Things you can clean in your washing machine - other than clothes

Your washing machine can clean more than just clothes.

1. Sneakers – Remove dirt from your runners.

2. Toys – Soft toys can be washed to remove dirt and germs – gentle cycle is best.

3. Lego – Place lego in a mesh bag and wash to remove germs.

4. Shower curtains – Don’t buy a new shower curtain, plastic and material shower curtains can be refreshed in the washing machine.

5. Bags – Material backbacks and bags to get them looking new again.

6. Pillows – Keep your pillows fresh by washing them. Dining room removable chair cushions can also be cleaned this way.

7. Car mats – Car mats will look new again after a wash.

What non clothing item do you clean in your washing machine? Please add comment below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.

28 Comments

- - ella12 said
  - 07 Sep 2016
    1:54 pm
I pop soft toys in there.

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 22 May 2016
    6:47 pm
I would never have thought to wash Lego! I’ll never wash a pillow in a machine again after having one explode and my machine break!

- - pakeko said
  - 26 Apr 2016
    9:39 pm
Such weird things to wash in the machine but each to their own

- - Threelos said
  - 24 Apr 2016
    2:31 pm
Love this article. My washing machine’s going to be busy this week! Lego – I never would have thought of that!

- - damish70 said
  - 23 Apr 2016
    6:38 pm
I love the idea of lego & other toys. Thanks for thinking outside of the box

- - lizgh said
  - 23 Apr 2016
    6:42 am
The car mat is something new for me. I am very curious to give it a go.

- - meedee said
  - 22 Apr 2016
    10:25 pm
Just be careful if you are washing sneakers to use the cold wash cycle as some sneakers if washed in hot water the glue will melt and they will fall apart so do not throw them in the drier afterwards.

- - Mum to one said
  - 22 Apr 2016
    10:23 am
I wash most of these things in my washing machine.

- - mom57665 said
  - 19 Apr 2016
    3:02 am
you learn something new everyday:)

- - mom71670 said
  - 31 Mar 2016
    7:50 pm
Lego is a great idea what a dust accumulater it is.

- - curlytops said
  - 19 Mar 2016
    11:21 pm
Ive never thought of car mats before. i may give it a go this weekend!

- - mom156049 said
  - 16 Mar 2016
    7:13 pm
I didn’t think of washing car mats in the washing machine… mine need doing so will try this. I wash caps / hats in the dishwasher (so many other things can be washed in a dishwasher also)

- - mom160421 said
  - 11 Mar 2016
    10:17 am
I always wash the items mentioned in the article by hand as I feel it is more gentle than washing by machine.

- - Sailees Mum said
  - 07 Mar 2016
    9:13 pm
I wash the bath toys on a hot cycle with bleech (only the bath toys and anti slip bath mat out the bath) to get everything nice and clean again.
Don’t pillows and quilts before especially with sick kids and bed wetting. Car seat covers as well!

- - rovermum said
  - 07 Mar 2016
    3:14 pm
Yes, I have cleaned runners and the odd very special toy (in a wash bag) in the washing machine. There’s probably so much more, but I’ve never thought of it. Backpacks is a good one too!

- - mom105232 said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    9:46 pm
Don’t forget Car seat covers!! I just washed mine – they look and smell so much nicer a bit of effort to get them off, but so worth it. Also our high chair cover was machine washable too.

- - robyn_smithwick said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    5:00 pm
I only wash clothes and bedding in mine.

- - Courtney2826 said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    12:30 pm
What a good idea to wash the Lego in the machine, I never would of thought to do that. This tip will defiantly save me lots of time!

- - mom74640 said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    11:02 am
Lke hw

- - momof4:) said
  - 04 Mar 2016
    7:51 am
Think I might wash my pillows and croft toys today. This is the reminder I needed.