer’s instructions,” Chernoff says.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
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