When considering which items can and should be put in the washer and dryer, there are two parts to the equation. First, knowing how to properly care for your clothes and home textiles: It\u2019s one of the most important parts of preserving their quality and extending their lifespans, allowing you to also reduce unnecessary waste and overconsumption in the process. Second, putting the wrong items in washing machines and dryers can cause damage to the appliances themselves, resulting in costly repairs or replacements.<\/p>\n
This list serves as a general primer on items to avoid, but it\u2019s not exhaustive, and there are always exceptions. So, when in doubt, always<\/em> consult the care tag of the item you\u2019re planning on washing. (Pro tip from our Managing Editor Erin Alexander\u2019s mom: Print out a guide to all the little symbols that appear on care tags, and keep it near your washing machine\u2014that way, it\u2019s always a breeze to double check if an item is washer- or dryer-safe.)<\/p>\n \u201cIt may sound counterintuitive, but swimsuits should be hand-washed,\u201d says Elizabeth Yunmi Hokyo, senior editor at Schoolhouse. \u201cReason being\u2014the washing machine’s agitator can ruin the elasticity of bathing suits, damage the straps, or wear down the fabric.\u201d The same logic applies to the dryer\u2014in order to prevent warping or other damage, always let swimwear air dry.<\/p>\n If you have an item covered in pet hair, you\u2019ll likely want to give it a good cleaning\u2014but you should think twice before tossing it in the washing machine. \u201cI’d recommend against putting anything with too much pet hair on it in the washing machine, at least without cleaning it off first,\u201d says frequent Home52 contributor Camryn Rabideau<\/a>. \u201cI have two long-haired dogs and a cat, and I always make sure to vacuum or use a hair remover on their beds and blankets before washing. Otherwise, all that hair can end up in clumps in your washer or, worse, clogging up your drain pipes.\u201d<\/p>\n Leather, and especially suede, are (in most cases) notoriously incompatible with water. \u201cWe don’t recommend putting suede shoes in the washing machine or hand washing them in soap and water,\u201d explains Nike<\/a>, with respect to the brand\u2019s suede sneakers. \u201cSuede absorbs water, so washing a pair of suede shoes with water can actually cause stains to set in the fabric.\u201d Likewise, prolonged water exposure strips leather garments of their natural oils, causing them to crack<\/a>. Dryers, in turn, will dry out leather and suede, causing the former to shrink and crack and the latter to become \u201cstiff and misshapen<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n From motor oil to paint thinners, there are a surprising number of flammable household substances that could end up on your clothes. If your clothing becomes stained with something flammable, it shouldn\u2019t go in the washing machine\u2014and it definitely<\/em> shouldn\u2019t, under any circumstances, go in the dryer. The heat from these appliances could cause the garments to combust, resulting in a fire or explosion.<\/p>\n
\n1. Swimwear<\/h3>\n
2. Anything Covered in pet hair<\/h3>\n
3. Suede & Leather<\/h3>\n
4. Flammable Stains<\/h3>\n