13 Things You Should Never Put in the Washing Machine
Protect your washer—as well as your favorite clothing—by being mindful of what put you in it.
Doing laundry is one of those household chores that can feel never-ending. Thankfully, there are loads of hacks to make laundry day easier and plenty of new washing machines on the market that are getting smarter by the second.
In order to keep your washing machine in tip-top shape, save your clothing from snags, and prevent costly repairs (or worse, replacements), it’s imperative to know what can and can’t be run through it. In the age of TikTok cleaning hacks, you've likely seen viral videos about items you never thought to clean in the washing machine. But just because a video has millions of views doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea—and most of the time, you should avoid these hacks.
The following guide outlines forbidden washing machine items so you can refer back to it whenever you’re second-guessing something that needs cleaning.
Related: The 7 Best Top-Load Washing Machines of 2023 for Quick and Efficient Laundry
1. Dry Clean and Hand-Wash Only Items
This may seem obvious but it’s worth including especially during those times where you might think: What’s the harm? These warnings are printed on labels for a reason, so skip the washer to make sure these items stick around for years to come. The same applies to some throw blankets that you should take to the dry cleaner from time to time. If the care instructions state that a garment should be dry cleaned or hand-washed, it usually means it’s too weak to withstand a rough round in the washer.
Related: How to Hand-Wash Clothes to Preserve Your Delicate Pieces
2. Fragile Fabrics
Even if a certain article of clothing doesn’t explicitly state it can’t be put in the washing machine, use your best judgment. Things made of silk, satin, lace, or chiffon can easily get ruined during the agitation process. Even if you opt for the delicate cycle, these items are prone to snags and shrinking. So, avoid the chance altogether and consider hand-washing any item containing these materials instead.
Related: 7 Common Laundry Mistakes That Can Damage Clothes
3. Anything Embellished
Tops or skirts covered in sequins and glitter are an ideal choice if you’re heading to the Eras tour, but not so much for the washing machine. The glue that keeps the tiny pieces in place will loosen in hot water and even embellishments that are sewn onto the fabric can easily tear. Again, play it safe and stick to hand-washing anything that falls into this category.
4. Some Sweaters
For the most part, many sweaters are fine to run through the washing machine. Those consisting of cashmere and wool, however, are often marked as dry clean only. Here is one exception to the rule of always following care instructions: Too much dry cleaning can potentially destroy clothing made of those materials, so it’s your chance to be a little rebellious.
Wash cashmere and wool by hand or, if you feel like taking the risk, run them through the washer on the delicate or wool cycle. Always use cold water to avoid shrinking. You can also invest in a wool specific-detergent but note that wool coats should only be spot treated and only occasionally dry cleaned when absolutely necessary.
5. Leather and Suede
If you’ve seen the iconic Seinfeld episode in which Jerry ruins a new, expensive, suede jacket after wearing it in the rain, you'll know that suede is not meant to get wet. Similar water stains can appear if something suede goes through the washing machine, so avoid the risk and stick to spot treating. Use a brush to remove dirt, spot treat with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol, or take it to a professional for a deeper clean.
Leather, whether real or not, will dry out and begin to crack when exposed to water during a wash cycle. Instead, spot clean stains sparingly using a soft cloth and water mixed with a mild soap or let an expert do the work.
Related: How to Clean Leather Furniture to Keep It Looking Its Best
6. Most Shoes
Some pairs are totally fine to tumble around in the washer, particularly those made of canvas, cotton, nylon, or polyester. Though, just like the aforementioned materials, leather and suede shoes should never be machine washed. Rather, adhere to similar methods to spot clean the footwear just as you would your clothing.
Related: How to Clean Shoes, Including Canvas, Leather, Suede, and More
7. Select Accessories
There are certain things that will simply be better off if left out of the washing machine entirely. Ties, as an example, are recommended to be hand-washed or dry cleaned, especially if designed with silk or wool. Bras can quickly become misshapen and any metal parts, namely the hook and eye, can get caught in the holes in the drum or snag other items in the same load. Bathing suits pose a similar problem so it's usually worth washing these smaller pieces by hand. Or, if you’re in a rush, place them in a zippered mesh bag so they stay safe during the wash cycle.
Related: How to Wash Swimsuits So They Last for Years
8. Spilled Flammable Substances
If you accidentally splashed some gasoline on your pants at the pump earlier, don’t be so quick to toss them in the washer. The same goes for paint thinner, alcohol, or anything that is considered flammable, as it can cause a fire hazard inside the machine itself. To stay safe, pretreat the stain with a solvent-based remover to soak up grease and then hand wash the item by itself with hot water and laundry detergent.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Removing Every Type of Fabric Stain from Clothing
9. Fuzzy Garments
The clothing items you’ve worn while cuddling your furry best friend aren't great candidates for the washing machine. Adding clothes, or even blankets and towels, that are saturated with pet hair directly to the washer is a recipe for disaster. Water will cause hair to clump and get stuck to the sides of the machine and it can also get into the drain, causing a clog. Always tackle pet hair with a lint roller first before throwing it in the wash.
10. Memory Foam Pillows
Although you can clean regular bed pillows in a machine (as long as they’re not too big), always wash memory foam pillows by hand. The foam inside memory foam can break down during the agitation process of the washing cycle. Always wash pillows with cold water to avoid melting the fibers inside.
11. Oversized Objects
Bulky bedding and linens, like comforters, body pillows, or larger-than-life stuffed animals should also be left out of the washing machine. Besides the fact that it’s difficult to thoroughly clean them this way, you might also inflict harm to the washer itself. Overloading the machine can cause the motor to overheat and potentially burn out or place strain on the drum belt.
To prevent an expensive predicament, plan to periodically take these items to a dry cleaner or a public laundromat that is equipped with large capacity washers so you can keep your things, and your appliance, safe.
Related: The Best Way to Wash a Down Comforter and Down Pillows
12. Extra Small Items
Conversely, things that are too tiny may also prove to be detrimental to your washing machine. Baby socks, for example, can obstruct the hoses or vent, ultimately resulting in flooding. Unless you can commit to containing small items in a mesh bag each time you wash them, stick to hand-washing only.
Related: Essential Tips for Washing Baby Clothes Every Parent Should Know
13. Pocket Change
Take extra care to remove pocket change— or any other loose, small items that are sharp or metallic such as keys and bobby pins—before starting the washing machine. These things generally wind up in the washer by accident but can be a big, albeit preventable, problem. On the lower end of the scale, they’ll roll around inside, making a ton of noise in the process. But, more importantly, they can scratch up the drum or get stuck in the drain and eventually lead to water overflow. The solution? Get in the habit of checking every pocket before loading the washing machine going forward.
Related: Washing Machine Care
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