10 things that cannot be washed in the washing machine: the opinion of repair experts

The list of things that require special care when washing includes a large number of wardrobe items. But today we will talk about something else: here’s what you shouldn’t put in the drum of your car if you don’t want to constantly spend money on repairing it.

“In my 30 years in business, I have seen many washing machines, including almost new machines, break down because they were used to wash bath mats,” says Scott Flint, washing machine repairer. ‘home appliance.

The fact is, Scott explains, that rugs can absorb so much water that their weight becomes much more than the washing machine can handle – as a result, at high spin speeds, they can literally tear. (Washing pillows or blankets can end up doing the same thing.)

Another problem is the rubber base of the mats: when washing, tiny pieces come off from it, which can then pass through the filter and damage the drain pump.

Surprised they’re on the list of things you can’t wash in the washing machine? Of course, not everything is so simple and you won’t have to rinse these things by hand. As Flint explains, they should not be placed in the drum with towels, as they could get stuck inside the sheet or duvet cover – the result would be a huge, heavy lump which could damage the machine during his jump.

The dangers of machine washing certain items are sometimes linked to the nature of the floor. As James Peters, director of a company that has been producing household appliances for 100 years, explains, you should not put clothes stained with gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, motor oil or solvent into the drum. : these substances can damage the parts of the machine and if there are a lot of them in the fabric, then everything will end in a fire.

“You can remove these stains by mixing two parts baking soda and one part water: rub the resulting paste on the mark, wait for it to dry, then wipe the powder from the fabric. Repeat these steps until the gasoline is completely gone, then wash the item as usual,” advises Peters.

The mystery of the missing socks has been solved: according to John Chan, laboratory technician and appliance tester, they are “eaten” by the washing machine. Small objects can get into the drain pipe and clog it, or get stuck in the space between the tank and the drum – you will need to disassemble the unit to get them out. How to avoid this? Use special mesh bags for washing and no more socks will be left without a pair.

We’re sure you know: bras are items that are not machine washable. But we want to remind you once again: a falling metal bone is one of the most common causes of equipment breakdown. It is capable of various sabotages – it can, for example, pierce a sealing collar, jam a drum or damage a heating element – a tubular electric heater. The solution is the same as for socks: always use a laundry bag.

Do you have a cat or dog that is not a Sphynx or Xoloitzcuintle? Check all items before washing, and if there is wool on them, use a sticky roller to remove it, otherwise it will clog the washing machine filter. Don’t want to bother with a roller? Then use a simple trick: just throw an inexpensive item into the drum and it will catch all the wool and hair that was on the fabric.

Abdul Aziz, an employee of a washing machine repair shop, does not recommend putting sneakers in the drum, even if the device has a special mode for them. “Constantly dropping shoes and the impacts they cause can damage bearings, and replacing them often costs much more than new shoes,” he explains.

“People often add water manually to top-loading machines, and sometimes even manage to do this trick with front-loading machines – they use the powder compartment for this. I don’t understand where the myth that the more water, the better the wash comes from. In reality, you’re just diluting the powder, preventing it from doing its job, and you also risk the machine tipping over,” says Chan.

“Washing a rain cover or mattress cover can cause water to accumulate and form a large water ball. During the spin cycle, this liquid will suddenly ‘come out’, which can cause the washing machine to explode,” explains Peters.

And finally, never try to put as many clothes as possible in the washing machine. First, it will prevent objects from rubbing against each other, making them clean. Second, Scott explains, overloading is one of the main causes of failure: too much weight can damage the instrument’s suspension or bearings.

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