What Things We Never Wash but Should

Washing stuff has already become a routine thing for us. But if you look around carefully, you’ll see that there are many things in your home that you don’t wash. The reasons for this can be different. Some things can’t be washed in the washing machine, others are too big, as for the others — we don’t even think that they should be washed.

5-Minute Crafts is going to remind you about things that many of us don’t wash but actually should.

Things that we forget to wash.

• bags
• wallets
• grocery bags
• gym bags
• leather jackets
• laundry baskets
• shower curtains
• bath mats
• weighted blankets
• pillows
• stuffed toys
• mop heads
• doormats

Bags and wallets

Bags and wallets are things that we carry almost every time we go out.

We lean our bag on various surfaces on public transport, put it in the supermarket trolley, and even take it inside public toilets. Moreover, our bag constantly lies in the closet or on the chair in our office. Because of this, it can get really contaminated.

Things are almost the same with wallets. Not all stores have the function of paying by phone and oftentimes, we have to take out our wallets in transport and in stores to pay with a card or cash. Also, we often store discount cards that we occasionally use in our wallets. Every time when we grab our wallets we don’t think about how clean our hands are. If we analyze an ordinary day, we will be able to understand how many microbes get on our wallets.

That’s why our bag and our wallet should absolutely be cleaned or washed. Not all fabrics can be washed so you need to make sure to read the information on the label.

Many fabric bags can be washed by hand in cool water. It’s better to not squeeze them and dry them naturally in the open air.

If a bag can’t be washed, clean it with the help of disinfecting wipes. It’s recommended to do it no less than one time a week. Make sure to first check the disinfecting agent on an invisible area inside the bag.

It’s recommended to clean leather bags and wallets with dishwashing liquid. Dilute it in lukewarm water and wipe the surface of the item with a soft piece of cloth. Then remove the soapy solution with a clean wet cloth and dry with a towel.

It’s recommended to empty the bag and shake it over the sink once every few weeks. It’s a good idea to vacuum clean it at this moment and then wipe the interior with antibacterial wipes. Before you put all the stuff back into the bag again, let it air out for at least 15 minutes. All the insides should also be wiped cleaned.

Grocery bags

Plastic bags are no longer used that widely. Many people now use their own grocery bags when they go shopping for products. And, of course, they need to be washed. If you go to the shop once a week, wash them after every shopping session. If you use them every day, wash them at least after 2-3 uses.

• It’s recommended to wash a cotton grocery bag in the washing machine in hot water. You can tumble dry it or line dry it.
• A bamboo bag perfectly tolerates hand washing and delicate mode in the washing machine and it is better to use soft washing powder with it. It should be dried in the same manner as a cotton grocery bag.
• A nylon or polyester bag should be hand washed with soap and warm water. Line dry it inside out.
• Polypropylene bags are supposed to be hand washed or washed in the washing machine (on gentle cycle). Make sure to use cold water. It’s better to line dry it.
• Insulated polyester fiber bags and coated thermal film help keep the necessary temperature for products and drinks. They are also called insulated bags. These bags should be hand washed in lukewarm water with soap and wiped with disinfecting and antibacterial wipes. Pay special attention to the areas along seams.

It is recommended to store all these bags in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place.

Leather jackets

Leather jackets also need to be cleaned. Of course, washing them in the machine or in a pot with water is not a good idea — these jackets require a more thorough approach.

It’s recommended to clean leather jackets with dishwashing liquid. Simply dilute it in a bowl with clean water that is room temperature, take a soft piece of cloth, and carefully wipe the surface of the leather item. Afterward, soak another piece of cloth in clean water and remove the soapy solution from the jacket. After cleaning, carefully dry the jacket with a towel and hang it to dry.

Gym bags

A gym bag is another item that many of us forget to wash. We carry our sweaty clothes, shoes, and dirty towels in it, so it’s absolutely logical that it should be washed too.

At first, check whether your bag can be washed in the machine. If yes, do it on delicate mode. Before washing, check all the pockets, turn the bag inside out, and remove the straps. If you can’t pull them off, tie them in a knot.

Use hand-cleaning for bags that can’t be washed in the machine. Dilute a cleaning detergent in lukewarm water, take a piece of cloth and wash the bag first inside and then outside. Afterward, rinse the cloth well, pour in clean water, and repeat the procedure to remove the soap.

Weighted blankets and pillows

Your blankets and pillows also need to be washed.

It’s recommended to tumble dry pillows once a month. This is to keep them free of dust and mold. They need a full wash at least 2 times a year.

Pillows made of down, feathers, and a down substitute can be machine washed. Polyester pillows can be either machine washed or hand washed. When washing, use a mild detergent, the delicate cycle, and cool water. It is recommended to dry them at low temperatures.

Memory foam or latex pillows can’t be washed. You can remove the pillowcases and machine wash or hand wash them. The pillows themselves should be vacuum cleaned from both sides.

Buckwheat hull pillows also can’t be washed. The filling should be emptied into a clean bowl and left in a sunny spot outside to let it dry well. Wash the pillowcase as you would any other pillowcase.

We are used to washing blankets by simply putting them into the washing machine. But how about weighted blankets? For some reason, many of us forget they should be washed. Meanwhile, they require the same attention as pillows.

Many warm blankets with fillers can be machine-washed if they fit into your washing machine. Examine the label to learn the washing recommendations. It’s recommended to dry these blankets in a tumble dryer at low temperatures or line dry. If your blanket is too big to be washed at home, take it to a laundromat.

Laundry basket

We are used to throwing our dirty clothes into the laundry basket to wash them later. But how about the basket itself? For some reason, many of us don’t even think about washing it. Meanwhile, dirt and bacteria from clothes often remain inside them and that’s why it is recommended to wash them weekly.

If you are using a plastic basket, it can be cleaned with the help of a disinfecting agent, washed with a soapy solution, and rinsed with water.

Today, wicker baskets with textile bags placed inside them are becoming very popular. The bag should be taken out and machine washed. When washing them in a washing machine, set more delicate parameters (low washing and drying temperatures) to avoid shrinkage. Do the same with fabric baskets.

Shower curtains

The bathroom is the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and other bacteria. This room is humid and does not always have enough light and fresh air.

Shower curtains can and should be washed. They get dirty just like other things. In addition, due to the warm and humid environment, mold sometimes grows on these curtains.

Most fabric curtains can be machine washed on the delicate cycle. Before that, just be sure to remove all of the rings and line dry the item after washing.

When washing plastic bath curtains it’s recommended to put a couple of towels in the machine. They will help the curtain to not wrinkle too much. They should be washed in cool water and tumble drying is forbidden in this case. Right after washing, hang the curtain on the line and dry it well.

If your bath curtain can’t be washed in the machine, use the bathtub. Fill it with lukewarm water and mix 1/4 glass of baking soda and a bit of washing powder. Wash the curtain thoroughly and then rinse it with clean water.

Bath mats

It’s necessary to wash bath mats at least 2 times a month. Examine the label and choose the necessary mode in your washing machine. If your mat is soft and fluffy, wash it on the delicate cycle. And remember that it’s better to use a mild cleanser. It’s recommended to dry mats either in a dryer at a low temperature or by hanging them. The main thing is to let it dry completely.

Many people don’t wash bath mats because they are afraid to ruin them. In this case, you can hand wash the mat.

• Fill the bathtub halfway with water and dilute a couple of tablespoons of detergent in there.
• Place the mat in there and wipe it gently with a soft sponge, then rinse well with cool water.
• If your bath mat can’t be soaked in water, spot clean it with a sponge.

Stuffed toys

Soft toys not only hold pleasant memories but also a lot of dust. If toys can be washed, put them in the washing machine and set it to the desired mode. If washing is not possible, steam the toys and then vacuum them.

It’s recommended to wash stuffed toys in a special bag. If you don’t have one, use a pillowcase with a zipper. Wash the toys on the delicate mode in cool water. Dry them on a flat surface.

If you decide to hand wash the toys, use washing powder and cool water. There should be enough water to fully submerge the toys in it. Gently squeeze them in the water so that they get soaked in the detergent well. Don’t rub them too hard. After washing, rinse the toys thoroughly, squeeze them carefully, and dry them on a flat surface.

Mop heads

We are used to thinking that mops are there to wash the floor and few of us realize that the mops themselves should be washed too. Moreover, it’s recommended to do this after each use.

Mop heads should be soaked in a bucket of water and a disinfecting agent. Afterward, they should be well rinsed and dried. The handles and other plastic parts of the mop should be cleaned with a disinfecting agent or antibacterial wipes.

Doormats

We put a doormat at the doorway to leave our shoes on and so we don’t carry all the dirt and microbes inside our homes. But we often forget about the cleanliness of the mat itself, thinking that shaking the dust off of it is enough.

In order to truly clean the mat, you’ll need to wash it in hot water using a brush. Before washing, the mat should be beaten thoroughly and scrubbed with a dry brush.

It’s recommended to wash the doormat every season (every 3 months). It should be vacuumed cleaned once a month and beaten every week.