What Not to Wash in Your Machine for a Hassle-Free Laundry Experience

Laundry machines make cleaning clothes easier, but not everything belongs inside them. Putting the wrong items in your washer can damage your clothes, your machine, or both. Knowing what to avoid washing in your machine saves time, money, and frustration. This guide highlights five common items that should never go in your washing machine and explains why.

Delicate lace fabric inside the washing machine drum

Delicate Fabrics

Delicate fabrics like silk, lace, and some wools require special care. These materials can easily tear, stretch, or lose their shape in a washing machine. Even gentle cycles can be too rough for them. For example, silk blouses often lose their sheen or develop snags after machine washing.

What to do instead:

• Hand wash with mild detergent in cold water.

• Use a mesh laundry bag if you must machine wash on a delicate cycle.

• Air dry flat to maintain shape.

  
  

Avoid putting items like cashmere sweaters or lace curtains in the machine. These fabrics often need professional cleaning or very gentle hand washing to stay in good condition.

Items with Metal Hardware

Clothing or accessories with metal parts, such as zippers, buttons, hooks, or studs, can cause problems in the washing machine. Metal hardware can scratch the drum, snag other clothes, or rust over time. For example, jeans with large metal buttons or jackets with metal studs can damage both themselves and other laundry.

Tips to protect your clothes and machine:

• Close all zippers and fasten buttons before washing.

• Turn clothes inside out to reduce wear on metal parts.

• Wash items with metal hardware separately or in a mesh bag.

• Consider spot cleaning or hand washing if the metal is delicate or prone to rust.

  
  

Shoes

Washing shoes in a machine may seem convenient, but it often leads to damage. The agitation can break down glue, deform soles, or ruin the shoe’s structure. Running shoes, leather shoes, and sandals all react differently, but most do not fare well in a washing machine.

Better options for cleaning shoes:

• Remove laces and insoles, then hand-wash with a brush and mild soap.

• Use a damp cloth to wipe leather or suede shoes.

• Air-dry shoes away from direct heat or sunlight to avoid warping.

  
  

If you want to machine wash sneakers, check the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and use a gentle cycle with cold water inside a laundry bag.

A pair of sneakers next to the washing machine and laundry basket.

Pet Beds

Pet beds often contain thick padding and materials that do not wash well in a standard machine. The padding can clump, and pet hair can clog the machine’s filters. Additionally, pet beds can be bulky and unbalanced, causing the machine to shake or stop mid-cycle.

How to clean pet beds safely:

• Check the care label for washing instructions.

• Remove loose hair with a vacuum or lint roller before washing.

• Use a large-capacity washer or wash pet beds at a laundromat.

• Air dry or tumble dry on low heat if allowed.

  
  

For heavily soiled beds, spot cleaning or professional cleaning services may be more effective.

Industrial Items

Industrial textiles like heavy-duty work clothes, oil-stained rags, or items with chemical residues should never go in a home washing machine. These materials can damage the machine or contaminate other laundry. For example, grease or paint stains require special treatment and professional cleaning.

What to do with industrial items:

• Use specialized cleaning services designed for industrial laundry.

• Separate these items from regular clothes to avoid contamination.

• Follow safety guidelines for handling hazardous materials.

  
  

Attempting to wash industrial items at home risks costly repairs and ruined laundry.

Pet bed inside washing machine from a high angle.

Take Control of Your Laundry

Avoiding these five types of items in your washing machine helps keep your clothes and machine in good shape. Delicate fabrics, metal hardware, shoes, pet beds, and industrial items all need special care beyond a simple wash cycle.

If laundry feels overwhelming or you want to protect your belongings, consider professional help. Services like Tumble LLC offer on-demand laundry care that handles all your needs with expertise. Scheduling a service can save you time and ensure your laundry gets the right treatment every time.