5 Things You Should Never Put in the Washing Machine, Not Only Will They Not Get Clean, But They Can Also Be Dangerous
Stop the habit of throwing everything into the washing machine if you don't want to make things dirtier and harm your machine or health.
Washing machines have long been an indispensable tool for laundry, saving time and effort. However, not everything is suitable for machine washing, especially with household washing machines. Here are 5 things that many people often throw into the washing machine without knowing that they won’t clean well and can pose risks:
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Clothes with Metal Accessories or Large Decorative Beads Clothes with metal accessories or decorative beads can come loose during washing, damaging the drum or clogging the pipes. They affect the cleaning process and can scratch or tear other clothes. Metal accessories can also damage the washing machine's internal components, leading to electrical short circuits or leaks, creating a fire hazard. It's best to remove accessories before washing, or if you can’t remove them, wash by hand.
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Shoes Many people toss shoes into the washing machine for convenience, not realizing that they aren’t designed for machine washing. This is particularly damaging for sneakers, leather shoes, or shoes with high heels or metal accessories. This can not only reduce cleaning effectiveness but also dirty the drum, ruin the shoe structure, and damage the washing machine due to the weight of wet shoes. Metal accessories can also scratch the drum and increase the risk of fire. Furthermore, bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli can cross-contaminate with other laundry and the machine, posing a health risk.
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Certain Types of Pillows Some pillows, such as rubber pillows or herbal pillows, are very heavy when wet and can be easily damaged in the washing machine. Especially rubber pillows or those with herbal layers can lose their quality or break during washing. Their cleaning effectiveness is poor, and it's difficult to remove all detergent residues, making them prone to deformation and cross-contamination if washed with clothes. Damp pillows can develop mold and bacteria, leading to respiratory issues, allergies, or skin diseases.
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Down Jackets Down jackets should not be machine washed. Washing them can impair the jacket's insulating properties, causing the down to clump together and reduce thermal efficiency. Machine washing can also damage the inner fabric, distort the shape, and leave detergent residues that can irritate the skin. Down feathers or fabric pieces may clog the washing machine’s pipes, creating blockages and increasing the risk of fire or explosion.
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Thick and Large Blankets Thick blankets become very heavy when wet, significantly increasing their weight, which can exceed the washing machine’s capacity. This not only prevents proper cleaning but can also overload the machine, damaging the spin mechanism and reducing the lifespan of the appliance, even increasing the risk of electrical short circuits. For large comforters, household washing machines won’t clean them effectively and may shift the stuffing, damaging the blanket. The stuffing can even come out and clog the drum. It's best to take large blankets to a commercial laundry for safe and effective cleaning.