When you’re in a hurry to do laundry, it may be tempting to just toss a mix of clothing and other items into the washer, hoping for the best. However, haphazard laundry habits can lead to ruined clothing, costly repairs — and even washer replacement when repair estimates outweigh the cost of a new machine.
Replacing ruined or damaged clothing is expensive, and a new washing machine can run anywhere from around $445 to $2,300, according to HomeAdvisor.
So, you must be careful about what you put in your washing machine. Take a spin through the following items best left out of the washer.
Bath mats
Cleaning rubber-backed or heavy bath mats in your washer can lead to costly repairs or replacement of the appliance, according to longtime appliance repair technician Scott Flint.
That’s because the rubber backing found on many bathroom mats can disintegrate during the wash cycle, clogging the drain pump’s motor and drain line with small pieces of rubber, resulting in a ruined drain motor.
Even bath mats without a rubber backing can wreak havoc on your washer.
“Bathroom mats absorb so much water that they end up weighing far more than the washer was designed to handle,” Flint writes in Family Handyman, and that weight is being flung around at high speeds. He recommends only washing them in the heavy-duty machines you find at laundromats.
Unchecked pockets
Forgetting to check the pockets of pants, shirts, hoodies, jackets and other clothing could lead to shelling out money from your own pocket for washer repair bills, says Craig Anderson, owner of Appliance Analysts, an online appliance resource.
“Coins and metal objects can damage the inside of the washer as it goes through a cycle and also slip into the appliance’s motor, causing permanent damage,” says Anderson.
Coins, keys, paper clips and other metal objects small enough to fit through holes in the washer tub can damage the washer in other ways, too, so empty all pockets before washing, especially if your clothes got dirty working on a DIY project.
You should also always check your pockets for sharp objects, which can damage the plastic outer tub of the washer. Things like nails and screws can damage the pump.
Clothing covered in pet hair
“Clothes with excessive amounts of pet hair can leave fur deposits on the machine, which can not only get fur all over the rest of your clothes, but also go into the appliance’s pipes,” says Anderson. “This can cause problems like clogging or other damage over time.”
For pet-hair-covered clothing, use a lint roller to remove what pet hair you can before putting the items in the washer. For pet beds with removable outer covers, shake out or vacuum the covers before washing at your local laundromat instead of feeling the bite of expensive washer repairs down the road.
Memory foam or latex pillows
You should wash your bed pillows every few months or at least twice a year to rid them of mold, odors, bacteria, dead skin, dust mites (along with their feces and urine) and other allergens, according to Consumer Reports and the editors at Martha Stewart, respectively.
But don’t be too quick to toss that squishy, memory foam pillow into the washer.
“Memory foam pillows contain material designed to adapt their shape to the pressure applied, so even the delicate cycle in a washer could be too aggressive,” says Anderson. “Washer agitation can break up the foam, causing the pillows to lose shape or soften over time.”
Before cleaning memory foam pillows, always read the cleaning instructions on the label first. Most memory foam and latex pillows should be vacuumed, spot-cleaned with a damp cloth and air-dried on a flat surface, according to Consumer Reports.
Comforters, quilts and rugs
As a general rule, comforters, quilts and throw rugs do not belong in the washer.
That’s because they’re too large and can damage the machine. And if the washer is overloaded with a quilt or comforter, for example, it cannot agitate properly and will not clean the items.
You’re also risking damage to these large items, such as holes, ripped stitching and tears.
Like quilts and comforters, throw rugs are bulky, soak up water and become too heavy for your machine. And they can bunch up and throw your machine off balance during the spin cycle.
You’re better off taking bulky items to the laundromat and washing them in larger-capacity washers on the gentle cycle to protect them.
Running shoes
Running shoes may withstand hot pavement, uneven terrain and muddy trails, but that doesn’t mean the pricey footwear will hold up in your washing machine, according to ASICS Corporation, a manufacturer of running shoes and other sporting goods.
That’s because many running shoes are made with special gluing techniques and contain synthetic fibers, foams and stitching that can be damaged while sloshing around the washer tub.
ASICS recommends hand-washing running shoes with warm water, a mild detergent or soap that’s safe for clothing, a sponge, paper towels and a toothbrush or soft scrubbing brush. Then air-dry the shoes, stuffed with paper towels, to soak up moisture and maintain the shape.
If the running shoe upper is leather, suede or nubuck, use only products designed to clean those materials, which can be damaged by soap and water.
Loose lingerie
When it comes to washing bras and other lingerie in the washing machine, not every delicate item should be tossed in the washer. Lingerie manufacturer Playtex says the best way to wash underwear and other lingerie items is hand-washing using a detergent for delicates in a basin of water no warmer than 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you do wash bras in the washer, Playtex recommends closing the bra clasps first to prevent the bra from getting caught on other clothes or stuck on the washing machine drum during the cycle. Separate the items from other clothing in a washing bag to prevent bra lace from fraying or becoming damaged from friction against non-delicate clothing in the tub.
Loose lingerie in the washer can lead to greater problems than a misshapen, lackluster brassiere, though.
These items could get stuck in the washer pump.
Why take a chance on expensive washer repairs? Investing in a few mesh laundry bags for $5 to $15 is a lot cheaper than shelling out $300 to $400 for a new washing machine pump, installation and labor, according to HomeAdvisor.
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