Surprising Things That Can & Can’t Go in the Washer

APP Expert / Friday January 20, 2023


Everybody knows you shouldn’t wash whites and darks together. But there are other no-no’s about using your washing machine that may surprise you. 

Here our experts at AppliancePartsPros.com have collected the most surprising things that can and can’t go in the washer, so you can use your machine properly. Not only will this help prevent damage to your clothing and items, it will also save you costly repairs to your machine. 

Using your washing machine properly can help extend its lifespan. Shop for any washer replacement parts that you need on AppliancePartsPros.com.

Things That Can Go in the Washer

Let’s get started by discussing some surprising items that can safely go in your washing machine. 

1. Curtains, Including Shower Curtains

Forget about scrubbing a yucky shower curtain. Instead, you can throw it in the washer to get it spic-and-span. Just be sure to use a cold water setting. In addition, you can wash regular curtains that are made of cotton, rayon and polyester. 

2. Mats of All Kinds

Mats, even rubber-backed ones, can occasionally go in the wash. As long as the mats aren’t too big and bulky, you can get them clean in the machine, including: 

  • Car mats
  • Bath mats
  • Yoga mats
  • Baby mats

3. Sponges & Mops

No need to toss out dirty sponges and mops. You can get them sparkling by putting them in the wash, including:

  • Mop heads
  • Kitchen sponges
  • Bath sponges
  • Make-up sponges

4. Pillows & Cushions

Most bed pillows, couch cushions, and seat cushions can be put through the wash. (Though be aware that foam and memory pillows can’t!) You’ll just want to make sure that the load is well-balanced, so that you don’t have an overloaded machine. 

5. Accessories of All Kinds

It’s not just clothes that can go in the washer. Some of your favorite accessories can be easily washed in your machine, such as:

  • Hair ties and bands
  • Hats
  • Leather purses
  • Backpacks and gym bags
  • Reusable grocery bags and lunch bags

For smaller items such as hair ties, you should always use a mesh bag in order to protect them during the load and prevent them from getting caught in the vents and hoses.

6. Shoes Without Leather Accents

Plenty of shoes can go in the washing machine, including sneakers, sheepskin boots, and more. However, you’ll want to keep out any shoes with leather accents or running shoes made of delicate materials. When in doubt, you can always hand-wash and air-dry your shoes.

7. Pet Beds & Wear

If you have a pet, you can keep your house odor-free by regularly washing the pet bed, collars, leashes, and toys. Avoid anything rubber, but otherwise, you can run it in the machine. 

8. Stuffed Animals & Small Toys

Amazingly enough, lots of small toys can be safely washed in the machine, such as stuffed animals, plastic toys, silicone toys and more. Of course, you’ll want to use a mesh bag for anything small. 

That said, you should definitely NOT put any stuffed animals with beads or beans inside the washer. That also goes for toys with batteries or mechanical parts, as well as those made from rubber.

9. Sports Equipment 

Save yourself some hand-washing by putting common sports equipment such as jerseys, shin guards, gloves, protective gear and knee/elbow/shoulder pads in the machine. While you’ll likely want to air-dry these items, they can be easily cleaned in the washer.

10. Mouse Pads

It’s amazing how dirty mouse pads can get, especially if you use a home office. Toss your mouse pads in with your next load in order to get nice, clean pads. 

11. Down Parkas

As long as your puffy coat fits comfortably in the machine, it’s usually ok to go in the washer. Down parkas and comforters should normally be washed in cold water, though always check the tag to make sure.

12. “Hand-Wash Only” Items

Finally, you may be able to cheat your way out of “hand-wash only” items. If your washer has a delicate cycle, you can usually place hand-wash items in a mesh bag and run it on this setting.

Things That CAN’T Go in the Washer

Now that we’ve expanded your horizons for using your washer, let’s talk about some items that really CAN’T go in your machine.

1. Embellished Items

Any items that have embellishments, such as beads, sequins, fringe, appliques, lacework, or embroidery should never go in the wash. This also goes for items with hooks, buttons, or zippers (besides blue jeans). Otherwise, you risk ripping or ruining your clothing. 

2. Ties

Ties are typically made of delicate fabrics and can get ruined, especially if they’re made with silk or wool. To be on the safe side, always hand-wash your ties. 

3. Baby Socks

Be careful or all your baby socks will disappear! Because they’re so small, baby socks can easily get trapped in your machine’s vents and hoses. This isn’t just annoying: these little socks can clog your washer and cost you big time. We recommend getting a mesh bag ASAP to safely wash baby socks. 

4. Waterproof Clothing & Swimsuits

Waterproof clothing and swimsuits are typically bad news for your washer. The cycle may damage these special-made fabrics. Specifically, typical detergents and fabric softeners can strip off the “waterproof” coat on these fabrics. Hand-washing is best to avoid damaging these types of clothing. 

5. Bras & Delicate Lingerie

In addition, you should be wary about putting bras and other delicate lingerie in your washing machine, especially if it has underwire, lace and/or hooks. While you may be able to risk running them in a mesh bag, you’ll extend the life of your bras by simply hand-washing them. 

6. Anything With Excessive Pet Hair 

Before you pop clothing with pet hair into the washer, you should definitely brush it off with a lint roller. That’s because pet hair can clump in your washer, spread over your clothes and clog your drains. Make sure clothing with excessive pet hair is first brushed to avoid these issues.

Pro tip: Stick any clothing with pet hair in the dryer first. This way, the lint trap will catch the hair before you put it in the washer. 

7. Coins, Keys & Other Pocket Gunk

Repeat after us: check your pockets before running a load. While accidentally leaving coins and keys in your clothes seems harmless, it actually can do a lot of damage. Loose coins and keys can clog the drain and damage the inside of the washer drum, leading to expensive leaks and repairs. Stop this from happening by taking the time to check your pockets. 

8. Anything With Flammable Stains

Finally, you should be careful about putting clothing in the washer that has flammable stains or had close contact with chemical substances. For example, if you spill gas, paint thinner, or some other chemical substance on your clothing, don’t run in the washing machine as it could cause a fire. Instead, soak the item with a stain remover and then hand-wash it. 

Tips to Use Your Washer for Best Results

It’s essential to use your washing machine properly in order to keep it in good working condition. Some ways to ensure maximum performance include:

  • Use a mesh bag (or a pillow case) for delicate items.
  • Spray down very dirty items and brush hairy items before washing them in the machine. 
  • When in doubt, check the clothing tags for instructions. 
  • Don’t load your machine to more than 2/3 of its capacity. 
  • Clean out the machine’s filters and hoses at least once a year. 
  • Deep clean your washer annually with the “Clean Cycle” setting.
  • Troubleshoot any problems using the in-depth guides on our blog.

Maintain Your Washer With AppliancePartsPros.com

Ready to keep your washer in tip-top shape? Keep in mind our guidelines above for what can and can’t go in your machine!

In addition, you should perform regular maintenance on your washer in order to get the best performance (such as cleaning out filters on a yearly basis). For any replacement parts that you require, simply head to our catalog on AppliancePartsPros.com. 

Washer Items FAQs

Can I Wash Plastic Bags in a Washing Machine?

Yes, you can! However, you should always use a delicate cycle with cold water. And remember: never put plastic bags in the dryer or you may cause a fire.

Can Metal Go in a Washing Machine?

No, we don’t recommend it. First, metals can break off, melt or discolor your clothing. In addition, they can cause structural damage and corrosion to your washer drum due to different metals rubbing or colliding. 

Keep in mind that this applies to clothing with metal embellishments, such as belts. Any belts with metal buckles should be hand-washed. (Cotton or nylon belts without metal buckles are fine for the machine.)

Can Something Be Too Heavy for a Washing Machine?

Yes, you should be careful about adding items that are too heavy or bulky for your machine, such as large blankets, bedding and rugs. If you’re lucky, your wash has a sensor that sounds when you’ve overloaded it. Otherwise, don’t fill it with more than 2/3 of the capacity. 

You can also utilize the “Bulky” setting on your machine for heavier items to keep your machine balanced as it runs. However, you should always avoid items that may go over your machine’s weight capacity.

Can I Wash Blue With Black?

Sure thing! You can wash blue with black. However, be careful about washing new jeans, as it’s common for the blue to bleed out during the first couple washes. Run your jeans separately a few times to prevent color bleeding. 

Is It OK to Leave Clothes in the Washer Overnight?

Leaving your wet clothes in the washer overnight isn’t usually a problem. As a general rule, wet clothes can sit for 8-12 hours without picking up odors and mildew. That said, it’s best to plan your washing and drying tasks with enough time so that you don’t have to risk it. 

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