14 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Clean in Your Washing Machine

14 Things You Didn't Know Things You Didn't Know You Could Clean in Your You Could Clean in Your Washing Machine

1. Shower Curtain Liners 1. Shower Curtain Liners To keep yours stink- and stain-free, launder it once a month in cold water on the delicate cycle. To keep yours stink- and stain-free, launder it once a month in cold water on the delicate cycle.

2. Sneakers 2. Sneakers Include them in a load of rags or towels, and air-dry them. Laces can go in with the load, but insoles should be washed by hand. Include them in a load of rags or towels, and air-dry them. Laces can go in with the load, but insoles should be washed by hand.

3. Lunch Boxes 3. Lunch Boxes Pack these bags into your next cold-water load of laundry , and air dry them overnight. Pack these bags into your next cold-water load of laundry , and air dry them overnight.

4. Yoga Mats 4. Yoga Mats Clean yoga mats in a load of towels or sheets, and set it on a delicate, cold-water cycle. Remove the mat before the spin cycle, and let it air-dry completely before using it again. Clean yoga mats in a load of towels or sheets, and set it on a delicate, cold-water cycle. Remove the mat before the spin cycle, and let it air-dry completely before using it again.

5. Baseball Caps 5. Baseball Caps Baseball caps with good stitching and sturdy bills can be laundered with like colors on a cold, gentle cycle. Baseball caps with good stitching and sturdy bills can be laundered with like colors on a cold, gentle cycle.

6. Stuffed Animals 6. Stuffed Animals Put the toys in a pillowcase or mesh laundry bag, and throw them in along with a load of clothes of like colors. Put the toys in a pillowcase or mesh laundry bag, and throw them in along with a load of clothes of like colors.

7. LEGO Bricks 7. LEGO Bricks Do not put LEGOs in the dryer, which could melt them. Instead, air-dry them on a towel, and then invite some buddies over to sort them. Do not put LEGOs in the dryer, which could melt them. Instead, air-dry them on a towel, and then invite some buddies over to sort them.

8. Pet Collars and Leashes 8. Pet Collars and Leashes As long as they aren’t studded or have other ornaments on them, non-leather pet collars and leashes can be cleaned in the washing machine. As long as they aren’t studded or have other ornaments on them, non-leather pet collars and leashes can be cleaned in the washing machine.

9. Pillows 9. Pillows Set the machine to a warm, gentle cycle and launder pillows in pairs to keep the drum balanced. Set the machine to a warm, gentle cycle and launder pillows in pairs to keep the drum balanced.

10. Sports Equipment 10. Sports Equipment Pro tip: Adding laundry sanitizer to the wash cycle will kill bacteria and odor. Pro tip: Adding laundry sanitizer to the wash cycle will kill bacteria and odor.

11. Makeup Sponges 11. Makeup Sponges Add some white vinegar to the wash cycle at about ¼ cup per load, which will help disinfect and deodorize your sponges. Add some white vinegar to the wash cycle at about ¼ cup per load, which will help disinfect and deodorize your sponges.

12. Silicone Oven Mitts 12. Silicone Oven Mitts Use a mild laundry detergent and choose a cold or warm water setting. Use a mild laundry detergent and choose a cold or warm water setting.

13. Backpacks 13. Backpacks As long as it isn’t trimmed in leather or suede, or isn’t bedazzled with embellishments, a backpack can be washed in the washing machine. As long as it isn’t trimmed in leather or suede, or isn’t bedazzled with embellishments, a backpack can be washed in the washing machine.

14. Silk 14. Silk It’s best to wash silk in cool water on a gentle cycle (preferably inside a mesh laundry bag that provides an additional layer of protection). It’s best to wash silk in cool water on a gentle cycle (preferably inside a mesh laundry bag that provides an additional layer of protection).

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