14 things you did not know you could put in the washing machine
Baseball caps, yoga mats, wool - even leather jackets can get a new life in a single cycle
Don't give up on those beloved muddy running shoes or musty backpacks. Turns out, your washing machine can clean many more household items than you realize. Need examples? Hey, glad you asked.
1. This too-cool leather jacket
Yes. Really. Fashionistas and flea market denizens have known this trick for years. If you've got a vintage (or just old) full-grain leather jacket that's a tad too stiff or bulky around the shoulders, a cold-water machine wash can impart a more fitted, weathered or lived-in look. Turn it inside out for added protection, and line dry it.
2. This unlucky baseball cap
We don't know what this cap did to deserve this filthy fate. But the good news is this: If it's one of those sturdily made cotton types, it can get a new life via washing machine. Use like colors and air-dry it.
3. These super cute sneakers
Sneakers can be expensive. They also tend to live close to the ground, making them prime targets for dirt. If you've got a pair of canvas or nylon tennis shoes you just can't quit, throw 'em into a mesh laundry bag, or just cushion them with a bunch of like-colored dirty towels, and wash them in cold water. The towels will prevent the sneakers from knocking around and creating excess noise.
4. This cat's money
This is not your money, but if it were, you could stick it in the washing machine to clean it. In fact, in some countries where American dollars are in super-high demand, the coveted cash that gets too grubby is often thrown into the - you guessed it - washing machine. And it makes sense: Each dollar bill houses 3,000 types of bacteria on its surface.
5. This beloved backpack
Check the care instructions of your filthy backpack, and you just might discover that it'll do fine in a front-loading washing machine. Remove any metal parts that could ding or scratch, turn the bag inside out, throw it into a pillowcase for extra cushioning, and wash it in the gentle cycle.
6. This really sad-looking stuffed animal
You'd be surprised how many stuffed animals are built to withstand the agitation of washing machines. Battery-powered toys are obviously a no-go, but if the care label allows, put that sad sack of stuffing in a mesh laundry bag or zippered pillow case, and put it in the washing machine in the cold delicate cycle. If you're not sure about what the toy's fur is made of (some fur does not do well in the dryer), then hang it up or dry it flat.
7. This recklessly abandoned chair pad
Plenty of chair pads, cushions and cushion covers can go into the washing machine, provided their care instructions allow that, and your machine is big enough to handle their size. Use mild, bleach-free laundry soap and the gentle cycle, and then air dry. Many hammocks can also go in the washing machine. Hammocks!
8. These hapless pillows
Go ahead. Soak those pillows in the tears of your enemies. If those pillows are down or fiberfill, congrats: You can put them in the washing machine. Wash more than one pillow at a time to balance out the load; use warm water and the gentle cycle
9. This moldy vinyl shower curtain
Got a mold-covered vinyl shower curtain or curtain liner? Try machine washing it with cold water and the gentle cycle. To prevent the material from sticking together, throw in a few dirty towels. You can even add bleach to really show that mildew who's boss.
For more tips on tackling grime, check out this article on the 10 dirtiest things you own and how to clean them: http://www.cnet.com/news/the-10-dirtiest-things-you-own-and-how-to-clean-them/
10. These candy-like toys
Why put such things in the washing machine? Well, maybe they're dirty. Or maybe you want to run a scientific experiment to see how a whole bunch of loose Legos join together inside a washing machine. A mathematics professor at a prominent German university actually did that in 2013, and the results were kind of fascinating.
11. This old curtain
Unless your curtains are made from a delicate material (or they're lined with a dry-clean-only material), there's a good chance they will benefit from a (slow) spin through the washing machine. Use cold water.
12. This highly cherished yoga mat
Many yoga mats are machine washable, even many PVC ones. Just check the instructions! Just don't let it go through the spin cycle. That can stretch out our mat. And when it comes to yoga, it's you, not your mat, that's supposed to stretch.
13. That knitted thing that you want to be fuzzy
Felting: That's an actual word in the world of knitting. It happens when you take a lovely, hand-knit, pure wool item and deliberately pitch it into the washing machine on high heat. The result: A felted item that's sturdy, fuzzy ... and all yours.
14. That thing you're about to give up on
Maybe it's silk. Maybe it's a hand-washable. Maybe it's made from the wool of a rare animal you can't even pronounce.
It doesn't matter.
If you've got a beloved garment that hopelessly stained, and the dry cleaner has thrown in the towel, and you're this close to sending it to that big ol' rag pile in the sky, reconsider.
As our mom would say: You have nothing to lose by putting it in the washing machine, in cold water, on a low setting, and just seeing if a miracle can happen. Because it has!
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