Laundry is a task that requires a lot of vigilance, in order to avoid incidents that could damage our laundry. To wash our clothes without damaging them, the first question we must ask ourselves is, if this garment can be machine washed or not. To do this, simply refer to its label, and see its material. To help you, here are the clothes that should never be machine washed.
Before washing a garment, it is important to check whether it can be machine or hand washed. This will prevent you from damaging your garment, but also from damaging your washing machine.
Doing the laundry – Source: spm
What clothes should never be machine washed?
According to Deyan Dimitrov, a laundry expert, 2 items should not be machine washed.
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Do not machine wash a bra
Bras – Source: spm
The washing machine can weaken delicate clothes, such as lingerie. This is why hand washing is preferred. Also, the straps and metal hooks of your bra can damage the tambour, or tear other delicate garments. This is because they can get tangled with other clothes while the drum is in motion. Not to mention that if the metal hooks get stuck inside the drum, during a wash cycle, the bra can stretch excessively and lose its original shape. That said, wash your bra by hand, for example with soapy water. For this, use Marseille soap and a little warm water, or even a mild detergent, suitable for fine lingerie. This is enough to clean your lingerie of perspiration and body odor. Also, do not dry your bra with a clothes dryer. The heat could indeed damage its elastic and make it more likely to stretch quickly. Rather, it is recommended to air dry the bra. To avoid deforming it, consider hanging it by the middle of the cups and not by the straps.
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Do not machine wash ties
To maintain your ties and make them last a long time, avoid machine washing them. Made of silk, linen or wool, ties are generally fragile. They can easily be damaged or deformed if you put them in the washing machine.
If you clumsily stain your tie, the first thing to do is to dab the stain with a clean cloth to absorb it. Avoid rubbing the stain so as not to embed it further into the fabric. Then clean it by hand.
Staining a tie – Source: spm
– For oil or grease stains: sprinkle the stain with flour or talc, let stand for a few minutes to absorb the stain, then brush gently.
– For fruit, vegetable, ink or make-up stains: dab the stain with a microfiber cloth soaked in lemon juice. Leave to act and rinse.
– For coffee stains: soak a towel in water, moisten it with a drop of white vinegar and dab the stain.
– For stains from alcoholic beverages: first absorb the stain with a tissue, then dab it with a towel soaked in water.
After cleaning the tie, avoid ironing. To smooth it, just pass the jet of the steam iron over it. If you don’t have a steam iron, wrap your tie around a bottle filled with very hot water and let it sit for a few minutes. So you will get rid of creases in minutes.
What other clothes should not be machine washed?
– Leather clothing: when wet, leather clothing loses its shape and can even become cardboard. This is also the case, even for suede and shearling.
– Fur clothing: when wet, fur dries out and loses its hair. This is why washing with water is to be avoided, whether in a machine or even by hand.
– Some woolen garments: when machine washed, woolen garments may shrink, especially in a hot water cycle. Indeed, their fibers can loosen due to hot water , and tighten during the spin to the point of shrinking. Machine washing can also felt clothes and cause unsightly lint.
– Lined garments: since the lining and the garment are not made of the same material, they may not withstand the same washing cycle.
– Acetate clothing : acetate is an artificial silk which, like fur, cannot withstand water. The garment could indeed stiffen.
That said, before washing your laundry, it is important to pay attention to the textile. The material of your garment will tell you if it can be machine washed.
