10 garments that can and cannot be machine washed

Throwing clothes in the washing machine is a very simple task. Remove them spoiled after an hour, too. Sometimes it’s easier to wash clothes by hand or take them to the cleaners to avoid getting angry when you see your jacket full of threads, white towels dyed a different color or a ruined lace scarf.

O incredible.club discovered which items can and cannot be washed in the washing machine, which must be washed under special conditions (temperature, drying, soap) and why.

He can: sneakers, except for the cheapest ones, those that you are not sure of the quality.

Sneakers need to be washed:

In cold or lukewarm water up to 40ºC – a high temperature can damage the sole. Add some washing powder: the washing machine is designed for a certain amount of soap and the excess will be on your clothes. Put them together with items that can dampen the movement of the washer: old t-shirts or towels.

Prohibited: sports shoes, because they can be damaged by pressure, spinning and hot water.

Nike recommends hand washing the shoes and air drying them, Asics recommends using a toothbrush and not hanging them to dry near the heater – it just doesn’t work.

He can: lingerie with or without plastic straps. The garments must be washed in a special washing bag, in cold or lukewarm water up to 40 °C, wrung out at low speed and dried in the shade, not in the dryer or in the sun.

Prohibited: bras with metal straps, as they can get caught in the washer drum and cause further damage. In addition, the strap can be deformed enough, and the lingerie will lose its shape.

Neither should:

Wash in hot water on heavy cycles and dry elastic synthetic underwear (nylon, polyamide, and elastane) using a dryer or in the sun. Mixing cotton lingerie with any piece of another color: there is always the risk that the lingerie will be dyed.

He can: covers or sheets that do not change the color of water, do not shrink and do not wrinkle.

Prohibited:

Large sheets that don’t fit in the washing machine: They won’t wash and dry like they should. Pieces covered in pet hair can damage the washer. Covers sewn with certain products: if they shrink, it will be difficult to use them again. Dyed items. Place a cotton swab in the water and make sure it is free of tissue. After washing, the color may be lost and uneven.

He can: sportswear separate from other clothing. It is necessary to wash immediately after training, without leaving it in the laundry basket: in cold water, in a gentle cycle, with a minimum spin and without drying.

Prohibited: sportswear along with other garments.

Nor is it convenient:

Add fabric softener: block the threads and prevent the clothes from shedding sweat. Placing it at a high temperature: makes sports garments lose their characteristics. High speed washing: this stretches the threads and shortens the life of the clothes.

He can:

Embroidery with threads or ribbons: gentle cycle, without chlorine, without a strong spin, with the garment inside out and best in cold water. Before washing, it is necessary to check whether the garment is dyed. Synthetic lace: in cold or lukewarm water, up to 40ºC, in a gentle cycle, without a strong spin.

Prohibited: pieces with bulky props: glass, wood and plastic. Plastic loses its shine, wood breaks, crystals can fall out. With each wash, these products lose their original color.

Nor is it convenient: garments with lace that have zippers, buttons, and clasps.

He can:

Cotton bags for shopping, sportswear and shoes. Bags in which there is no mix of synthetic and natural fabrics, with cardboard inserts, and waterproof. At low temperature, with clothes similar in color and composition.

Forbidden: backpacks in which the manufacturer does not recommend washing – they can burst, damage the washer, be hit by friction or even dye other parts.

He can:

Synthetic and cotton clothing without special coatings. Articles without artificial leather: this can become deformed. Garment where all zips are fixed: washing can damage both the zips and the washer.

Prohibited: garments that have many materials in their composition. Artificial fur inserts can discolor, peel and scratch. Non-removable cotton elements, such as hoods on synthetic clothing, can be dyed another color. Natural leather should not be washed: it can become rough – and recovering its original shape will be impossible.

Nor is it convenient: put in warm water with a waterproof cover and high-speed rotation. Friction and rotation can damage the fibers. When washing these items, the use of fabric softeners, bleaches or stain removers is not recommended.

He can: garments with synthetic and polyester filling. These quickly recover their shape, do not retain unpleasant odors and do not form balls. If your pillow looks like this, it’s most likely a synthetic filler.

Prohibited: feather-filled pillows and cushions. These feathers come out, rot and can retain unpleasant odors because they don’t have impermeability like those of seabirds. If your pillow doesn’t hold its shape, it will certainly have feather filling.

Nor is it convenient:

Foam filled pillows memory foam: washing destroys the structure of the product. Items filled with duck, goose, or swan feathers: can be washed only if indicated by the manufacturer. Before washing you have to check that the pillow or blanket doesn’t have holes and could tear and after washing you have to rinse it at least 2 or 3 times.

He can: clothing made of acrylic or synthetic material. Acrylic is similar to wool, but brighter, lighter and wrinkles less. For acrylic, consideration should be given to:

Delicate wash cycle. Cold or lukewarm water, up to 40ºC. Wash with other garments: this will prevent stretching.

Prohibited: woolen clothes. To avoid damaging your favorite sweater, you need to wash it in cold water with liquid soap. Wool reacts poorly to spinning, so it’s best to wash by hand, without wringing or stretching. The wash will take 10 minutes, but it will eliminate the regret that your washer experience didn’t work.

He can: the curtains as long as they fit into the washing machine without any problems. For synthetic cotton products where it is indicated that it is possible to wash in the washing machine, it is better to use a delicate wash cycle, with a medium temperature, a short rinse and a gentle spin.

Prohibited:

Heavy Curtains: When washed, they will absorb water, become heavier and may harm the washer. Curtains with sewn metal rings, especially if they have not been washed for a long time and if the rings have traces of rust. Items sewn from various materials, such as when lining – one of the components may shrink. Curtains with rigid folds, sewn or pressed. Lace curtains made of thin and light materials: they can break and shrink.

And you, do you have observations about which items should not be washed in the washing machine?