8 Things You Didn't Know You Could Wash
You might be surprised at the number of things around your home that you can easily wash and refresh
Smelly pet bed? Unsavoury sneakers? Fluffy toys that seem to have taken on a life of their own? You don’t have to suffer in silence or go through the trouble and expense of having them professionally washed – these items, and many more, can simply be popped in the machine or hand washed. Here’s how.
2. Pet beds
Mud, fur, dander – your cat or dog’s bed could be housing all manner of nasty surprises. You can keep them fresh and odour-free by giving them a regular vacuum. A specialist pet vacuum can pick up microscopic molecules and is the best tool for the job. For a more thorough clean, shake off loose pet hair and wash your pet bed by hand, or give it a run through the washing machine.
If your pet bed has a removable cover, unzip it and remove the insert. You can generally wash the cover in the machine using a warm cycle, although do check the label first. And be sure to use mild detergent that won’t irritate your pet’s skin.
Afterwards, run a rinse cycle on your washing machine to remove leftover hair so it doesn’t clog your machine.
Browse through images of pet beds
Mud, fur, dander – your cat or dog’s bed could be housing all manner of nasty surprises. You can keep them fresh and odour-free by giving them a regular vacuum. A specialist pet vacuum can pick up microscopic molecules and is the best tool for the job. For a more thorough clean, shake off loose pet hair and wash your pet bed by hand, or give it a run through the washing machine.
If your pet bed has a removable cover, unzip it and remove the insert. You can generally wash the cover in the machine using a warm cycle, although do check the label first. And be sure to use mild detergent that won’t irritate your pet’s skin.
Afterwards, run a rinse cycle on your washing machine to remove leftover hair so it doesn’t clog your machine.
Browse through images of pet beds
If your pet bed has a foam insert, it’s best to wash this by hand as the foam can deteriorate in the washing machine. The easiest way to do this is by partially filling your bathtub with warm water and some detergent. Add the foam insert and continuously submerge until you think it is clean, then squeeze it as hard as you can to remove excess water. If the water runs clear, this indicates that the insert is clean. If the water is dirty, repeat until it runs clear, then pop in the sun to air dry.
3. Pillows
It might be enough to turn your stomach, but the pillows you sleep on at night soak up sweat, drool and oils from your skin. You should be washing your pillows every one to two months (unless you use pillow protectors, in which case you can leave it longer).
You can machine wash both down and synthetic pillows on a warm wash cycle using regular detergent. Dry pillows in direct sunlight. To fluff them up, place in the dryer on low heat. Adding a few rubber dryer balls to the dryer will fluff them up even more.
Here’s how to select the best pillow for sleeping
It might be enough to turn your stomach, but the pillows you sleep on at night soak up sweat, drool and oils from your skin. You should be washing your pillows every one to two months (unless you use pillow protectors, in which case you can leave it longer).
You can machine wash both down and synthetic pillows on a warm wash cycle using regular detergent. Dry pillows in direct sunlight. To fluff them up, place in the dryer on low heat. Adding a few rubber dryer balls to the dryer will fluff them up even more.
Here’s how to select the best pillow for sleeping
4. Reuseable shopping bags
Most of wouldn’t think of washing our canvas shopping bags, but they can be one of the dirtiest items in your home, as they go from inside your shopping cart to your car boot and then to your kitchen bench or floor. They also come into contact with meat, fruit and veggies, all of which can harbour bacteria.
Most reusable shopping bags are made from cotton or canvas and can be easily cleaned in the washing machine on a hot-water regular cycle with detergent. Allow to air dry or pop in the dryer if you are in a hurry.
Most of wouldn’t think of washing our canvas shopping bags, but they can be one of the dirtiest items in your home, as they go from inside your shopping cart to your car boot and then to your kitchen bench or floor. They also come into contact with meat, fruit and veggies, all of which can harbour bacteria.
Most reusable shopping bags are made from cotton or canvas and can be easily cleaned in the washing machine on a hot-water regular cycle with detergent. Allow to air dry or pop in the dryer if you are in a hurry.
5. School backpacks
With the start of the school year looming, there’s no better time to give the kids’ backpacks a thorough clean. Many backpacks can be machine washed. Place them in a laundry bag or pillowcase, and wash on a gentle, cold-water cycle with a small amount of detergent. If the bag has straps, remove them and wash by hand.
If the care label on your backpack says it can’t go in the machine, wash it by hand with warm water, laundry detergent, and a soft scrubbing brush or sponge, then hang outside to dry. Never place a backpack in the dryer as this can destroy some materials.
If a backpack has a nasty odour that won’t go away, try adding a splash of vinegar to the wash. If even after a run in the washing machine it’s still there, try leaving it out in the sunlight for a few hours.
With the start of the school year looming, there’s no better time to give the kids’ backpacks a thorough clean. Many backpacks can be machine washed. Place them in a laundry bag or pillowcase, and wash on a gentle, cold-water cycle with a small amount of detergent. If the bag has straps, remove them and wash by hand.
If the care label on your backpack says it can’t go in the machine, wash it by hand with warm water, laundry detergent, and a soft scrubbing brush or sponge, then hang outside to dry. Never place a backpack in the dryer as this can destroy some materials.
If a backpack has a nasty odour that won’t go away, try adding a splash of vinegar to the wash. If even after a run in the washing machine it’s still there, try leaving it out in the sunlight for a few hours.
6. Sneakers
To clean sneakers, start by removing excess dirt or debris with an old toothbrush or shoe brush, then pretreat stains with a stain remover. Next, remove laces and insoles. Put sneakers inside a pillowcase and pop in the washing machine on a cold-wash, delicate cycle, using a normal amount of detergent and a dash of vinegar to neutralise smells. If you’re concerned about your sneakers rumbling around inside the machine, try throwing in a couple of towels to soften the process. Leave sneakers to dry in the sun.
To clean insoles, scrub with a cloth or soft brush that has been immersed in warm water and detergent, then rinse in warm water. Air dry and then return them to your sneakers.
Check out these smart storage ideas for shoe hoarders
To clean sneakers, start by removing excess dirt or debris with an old toothbrush or shoe brush, then pretreat stains with a stain remover. Next, remove laces and insoles. Put sneakers inside a pillowcase and pop in the washing machine on a cold-wash, delicate cycle, using a normal amount of detergent and a dash of vinegar to neutralise smells. If you’re concerned about your sneakers rumbling around inside the machine, try throwing in a couple of towels to soften the process. Leave sneakers to dry in the sun.
To clean insoles, scrub with a cloth or soft brush that has been immersed in warm water and detergent, then rinse in warm water. Air dry and then return them to your sneakers.
Check out these smart storage ideas for shoe hoarders
7. Yoga mats
Working out usually results in plenty of sweat, which leaves its mark on your yoga mat. To keep your mat hygienic, you can wipe it down after every session with disposable yoga mat wipes. These generally contain organic essential oils, which are naturally anti-bacterial, antiseptic and astringent.
For a more intense clean, throw your yoga mat in the washing machine once a week, or every month if you don’t use it as often. Never hang your mat in the sun to dry as this can dry it out and reduce its lifespan. Instead, place your mat in the dryer on medium to high heat.
Working out usually results in plenty of sweat, which leaves its mark on your yoga mat. To keep your mat hygienic, you can wipe it down after every session with disposable yoga mat wipes. These generally contain organic essential oils, which are naturally anti-bacterial, antiseptic and astringent.
For a more intense clean, throw your yoga mat in the washing machine once a week, or every month if you don’t use it as often. Never hang your mat in the sun to dry as this can dry it out and reduce its lifespan. Instead, place your mat in the dryer on medium to high heat.
8. Shower curtains
While most of us will wipe down our shower curtains fairly regularly, every so often they’ll need a more thorough clean to remove mould and mildew build-up.
Most shower curtain materials can be cleaned in the washing machine using a low temperature and a gentle wash cycle. Adding a towel or two to the load can help detergent adhere to a plastic curtain so it gets a proper clean.
If your shower curtain can’t be machine washed, soak it in a bath filled with warm water and washing powder. Scrub tough stains with a scrubbing brush. Shake off excess water and hang outside to dry.
Take a look at 8 stylish ways to separate the wet shower area
While most of us will wipe down our shower curtains fairly regularly, every so often they’ll need a more thorough clean to remove mould and mildew build-up.
Most shower curtain materials can be cleaned in the washing machine using a low temperature and a gentle wash cycle. Adding a towel or two to the load can help detergent adhere to a plastic curtain so it gets a proper clean.
If your shower curtain can’t be machine washed, soak it in a bath filled with warm water and washing powder. Scrub tough stains with a scrubbing brush. Shake off excess water and hang outside to dry.
Take a look at 8 stylish ways to separate the wet shower area
Read more:
A Thorough, Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide
Tell us:
Which unusual items do you wash at home? Tell us about them in the Comments below.
A Thorough, Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide
Tell us:
Which unusual items do you wash at home? Tell us about them in the Comments below.
These much-loved items can be a breeding ground for germs and should be washed regularly. Most soft toys can be machine washed, but it’s worth checking the care label first – the last thing you want is to make an unfortunate mistake with one of these precious items.
Keep soft toys safe in the machine by placing them in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase. Wash on a cold-water cycle with a small amount of detergent. If toys are filled with beads or feature accessories you can’t remove, wash them by hand. Air dry in the sun and fluff the fur as required.