Avoid These Washing Machine Items
- What happened: An apartment living guide listed common items you should never wash in a machine. - The key specific: The roundup warns that certain items can damage both the appliance and the item itself. - Context/reaction: Following the list preserves machines and prevents avoidable repair bills for renters and homeowners. (thethriftyapartment.com)
A new apartment-living guide says some everyday items belong nowhere near a washing machine, including coins, pet-hair-covered fabrics and waterproof gear. (thethriftyapartment.com) The list from The Thrifty Apartment says loose change can damage the drum and pump, bras can snag and lose shape, and shoes can bang against the tub hard enough to wear out both the pair and the machine. Consumer Reports also flags shoes and pet-hair-heavy items as problem loads. (thethriftyapartment.com) (consumerreports.org) Manufacturer guidance backs up the warning on waterproof materials. Samsung says not to wash or spin waterproof seats, mats or clothing, and says thick, hard mats can trigger abnormal vibration that damages the washer, walls or floor. (samsung.com) The same roundup says memory-foam pillows and mats can break apart in a washer, while leather and suede can crack, warp or lose finish when soaked and spun. Whirlpool says bras are best hand-washed and air-dried, and Maytag says delicate items should go in mesh garment bags on gentler cycles. (thethriftyapartment.com) (whirlpool.com) (maytag.com) The practical issue is not just fabric care. GE Appliances says pet hair can clump when it gets wet and clog drums, pipes and filters, which is why the company added a dedicated pet-hair-removal feature to one washer-dryer model in April 2024. (pressroom.geappliances.com) (products.geappliances.com) Washer makers do allow some bulky or water-resistant items, but only under specific settings. GE says bath mats, bedding and mattress pads may be washed on models with a Bulky cycle, while Whirlpool and Maytag tell users to load waterproof or water-resistant items evenly and use the cycle guide in the owner’s manual. (products.geappliances.com) (whirlpool.com) (maytag.com) That leaves the care label and the washer manual as the deciding documents, not a blanket rule from social media or a generic laundry chart. Samsung’s U.S. support page says cycle options vary by model, and Whirlpool says the clothing care tag is the best guide for choosing settings. (samsung.com) (whirlpool.com) The safest shortcut is still the simplest one: empty pockets, zip delicates into a mesh bag, and keep waterproof, foam-filled and hard-edged items out unless the label and manual both say yes. (thethriftyapartment.com) (samsung.com)
