18 Things Your Washing Machine Can Clean For You

While raising four kids, I had to figure out how to clean a lot of different things that I never needed to clean before. One realization that ended up saving me a lot of time and effort is that you can clean a wide variety of household items in your washing machine!

In this post, I’m sharing a list of some of the most unexpected items you can wash in your washing machine to save time and effort. Before we get to that, I want to start by sharing a few general tips that will help you wash non-clothing items in your washer, as they apply to nearly every item included in the list.

8 Tips For Cleaning Unconventional Items In Your Washer

Tip #1: Many items will fare better in your washing machine if you put them in a mesh laundry bag beforehand. An old pillowcase works well in a pinch!

Tip #2: When washing heavier items, add a few bath towels to the wash load. The towels will help cushion the items, reduce noise, and distribute weight more evenly around the wash drum.

Tip #3: Heavily soiled items may need to be sprayed down beforehand. You can take them outside and spray them down with your garden hose, or take them to a self-service car wash.

Tip #4: The safest way to wash most items is on a gentle wash cycle using cold water. You can always use warmer water or a more thorough wash cycle if something doesn’t come completely clean the first time.

Tip #5: Use a minimal amount of gentle laundry detergent when washing unconventional items. Castile soap is a good choice for delicate materials and pet items.

Tip #6: To help eliminate odors, add about 1/2 cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle or to your washer’s fabric softener dispenser.

Tip #7: Always air dry! Hang items up to dry, or lay them out flat on a towel to prevent stretching. It takes a bit longer, but it’s the safest way to dry most items!

Tip #8: When in doubt about how to clean a particular item, check the tag, owner’s manual, and other relevant sources for guidelines. Some things just shouldn’t go in the washing machine!

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get to the good stuff!

18 Surprising Things You Can Clean In Your Washing Machine

1. Shower Curtain Liners

You can wash your shower curtain liner to remove soap scum and mildew. Make sure to add a few bath towels to the load to “cushion” the liner and keep it from tearing. Use a small amount of your regular detergent, along with 1 cup of baking soda. The baking soda will help loosen the gunk and the towels will help scrub it away!

2. Patio Chair Cushions

Wash your chair cushions in cold water on your washing machine’s gentle cycle. (Treat stains first with a pre-treater, if necessary.) Allow them to air dry completely before using.

3. Car Mats

If the floor mats in your car aren’t too big or too heavy, you can wash them in your washing machine! They’ll look so much better after a good cleaning.

4. Rubber-Backed Rugs & Mats

These items can handle the occasional wash. Washing them too often will likely cause the backing to lose its grip. Only wash them when they need it, and vacuum them often to help keep them clean.

5. Leather Purses

When I first read that you could wash a leather purse in your washing machine, I was highly skeptical. I was certain the purse was bound to get ruined! But curiosity often gets the best of me, so I gave it a try, and it worked better than I could have imagined! Check out my post at the link below to get all the details.

6. Bathmats & Throw Rugs

Toss your bathmats and small rugs in the wash with a couple of towels.

7. Hair Ties & Headbands

Over time, hair accessories can get covered in buildup from oil and hair products. They need a good wash every once in a while! Toss them all into a small mesh bag and throw them in with your next load of laundry.

8. Curtains

To clean lace or sheer curtains, zip them into a mesh bag first. Traditional fabric curtains can be washed on a delicate cycle in cold water. Avoid machine-washing heavy or velvet curtains.

9. Sheepskin Boots

If you have a pair of old Ugg boots that have seen better days, try washing them. Start by brushing off any loose dirt from the outside, then put them in your washing machine in a mesh bag, along with a couple of bath towels.

Use the delicate cycle on your washer and cold water. Remove the boots immediately once the wash is done, and give the fleece lining a good fluff. Let them air dry overnight.

10. Yoga Mats

Wash yoga mats in cold water on a delicate setting, and air dry them flat.

11. Canvas Shoes & Sneakers

Remove the laces of the shoes and zip them into a mesh bag. Place the shoes and the bag in your washer, along with two or three bath towels. (This helps keep the shoes from banging around so much in the wash.) After washing, allow the shoes to air dry completely.

12. Backpacks & Gym Bags

Place bags with straps inside a mesh bag before washing. If you don’t have a mesh bag big enough, you can flip the bag inside out so the straps stay contained. Make sure to open and unzip all the pockets before washing. Hang to dry completely.

13. Baseball Hats

You can safely wash almost any modern baseball cap because the brims have a plastic core. (Vintage baseball caps are more likely to have a cardboard brim, so you don’t want to run those through the wash!) Wash baseball caps in cold water on a delicate cycle, then let air dry. You can also wash your baseball caps in the dishwasher too!

14. Small Toys

Plastic toys, silicone toys, and most stuffed animals can be washed in your washing machine. Place them in a mesh bag and wash them in cold water on a delicate cycle. Avoid washing rubber toys or anything with small parts and batteries. As for stuffed toys, only wash them if they are filled with regular stuffing (meaning no beads!)

15. “Hand Wash Only” Items

If a tag says an item should be hand-washed, I’ll generally wash it in my washer instead. I just toss the item into a mesh bag, then wash it on a delicate cycle. It hasn’t failed me yet!

16. Reusable Grocery Bags

Wash your reusable grocery bags every once in a while to keep them sanitary. I’ve washed both vinyl and cloth bags in my washer successfully!

17. Pet Collars & Leashes

Nylon collars and leashes can be washed anytime. Just place them in a mesh bag first! Wash, then let them air dry.

18. Pet Beds

A lot of pet beds have removable covers that are super easy to wash. If your pet’s bed doesn’t have a removable cover, start by vacuuming any hair or dirt off the surface, then wash with a gentle detergent. Dry it in your dryer for 10-20 minutes, then let it air dry the rest of the way before allowing your pet to use it again.

What unconventional items have you washed in your washing machine?