When you think about it, washing machines are one of the most robust household appliances, right? They deal with all kinds of clutter and make things look nice and clean again. However, there are certain things that you will never want to find in your washing machine after a cycle. We have here a list of 8 unexpected or unwanted things that people found in their washing machines.
Pens
Let's start with one of the most common items, shall we? Leaving things in your pockets is a fairly common mistake and most washing machines won't really bother you. However, if there's one thing you don't want to find in the washing machine after a complete wash cycle, it's pens.
Pens can easily fall apart during a wash cycle and that means the ink can spread. Seeing broken pens in the drum after a wash cycle will be bad news, so make sure no pen is accidentally left in the washing machine.
Insects Small insects that get into your washing machine are more common than you might think. In most cases these insects will be relatively harmless, but most people don't want to pick dead insects off their clothes when they come out of the washing machine, right?
Insects can sometimes still be alive after the wash cycle has finished, so if they are still moving, carefully bring them back outside. One way to make sure bugs aren't still on your clothes when you put them in the washing machine is to shake them well before putting them in.
Animals
From insects to larger animals, although it is rare, some animals have ended up in washing machines. Mice and rats will sometimes crawl in it and if you have small pets, such as a puppy or kitten, it may sit in the washing machine or even sleep when not in use. To prevent an animal from going for a ride in a washing machine, inspect it well before putting in clothes and keep the door closed when not in use.
Food
No one wants to see food waste in the drum after a wash cycle as this can create a lot of mess. Sometimes the food can remain relatively intact, but in most cases it will fall apart and create more mess during the wash cycle. That means that you not only have to wash the clothes again to clean them, but also clean the washing machine.
Coins Washing a banknote used to be the dreaded scenario everyone feared, but now banknotes are much more robust and can usually survive a wash cycle. However, coins are bad news when it comes to washing machines as they can sometimes cause damage to the machine.
A small stray coin probably won't do any damage, but if you accidentally leave a few larger coins in your pocket, it could damage the drum as it spins. You will probably also hear the coins ringing as soon as the washing machine is running. So don't leave coins in your pockets, because it's better to play it safe.
Keys Keys are a problem for two reasons, because you can be sure they'll be in the wash when you need them most. Imagine you need your car keys to get to work, but then you realize they're still in your pocket and those pants are in the wash.
So losing your keys is a big deal, but when it comes to washing them, there's a potentially more serious problem. Just as coins can damage the washing machine drum, keys can also be quite sharp meaning they can damage more delicate materials.
Credit cards/debit cards
Credit and debit cards left behind during a wash cycle are a problem because most people cancel them right away when they can't find them. So once they show up after the wash cycle when you're done, you can't use them anymore.
If you don't cancel your cards, there's also a chance they'll get damaged during the cycle and won't work. This is rare, but it can happen. If your cards are already damaged, they can fall apart and damage the clothing as well.
Smartphones/mobile phones
Let's finish our list of what most people think is the worst thing about finding in the washing machine, shall we? A cellphone or smartphone that goes through a wash cycle probably won't come out in great shape. If you're lucky it may dry up and you can use it again after a while, but in most cases it probably won't work. Seeing a potentially very expensive piece of technology ruined over a simple mistake is going to make someone wary of using their washing machine again. Yes, it may not do much damage to the clothes, but it can cost you a lot of money to replace.
What should you do if you suspect something is in your washing machine?
The first thing to do is to make sure you inspect the drum carefully and check all clothes before putting them in the machine.
If you hear a knocking or thumping sound during the wash cycle, stop the machine quickly, most modern washing machines have an emergency stop button. Once it has stopped, remove the wet laundry and inspect the clothes and drum carefully.
If you see any foreign objects, remove them and reload the washing machine. However, if you don't see anything and the problem persists, contact a qualified repair person to inspect the washer for you.
