Modern appliances are lifesavers, making chores like laundry quick and easy. But before you toss everything into the washing machine and call it a day, think twice! Not everything is made for the spin cycle.
Some fabrics are too delicate to handle the rough ride, while other items can cause serious damage to your machine (and your wallet). Nobody wants to end up with a pile of ruined clothes or a repair bill for their “laundry room hero.”
Knowing what to wash and what to skip can save you money, protect your wardrobe, and keep your trusty machine running smoothly. Keep reading to find out which items should head to the dry cleaner or the sink instead.
1. Solid Foam Pillows
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Memory foam pillows offer excellent support for a good night of sleep, but the washing machine turns that supportive foam into a chunky and unusable mess. The spinning motion is too aggressive for the delicate structure of the foam.
It causes the material to crumble or tear apart completely. Even hand-washing presents risks because the foam becomes incredibly heavy and tears under the sheer weight of the water.
Tip: Purchase a removable and washable pillow protector to keep the foam clean without the risk of destroying the pillow itself.
2. Weighted Blankets Over 15 Pounds
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These heavy covers help many people relax, but most residential machines struggle with the excessive weight. A blanket weighing over 15 to 20 pounds puts immense strain on the motor and agitator.
This often leads to a broken machine or a blanket that does not get clean because the drum cannot spin it effectively. The intense force during the spin cycle can also throw the drum off balance and cause loud banging or internal damage.
Tip: Take heavy bedding to a laundromat with industrial-sized machines capable of handling the load without breaking a sweat.
3. Garments With Open Zippers
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Metal teeth on a zipper act like miniature saws during a wash cycle. When left open, they snag on other fabrics and create holes or tears in delicate items like knits, lace, or activewear.
This simple oversight ruins perfectly good clothing in a single cycle. It can also scratch the inside of the door or drum, leaving marks that might snag clothes in future loads.
Tip: Take a second to zip up every pair of jeans, jacket, and hoodie before tossing them in the hamper.
4. Extremely Hairy or Muddy Items
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Tossing a blanket covered in dog hair or a towel caked in mud directly into the wash seems efficient. However, wet fur and sand clump together to form a sludge that clogs drain pumps and filters.
The abrasive nature of sand also wears down the internal seals of the appliance over time. Cleaning the machine after such a load often takes longer than shaking the item out in the first place.
Tip: Shake out these items vigorously outside or use a vacuum to remove excess debris before starting the wash cycle.
5. Anything With a Dry Clean Only Label
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Clothing labels are not just suggestions. Fabrics such as silk, cashmere, suede, and leather shrink or warp instantly when exposed to water and agitation.
Structured items like suit jackets lose their shape entirely because the internal interfacing dissolves or deforms. Vintage pieces with glued embellishments or delicate lace often disintegrate, leaving you with a handful of sequins and a ruined garment.
Tip: Steam these items to refresh them between professional cleanings to extend their lifespan.
6. Forgotten Pocket Debris
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Leaving items in pockets is a classic laundry mistake that causes surprising amounts of damage. Metal objects such as coins and keys scratch the drum or shatter the glass door during high-speed spins.
Meanwhile, a forgotten tube of lip balm melts in warm water and leaves greasy stains on every garment in the load. Tissues disintegrate and leave a confetti-like mess that is tedious to remove from dark clothing.
Tip: Place a small bowl near the machine to collect loose items found during a final pocket check.
Protect Your Investments
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Keeping these items out of the machine extends the life of both the appliance and the clothing. Protecting investments requires just a moment of extra attention.
Checking labels and pockets prevents costly accidents and keeps the laundry routine boring in the best way possible. For those delicate or heavy items, the dry cleaner or a simple spot clean remains the best option.