Chantel Brink

Chantel Brink

March 5, 2024

17 Things You Didn’t Realize You Could Put in the Washing Machine

Your washing machine is not just a one-trick pony confined to laundering clothes; it’s a versatile household tool capable of much more. Beyond its primary function, it can tackle various household items, making cleaning tasks more efficient and convenient. From curtains and bedding to stuffed toys and shower curtains, many items can be thrown into the washer instead of tediously cleaning them by hand.

This not only saves time and effort but also ensures a thorough and hygienic clean. So, next time you’re pondering over how to tackle a pile of grimy items, consider letting your washing machine lend a helping hand for a hassle-free solution.

Backpacks can be tossed into the washing machine

Two Person Carrying Duffel and Backpack
Image Credit: Dids. Pexels

Backpacks can be cleaned in the washing machine, but shake them out first. They can get filthy, especially if they spend most of the day on the floor. Before putting a backpack in the washer, ensure it’s emptied of any leftover lunches, school notices, and loose change. Once empty, wash the pack in a pillowcase or laundry bag in cold water on a delicate cycle. Finally, leave it out to air dry.

Shower curtains

Interior of modern bathroom with colorful curtain
Image Credit: Charlotte May Pexels

Vinyl shower curtains can be cleaned in the washer. Put in a few towels to help scrub them clean. If your vinyl shower curtain or liner is looking grimy, throw it in the washing machine with a few bath towels to help scrub it clean. Use a delicate cycle, and when it’s done, hang up the curtain wet.

Stuffed animals

Brown Bear Plush Toy
Image Credit: suzukii xingfu Pexels

Your little one’s stuffed animals are loaded with germs. Get out your mesh laundry bag, stuff it with stuffies, and drop it in the washer. Just don’t include any animals with squeakers or loose parts.

Legos

A Boy Playing Toys
Image Credit: Polesie Toys Pexels

Pick up Legos and place them in a zippered laundry bag. Wash them in a cold, gentle cycle, and leave them out on a towel to dry. Often, you encounter a Lego brick when you step on it in the middle of the night. Agony! Go around the house with a zippered lingerie bag and pick up every Lego piece you see. Then, wash them all in a cold cycle with kids’ clothes. When the cycle is over, the clothing can go in the dryer, but not the Legos. You’ll need to lay out them on a big bath towel and let them air dry.

Sporting equipment

Green Ball on Sand
Image Credit: Pixabay Pexels

If your kids play sports, you can clean their uniforms and some of their gear in your washing machine. We asked a hockey mom with three active teenagers, and she advised us that, in addition to their uniforms, shoulder pads and other fabric pieces that attach with Velcro can go in the washer. Detach them, and wash them in a Normal cycle.

Pet beds

A Cat Resting on its Bed
Image Credit: Arina Krasnikova Pexels

Remove loose fur before you throw your pet’s bed in the washing machine. Remove loose fur with a vacuum cleaner or a rubber glove first. Then, take the cover off, if possible, and pop the bed in the washing machine. You might need to wash huge dog beds at the laundromat.

Yoga mats

Crop sportswoman unfolding sport mat on wooden floor
Image Credit: Karolina Grabowska Pexels

Yoga mats can get gross and sweaty. If yours is washable, put it in the machine and run a delicate cycle with a small amount of gentle laundry detergent. Some yoga mats are machine washable. If the manufacturer’s site claims that yours is, wash it by itself, using a delicate cycle with a small amount of gentle detergent. (Using too much detergent may leave a slippery residue on the mat—dangerous when you’re doing your asanas.) Don’t let the mat go through the spin cycle. Take it out, squeeze out as much water as you can, and put it down on a bath towel.

Read More: Why Your Clean Laundry May Not Be Smelling As Good As It Should Be

Pillows

White Pillows on a Bed
Image Credit: Castorly Stock Pexels

Assuming you’ve checked the labels to make sure they’re washable, put pillows in the washing machine two at a time, to keep the washer balanced. Use gentle detergent, and select the delicate cycle. You may need to run an extra spin cycle, with foam pillows. Put the pillows in the dryer with a few dryer balls.

Sneakers

Anonymous slender female athlete tying shoelaces near sport accessories
Image Credit: Karolina Grabowska Pexels

Lots of runners don’t realize that you can clean sneakers in the washer. Brush off loose dirt, and add the kicks to the washing machine with a few old towels to help balance the load. Pour in liquid laundry detergent, and run the washer on a cold delicate cycle. Always let sneakers air dry.

Mop heads

mop on Brown Wooden Floor
Image Credit: Pixabay Pexels

Mop heads should be cleaned after every use, but if you’re like me, getting hands-on seems gross. Instead, I clean and sanitize mop heads in the washer. Set the washer to a small load and hot or sanitize. Then, pop the mop head in a mesh lingerie bag and throw it in with your normal laundry detergent. It will come out looking like new.

Bath sponges

Person Using a Body Scrub on Legs
Image Credit: Karolina Grabowska Pexels

You can clean your bath sponges, like loofahs, just like mop heads. This will get rid of soap scum and built-up skin flakes.

Read More: Why Fabric Softener Is Bad for Your Laundry—and What to Use Instead

Kitchen sponges

Person in glove using detergent and sponge while cleaning sink
Image Credit: Karolina Grabowska Pexels

Kitchen sponges can also go in the washer. Set the machine to sanitize (or use the hot water setting) and run a quick wash.

Small toys

Photo of Girl Playing With Plastic Toy Car
Image Credit: Polesie Toys Pexels

This may sound crazy, but it’s true. You can clean small toys in the wash, no problem. Put them in a mesh bag and set your washer to sanitize. The toys will be grime- and germ-free.

Silicon trivets and oven mitts

Pair of oven gloves on cabinet door in kitchen
Image Credit: Charlotte May Pexels

Silicone trivets and oven mitts can be tossed in with your regular loads, as long as they’re not too dirty. All they need is a warm wash cycle. If putting them in with clothing worries you, put them in with a load of towels.

Small rugs and mats

Brown leather slippers on rainbow bathroom mat
Image Credit: Ketut Subiyanto Pexels

Bathroom rugs and small rugs can be washed in the washer, but you need to be careful about your settings. Always use warm water and a gentle cycle. Cold or hot water can make them shrink or crack the rubber liner on bath mats.

Mouse pad

Black Cordless Computer Mouse on Black Mouse Pad
Image Credit: FOX Pexels

Your computer keyboard is the dirtiest thing in your home, so imagine how dirty your mousepad gets. You can toss foam mousepads in a load set on the gentle cycle with warm water. Let it air dry.

Baseball caps

Red and Black Nike Fitted Cap
Image Credit: Aman Jakhar Pexels

Spray caps with stain remover and let them sit for five minutes, suggests blogger MomCrieff. Run the hats on a short cycle using cold water. Reshape each hat and allow them to air dry.

Read More: This Laundry Hack Will Make Your Clothes Crease-Free Without Reaching For The iron

Sources

  1. “10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU COULD CLEAN IN A WASHING MACHINE” Reviewed. Cindy Bailen. June 18, 2021.
  2. 24 unusual things you can clean in your washing machine besides clothesCNET. Alina Bradford. September 3, 2019.
  3. 16 Things You Never Knew You Could Put in the Washing MachineTaste of Home. Juliana LaBianca. November 17, 2023