upworthy

laundry

Technology

Washing machines are basically magic. Of course, more than clothes can be thrown in there.

“I’ve never dry-cleaned an item in my life."

Photo credit: Canva

It's time to unlock the mysteries of your washing machine.

Your washing machine is basically a superhero in disguise. Sure, it can handle a t-shirt or bundle of socks, no problem, but did you know that your trusty appliance can also tackle a mountain of other random objects? But don’t start tossing everything and the kitchen sink into the washer, because there are also some serious no-nos, when it comes to laundry day. From surprising additions to machine-breaking mishaps, knowing what can and cannot go into your washer can be the difference between a small household catastrophe and simple, easier living. Let’s unlock the mysteries of the appliance.

10 things you CAN stick in the washing machine

1. Stuffed animals: Your beloved teddy bears and Squashmallows are usually perfect fits for the washing machine. “Most plush toys can be washed in a washing machine,” Real Simplereminds. “However, be careful with stuffed animals that have sequins, hats or fragile clothing (e.g., sheer), buttons and other plastic accessories, and glued-on eyes.” For the best protection, toss your cherished companion into a mesh laundry bag, turn the dial to cold water, wash on a gentle cycle, then air dry.

2. Baseball caps: Think about how many times greasy, sweaty fingers graze the tips of baseball caps. Yuck. Although experts recommend washing baseball caps by hand, “if you’re determined to use a washing machine, be sure to place your hat in a mesh bag and wash it on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold water,” writes the New York Times. Always remember to air dry to maintain that head-shaped mold: nobody wants an ill-fitting cap.

3. Yoga mats: It’s time to give your yoga mat the deep-clean of its dreams. Wipes and pat-downs are great for the short-term, but as REIreports, yoga mats are “a near-perfect storm for harboring germs” in which bacterial growth and unwanted odors can fester. Check your mat for specifics, but in most cases, use a delicate cycle with minimal detergent, then skip the spin cycle entirely. Air dry away from direct sunlight. Remember: yoga mats should be cleaned every month or so.

4. Shower curtains and liners: “Shower curtains are designed to withstand lots of hot water, so you should be able to wash any shower curtain in the washing machine on a low heat cycle,” says Pro Housekeepers. You can even toss them in with a few towels on a gentle cycle with warm water! But keep in mind: cold water can make plastic curtains crack and rip, so always stick to warm.

5. Small rugs and mats: Clean the rugs in your entryways or hallways and the mats in your kitchen and bathroom with a few rounds in the washing cycle. “Whether your rug is washing machine friendly depends on its size, material, and care label instructions. Cotton and some synthetic fibers are usually good to go, but wool, silk, jute, and shag aren’t typically washer friendly,” advises Whirlpool. Shake out the dirt first, then wash on gentle with cold or warm water; always air dry to prevent shrinkage or backing damage.

washing machine, settings, safe, laundry, dryer Knowing how to properly clean your washing machine-safe items is important. Photo credit: Canva

6. Backpacks and lunch bags: It’s important to clean these: just imagine how dirty the floors you’re setting them down on are! Many lunch boxes and backpacks can be thrown into the washing machine “to save you lots of hard scrubbing by hand,” writes Speed Queen. Turn inside out like a pillowcase for an extra gentle clean.

7. Oven mitts and pot holders: “These kitchen essentials handle grease and heat daily,” says Alicia Sokolowski, the president and co-CEO at AspenClean to The Washington Post. “Give them a refresh in the washing machine to keep them looking and smelling clean.” These items can handle a normal wash cycle with warm water, so feel free to throw them in with your towels. For extra saucy, grimy, kitchen disaster-y mitts, pre-treat with a spritz of white vinegar first, rinse, then wash separately.

8. Pillows (down and fiberfill only): It’s not just the shams and pillow covers—the entire thing can be thrown in the washing machine. “Most pillows, including those filled with cotton, feathers, down, and fiberfill, can be cleaned in a washing machine using warm water on the gentle cycle,” reports Martha Stewart. Wash two at a time to maintain balance and use minimal detergent. Rinse twice then dry thoroughly, with tennis balls or dryer balls, for maximum fluffiness.

9. Sneakers: This is one of the best kept secrets, one so obvious, that it could just…sneak by. Remove the laces (which you can wash in a mesh bag), toss the shoes in with some towels to soften the noise, always use cold water, and air dry. By cushioning your sneakers and preventing them from banging against the drum, you’ll be protecting the machine (and your ears.)

10. Reusable shopping bags: One of life’s simple pleasures: a good, reusable shopping bag. But over time, shopping trips in grocery carts and carrying fresh produce can really create some damage...and germs. So, turn your bag inside out, use warm water, turn on a gentle cycle, and air dry. In a 2010 study funded by the American Chemistry Council, 97% of the people interviewed never washed their reusable bags. Don’t be one of these people.


Washing machine, unexpected items, dryer , laundry, washer, cleanYour washing machine is a superhero. Photo credit: Canva

Your washing machine is a superhero, but that doesn’t mean it’s invincible! Always check care labels, use mesh bags when washing small or delicate items, and balance the load when dealing with heavy items like shoes or rugs. Good luck—and enjoy exploring your washing machine’s unknown powers.

via GIPHY

From Your Site Articles
cleaning
Humor

Woman is baffled upon discovering her boyfriend washes the laundry detergent cap with his clothes

Shyamalan twist: Commenters say he's right.

Image via Canva

Woman is horrified to learn that her boyfriend washes the detergent cap in the washing machine.

I really thought I had seen it all when it came to people's weird hygiene habits, and I've definitely had more than my fill of content about men's "weaponized incompetence." There are the guys that don't know how to wash properly in the shower, men with engineering degrees who claim not to know how to operate a washing machine, people that don't clean their legs, etc. Enough!

Then I stumbled on a video that was the perfect bait and switch. It completely turned all of my expectations on their head and left me questioning the very reality we live in. It was that powerful.

It all started when a woman made a bizarre discovery after stumbling upon her boyfriend doing laundry. After putting his clothes in the washer, he filled the detergent cap up with the soap, and then chucked the entire cap into the washing machine. With the clothes. And then started it.


waynes world, laundry, washing machine, clothesWe all have our own unique laundry habits.Giphy

"Help??" the caption read. "I just asked my bf where the cap for the detergent is and he said 'Oh I just fill it up and throw it in?' With ALL the clothes??"

The woman, who goes by @Iluka on TikTok, called it "mental behaviour."

But her boyfriend was not quick to back down, insisting that not only was his technique normal, it was actually recommended. The tail end of the video shows him reading the fine print instructions on the back of the detergent bottle in a desperate effort to prove he's not crazy.

Throwing a plastic cup into the washing machine with all your clothes is definitely a confusing choice. In fact, Iluka found it so jarring and strange that she felt compelled to share it with her audience of followers to get some insight into where her boyfriend could have learned the unique behavior. You can watch the whole hilarious interaction here:


@ilukugh

Mental behaviour in the house tonight

Ready for the big twist? Many commenters insist that the boyfriend is doing it right.

An astounding 31,000 people commented on the video, indicating that it had struck a nerve, for better or worse. People came crawling out of the woodwork to argue that, yes, washing the laundry detergent cap is a thing: The idea is to clean off all the soap scum so it doesn't get sticky or gummed up.

So, no, the boyfriend wasn't being dense after all! This is a twist that would make M. Night Shyamalan proud.

"He’s right but tell him we said that he’s wrong," a commenter said.

"Girl, don’t make me defend a man," joked another.

"i do this?? so the cap isn’t covered in gross [smelly] soap residue??" someone added.

"[So] it doesn’t get sticky" another user clarified.

This is not a new idea, apparently. There are dozens of Reddit threads over the years listing this as a "Life Hack" to prevent detergent drips and general stickiness. There's even evidence that putting the cup in the wash is the proper, manufacturer-approved way to do it! Although some people with top-loading washers will choose to start the washer and use the running water that floods in to give the cup a quick rinse rather than running it through the full cycle.

Obviously I had to go run and check the back of my own bottle of laundry detergent. I didn't see any instructions there about washing the cap, but one woman on Facebook did share indisputable proof on the back of her own bottle of Tide. Apparently, the little plastic caps can even hold up to the dryer!


Still, not everyone is on board. Many of the nearly seven million TikTok viewers had never heard of this bizarre technique and insisted that the "other side" was making it all up:

"Girl I've NEVER heard of anyone doing this either this blew my mind, are the people in these comments gaslighting"

Washing your detergent cap in a full cycle definitely sounds made-up, but it's definitively not. The proof is right there in front of us. Now I'm just wondering how I lived for 38 years without ever knowing about all the people doing this regularly.

From Your Site Articles
laundry
Education & Information

Got yellow armpit stains or ring around the collar? Here's a trick to make them look new.

Get rid of those embarrassing stains without tossing the shirt.

Photo credit: Canva

This hack promises to get rid of yellow armpit stains

There's nothing quite like getting a new shirt for a job interview and sweating straight through it. Even if you're not nervous, it's not uncommon to sweat through your shirt leaving perfect outlines of your armpits on the outside of the fabric. But if you're required to wear a collared shirt on a fairly frequent basis, you know how annoying armpit stains and ring around the collar can be.

You wash and scrub, pulling out all the tips and tricks you can think of the get the stubborn stains out but they only lightly fade. The armpits are still clearly yellow with a faint smell of B.O. while the dark ring around the collar makes you question your shower habits. It can feel like an impossible thing to rid your shirts of but it can be done, no dry cleaner needed.

Everyone's favorite "Laundry Queen," Melissa Pateras has a really easy trick for getting those stubborn areas clean. The best thing about her hack is that it involves products that you likely already have in your house.

gif of David Beckham sweatingDavid Beckham Sweat GIF by First We FeastGiphy

After one of her followers reached out asking about getting rid of armpit stains in shirts that also held on to unpleasant odor, Pateras had a quick solution. Instead of just telling the user what to do, she demonstrates the process step-by-step. She pulls out a white button up shirt that is lightly stained around the collar and in the armpit region, laying it on a white towel.

"Then you're going to completely cover the stains with some hydrogen peroxide, making sure that you're applying it straight from the bottle because it's light sensitive. That's why the bottle's brown because if it's exposed to light, it'll be ineffective," Pateras explains.

gif of Maytag manSma Sexiest Man Alive GIF by MaytagGiphy

In the video she demonstrates on a white shirt, but according to Clotheslyne, hydrogen peroxide can be used on colored clothes as well. To be safe, though, try adding it to an inconspicuous area first to check for discoloration. If it doesn't cause that piece of fabric to become discolored then you can proceed to with use.

Hydrogen peroxide is not the end of the hack for Pateras; the second step is pulling out the Dawn dish soap. "Once you've applied the Dawn to the stain, you're just going to take your finger and very gently rub it in. Once you've done that you're just going to get some baking soda and sprinkle it on, making sure to cover it completely. Once the stain is completely covered, get a brush. It doesn't matter what brush you use, you can even use a toothbrush for this but I like a power brush cause it's a lot less work," Pateras says.


@melissadilkespateras Replying to @👩🏽Daniela & Annsleigh🧑🏽 #laundrytok #cleantok #stainremover ♬ original sound - Laundrytok | Melissa Pateras

Again, if the item is not white it's best to test all steps in a small inconspicuous area first. Nobody wants white armpits on a blue shirt, and since all materials are not made at the same quality, it's probably best to do a test every time you're trying it on a different item of clothing.

After using the brush to gently scrub the stains, Pateras advises to allow it to sit for five minutes before adding more peroxide and scrubbing once more. The treated item sits for anywhere from an hour to overnight before you toss it into the washing machine like normal. An eager viewer gave the trick a try and excitedly reported back with a shirt that looks like it was recently purchased.


@natmanzoc stitch with @Laundrytok | Melissa Pateras who is DOING THE LORD'S WORK #fashionhacks #laundrytok #thrifted #whiteshirt #diy #diyfashion ♬ original sound - nat 🌈🫠 thrifted style & diy

"I need to talk to you guys about this. Okay, so you see this white shirt? You see how the collar looks nice and clean? You see how there are no discernible stains in the underarm area? Yeah, that's cause I did exactly what this person told me to do," the woman says referring to Pateras. "I have tried so many things trying to get stains out of my white shirt. Shout, OxiClean, all kinds of sh-t."

The woman, who goes by Nat on TikTok, says she thought her shirt was beyond saving but this hack now has it looking nearly brand new. So if you've been struggling with getting armpit stains out of your shirts, give this hack a try and see how it works out for you.

From Your Site Articles
how to clean underarm stains
Education

Expert says there's only one laundry cycle you ever need, no matter what's being washed

Straight from Patric Richardson, the "Laundry Guy" himself.

Representative image from Canva

Because who can keep up with which laundry settings is for which item, anyway?

Once upon a time, our only option for getting clothes clean was to get out a bucket of soapy water and start scrubbing. Nowadays, we use fancy machines that not only do the labor for us, but give us free reign to choose between endless water temperature, wash duration, and spin speed combinations.

Of course, here’s where the paradox of choice comes in. Suddenly you’re second guessing whether that lace item needs to use the “delicates” cycle, or the “hand wash” one, or what exactly merits a “permanent press” cycle. And now, you’re wishing for that bygone bucket just to take away the mental rigamarole.

Well, you’re in luck. Turns out there’s only one setting you actually need. At least according to one laundry expert.

While appearing on HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast, Patric Richardson, aka The Laundry Evangelist, said he swears by the “express” cycle, as “it’s long enough to get your clothes clean but it’s short enough not to cause any damage.”

Richardson’s reasoning is founded in research done while writing his book, “Laundry Love,” which showed that even the dirtiest items would be cleaned in the “express” cycle, aka the “quick wash” or “30 minute setting.”


Furthermore the laundry expert, who’s also the host of HGTV’s “Laundry Guy,” warned that longer wash settings only cause more wear and tear, plus use up more water and power, making express wash a much more sustainable choice.

Really, the multiple settings washing machines have more to do with people being creatures of habit, and less to do with efficiency, Richardson explained.

“All of those cycles [on the washing machine] exist because they used to exist,” he told co-hosts Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson. “We didn’t have the technology in the fabric, in the machine, in the detergent [that we do now], and we needed those cycles. In the ’70s, you needed the ‘bulky bedding’ cycle and the ‘sanitary’ cycle ... it was a legit thing. You don’t need them anymore, but too many people want to buy a machine and they’re like, ‘My mom’s machine has “whitest whites.”’ If I could build a washing machine, it would just have one button — you’d just push it, and it’d be warm water and ‘express’ cycle and that’s it.”
washing machine

When was the last time you washed you washing machine? "Never" is a valid answer.

Canva

According to Good Housekeeping, there are some things to keep in mind if you plan to go strictly express from now on.

For one thing, the outlet recommends only filling the machine halfway and using a half dose of liquid, not powder detergent, since express cycles use less water. Second, using the setting regularly can develop a “musty” smell, due to the constant low-temperature water causing a buildup of mold or bacteria. To prevent this, running an empty wash on a hot setting, sans the detergent, is recommended every few weeks, along with regularly scrubbing the detergent drawer and door seal.

Still, even with those additional caveats, it might be worth it just to knock out multiple washes in one day. Cause let’s be honest—a day of laundry and television binging sounds pretty great, doesn’t it?

To catch even more of Richardson’s tips, find the full podcast episode here.


This article originally appeared last year.

From Your Site Articles
community
Trending Stories