You are probably one of those people that think the washing machine should be used only for clothes and fabrics. Here are a number of other things you can put in your washer.
Backpacks and lunch boxes
Open all of the pockets of your backpack and check for any items that might be hidden. If there are large pieces of crumbs or debris, do a thorough pre-cleaning.
Put your backpack into a laundry bag or pillowcase and wash it on a gentle cycle in cold water with a small amount of gentle detergent. Allow to air dry.
Bath mats and small rugs
Take your bath mat outside and shake it to remove any loose dirt, and then load the rug into the washing machine with a few bath towels to balance the load.
Set the machine on a cold-wash delicate cycle, and add half the regular amount of detergent. Allow the mat to air dry. You should however note that you should never put a rubber-backed mat into the dryer.
Stuffed Animals
You can place each stuffed animal toy of your kids in its own mesh laundry bag and set your machine to wash and rinse. Use cold water (because warm or hot water could melt the toy’s glue) and half the regular amount of detergent.
Run the animals through a second rinse cycle to remove all the soap, and allow them to air dry. Fluff fur as needed.
Mop heads
Check the label on your removable mop head to see if it can go in the washing machine. The reason most are made removable is for the purpose of being washed by the machine.
Oven mitts
Add oven mitts and potholders to your load of dishtowels and washcloths. They all can go for a spin in your washing machine.
Baseball caps
if your baseball caps have stains, spray caps with stain remover and let them sit for five minutes. Run the hats on a short cycle using cold water. Reshape each hat and allow them to air dry.
Sneakers
Remove the shoe laces from canvas or nylon sneakers and slip them into a cotton pillowcase where they won’t get tangled. Take out any inner soles or padding from the sneakers and toss the shoes and pillowcase into your washer. If you don’t want to hear loud sounds, you can throw in a few towels as well.
Add the regular amount of detergent, plus a dash of vinegar to deodorize. Set your machine on a cold-wash delicate cycle. Allow the shoes and shoelaces to air dry.
Small toys
Load your small toys such as Legos, small cars, or the ball your dog uses to play fetch into a mesh laundry bag. Run them through a cool delicate cycle to get them squeaky clean.
Pillows
you can wash pillows two at a time in a warm-water gentle cycle. To ensure you have washed out all the soap, add an extra cold-water rinse and spin. To make your pillows fluffy, dry the pillows on low heat, along with a few rubber dryer balls.
Plastic shower curtains
Clean a plastic shower curtain with a regular amount of detergent. Add two or three bath towels to get extra cleaning power. Hang to dry.
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