This car clever backseat organizer holds your food packets, drinks, gadgets and a lot more. In a nutshell, it helps you declutter your backseat.

2. Car Headrest Hook – Declutter the backseat of your car

Turn your car’s headrest into a storage space with this car headrest hook. You can hang groceries, handbags, water bottles, toys, baby supplies and a lot more. Why clutter your backseat when you can get these hooks installed in your car! Invest in these car headrest hooks and declutter your backseat quick and easy. Built of superior materials, one unit of headrest hook can easily hold up to 13 pounds.

3. Car Ioniser- Deodorises your car

Whether it is the smell of smoke or the stale odour produced by smelly feet, this car ionizer eliminates the peculiar smell. It purifies the air and reduces the chances of general ailments like coughing, sneezing, asthma and so on. This car not just keeps the odour out of the car but also fills the car with fresh air.

4. Car Boot Organizer

Utilize every inch of your car boot space with this car boot organizer. It has large compartments and side pockets to hold car repair tools, general essentials and more. You can even store grocery in this car boot organizer. The non-slip pads prevent any kind of damage to the things stored within. You can fold it when not in use. In addition, this car boot organizer comes with a removable insulated cooler which keeps food and drinks at the perfect temperature.

5 .Car Scratch Remover Pen- Get rid of those little scratches easily

Does your beloved car look a little old because of a few scratches? Don’t worry, we have a permanent solution for you. This car scratch remover pen is a scratch repair filler. It removes scratches from your vehicle easily. Using the car scratch remover is super easy. Apply the pen on scratched areas, buff it in and wipe it. This scratch repair pen is permanent and water-resistant.

6. Set of 2 Hose Pipe with Spray Gun- Why waste your money on car washing services!

Back from a road trip? Your car needs a good wash. This hose pipe with spray gun nozzle delivers a high volume spray which washes away the dust and dirt. Just turn on the nozzle and make your car sparkling clean in a few minutes.

7. Car Air Foot Pump- Maintains the air pressure of car tires

Did you know? Driving with inadequately inflated tires not just hampers the performance of your car but it is also not safe. No matter where you travel, this car air foot pump must be a part of your car emergency kit. With this air foot pump, you can check the air pressure of your car tire and fill it if inadequate. When the tires are properly inflated, they end up saving fuel for you.

8. Car Seat Lumbar Support- Corrects your posture while driving

This accessory can be used not just in the car but at your workplace as well. Simply attach this to your chair and it is ready to use. The mesh framework is flexibles and provides adequate support to the lumbar region. This seat support is meant to correct poor posture which can cause lower back pain. Even if you are already suffering from lower back pain, you can use this supporter to feel comfortable.

9. Car Vacuum Cleaner- Keeps your car dust-free

Keep your car interiors clean and tidy with this car vacuum cleaner. It has a handle like attachment which cleans the most difficult corners of your car with great ease. All you need to do is connect it to your car charger and start cleaning.

Ingredients and Preparation

All you need are to follow two natural ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon (100 drops) of French lavender essential oil (Lavandula Angustifolia)
• 16 ounces of distilled white vinegar

Instructions

Add the essential oil to the distilled white vinegar.

Using a funnel if necessary, pour the mixture into a glass jar or bottle.

Shake well and label accordingly so that it’s clear it’s meant for laundry uses and not for cooking!

To use, shake the jar to reincorporate the essential oils into the vinegar and add ¼ cup to your laundry’s final rinse cycle or to the fabric softener tray if your washing machine has one. For especially large loads, add up to 1/2 cup.

Tips for Using Essential Oils

• Feel free to replace the lavender with other essential oils that are great for laundry use, such as eucalyptus, which is great for dust mites.
• Also, when purchasing scents for your laundry rinses, be sure that you are buying pure essential oils and if possible, organic ones. They are often available from natural food markets, vitamin stores, and aromatherapy suppliers.
• This is a great product to make for gifts since it’s so economical and easy to make. Create some extra fancy labels or gift tags noting the benefits and uses of the product if you give them away as gifts.
• Many vinegar brands are available for purchase in different sizes. Simply purchase a 16-ounce bottle, remove the label, add the essential oils, and re-label the bottle. What could be easier?
• If you have a jumbo size vinegar bottle and need a jar or bottle for storing your vinegar rinse, consider re-purposing a mayonnaise jar or glass milk jar.

How Does This Rinse Work?

Vinegar’s acidic properties help remove any remaining traces of alkaline detergent and mineral deposits, which results in the soft, bright laundry. In addition, the acetic acid and other properties in vinegar help naturally combat mold, viruses, and bacteria, so it is a great addition to your wash when cleaning rags or especially dirty clothes.

Lavender naturally scents your laundry and also has inherent germ-fighting properties due to its antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, and fungicidal actions. It also acts as a natural moth repellent.

You can also use this rinse to clean your washing machine. To remove mold, built-up soap scum, or mineral deposits, add one cup of this rinse to a hot-water wash cycle and run the machine empty. This is a great thing to do for periodic machine maintenance, too.

Common Sense Cautions

• It is important that you use essential oils safely. If you get essential oils in your eyes, flush with water for 10 to 15 minutes. Consult a doctor if irritation persists. If you get essential oils on your skin, wash with soapy warm water. One exception: lavender doesn’t harm the skin; in fact, it is often used directly on the skin to treat burns, insect bites, etc.
• Vinegar can irritate your eyes if contact occurs. Flush liberally with water for 5 to 10 minutes if the product gets in your eyes.
• Don’t ever mix vinegar with chlorine bleach. It will create toxic chlorine gas.

Clean can mean anything from “unsoiled/unstained” to “pure and pollution-free.” Despite this, no mention of fragrance is made. Cosmetics and personal care goods, as well as candles, cleaning products, hand soaps, laundry products, and air fresheners, all contain the aroma.

The History of Scent

Over time, scents have become one of the main components of what we deem as “clean.” The history of using fragrances spans the centuries. Egyptians used perfumed balms as part of religious ceremonies, and myrrh and frankincense were used in many rituals. World explorations were launched to bring back robust scented plants that could be used for both medicine and pleasure.

When consumers used homemade lye soap to clean clothes long ago, they removed soil as well as odors from bodies and stains, and to add more scent, bundles of dried lavender were tucked into the trunks of clothing to make clothes smell better.

Interpreting a Clean Scent

The sense of smell is perhaps the most powerful of our five senses. A particular fragrance or odor can evoke memories and emotions that have long been tucked away. Research has shown that there is an anatomical basis for this.1 The sense of smell is directly plugged into the human limbic system of the brain, the region where emotions and memories also reside.

Fragrances contribute to feelings of happiness, relaxation, or stimulation, as well as feelings of irritation, depression, and apathy. We also associate qualities to scents; cinnamon reminds us of baking and “home.” That’s why certain fragrance memories make us interpret clothes as smelling “clean,” cosmetics as smelling “pretty,” and households as smelling “well-kept.”

The Cleanest Home Scents

For many of us, the smell of chlorine bleach or pine-scented disinfectant equates to a clean house. Scientists in research and development have zeroed in on scent clues that are used to teach consumers the “smell of clean.” The robust sales of scented cleaning and laundry products tell researchers that consumers are learning, and they believe that if their laundry and home smell a certain way, then they’re clean.

Marketing Clean Scents

A pleasant fragrance is usually of top importance in the consumer’s mind when purchasing cleaning products. Furthermore, consumers frequently cite that a pleasant fragrance makes the tasks of laundry and cleaning easier and more enjoyable.

Some companies that sell laundry detergents base nearly all of their advertising on the popularity of their fragrances. They’ve also embraced the use of essential oils for new scents blends such as lavender and chamomile, eucalyptus and mint, or orange and grapefruit. Detergent manufacturers continuously work on formulas for new or improved scents, as well as how to make them linger on fabrics, all in the name of cleanliness.

Use mouthwash to clean the washing machine

Washing machines need to be disinfected on a regular basis in order to keep working at their best. You can buy special detergents, but you can also use standard mouthwash by adding half a glass to the place where you normally put the detergent in the washing machine and running the complete cycle. Fungus, mold, and dangerous germs will all be eliminated.

Don’t dry your clothes too much

It’s very hard to iron clothes that were dried for longer than necessary because the fabric becomes resistant to thermal impact. In some very difficult cases, even an iron with a steamer won’t help you. It’s easier to iron the clothes that are damp. And if your clothes do get overdried, just sprinkle some water on them.

Use special bags when washing socks

Many people have experienced the loss of their socks in the washing machine. Simon Moore and Geoff Ellis, two scientists, even devised a formula to explain the riddle.

Experienced housewives, on the other hand, advised purchasing specific bags for each family member to wash minor items of clothes. In this instance, the issue of misplaced clothing will be easily resolved.

Put some aspirin pills into the washing machine to whiten your clothes

Because of the yellow sweat stains that frequently occur on white clothing, some individuals try to avoid wearing it. We’ve got some excellent news for you if you’ve ever been terrified of ruining a fine white shirt! Because of the salicylic acid, putting multiple aspirin pills in the washing machine can help whiten your teeth. So grab your favorite white shirt and relax knowing that yellow sweat stains are no longer an issue!

Use baby shampoo to restore clothes that shrank

Because of the yellow sweat stains that frequently occur on white clothing, some individuals try to avoid wearing it. We’ve got some excellent news for you if you’ve ever been terrified of ruining a fine white shirt! Because of the salicylic acid, putting multiple aspirin pills in the washing machine can help whiten your teeth. So grab your favorite white shirt and relax knowing that yellow sweat stains are no longer an issue!

Don’t use conditioner when washing something white

When washing whites, experienced housewives advise against using conditioner since it prevents the clothes from becoming as white as possible. If you want your garments to be brightly white, you should use a special bleach rather than your regular detergent and conditioner. Other elements prevent the bleach from performing as well as it could.

 Don’t sort your clothes by color

Don’t sort the clothes by their color – sort them by the density of the fabric. Heavy fabrics absorb more water than lighter ones. That’s why the detergent is washed out of different things to a different extent and why mixed washing damages the clothes made of thin fiber. But you should remember 2 exceptions:

• White clothes are always washed separately.
• The temperature shouldn’t be higher than 85° F or the clothes of different colors will lose the saturation of the colors.

Put tinfoil balls in the washing machine

To forget about static electricity in your clothes, put a few tinfoil balls in the washing machine. They will absorb the static charge.

Use shaving cream to remove makeup stains

Because some foundations and lipsticks can stay on your clothes indefinitely, it might be difficult to remove makeup stains. However, you may remove the makeup by applying standard shaving cream to the stain and washing the garments as usual.

Wash caps in the dishwasher

To make sure that your cap doesn’t lose its shape, don’t wash it in the washing machine. The solution is simple – you can wash it in the dishwasher. Put it on the top shelf of the dishwasher and start the full cycle.

Use cold water to wash dirty socks

Because most filth (such as sweat) is protein-based, you can’t wash socks in hot water. When you apply a really high temperature to dirt like this, it will always stay in your socks. That is why, contrary to popular belief, it is recommended to wash socks in cold water.

Remove stubborn stains with a hair dryer

In order to get rid of old non-protein stains such as from grass, soil, or juice, you can heat them up with a hair dryer and put a little detergent on the spot. After that, you can put the article of clothing into the washing machine. Heating the stain will help the ingredients of the detergent work more efficiently.

Clear-Cut Storage

Detergent, starch, and stain remover containers are frequently large and take up a lot of space in the laundry room. Replace clear glass canisters or beverage dispensers for a more streamlined solution that also increases function and style. After you’ve filled them with the necessities, consider adding chalkboard labels to keep everything even more organized.

Easy Ironing

Ironing boards can take up a lot of space in a laundry room. Instead of folding versions, make a tabletop version. Remove any hardware from a spare piece of plywood or a particleboard shelf, staple an old towel to the back, and then wrap a piece of fabric around the concoction. When not in use, keep it on the counter for a splash of pattern, or store it in a spare closet or corner.

Dry-Erase DIY

Transform your dryer into a memo board with dry-erase markers. This laundry room hack is an easy way to record important notes on how to wash, what to dry, and which items need to be restocked. For a custom typographic touch, consider adding stickers or card-stock cutouts to the lid.

Pocket Protector

Many parents are aware that there can be a swarm of clothes-ruining fiends hiding in their children’s pants pockets. Using a scrap piece of wood, a few clothespins, and a jar, make a clever catchall for rescued pens, spare change, and other random items. To ensure a stain-free spin cycle, hang bills or receipts from the pins and drop any extras into the container.

Hanger Hangout

Hangers are a must-have, but without a specified place to live, they can become a laundry room’s biggest annoyance. Mount a wall rail, towel holder, or spare curtain rod underneath your cabinets or in a small stretch of wall to corral unruly hangers. As a bonus, this convenient spot can also serve as a space-saving drying rack.

Organization Station

With this dresser DIY, you can turn your disorganized clothes piles into efficient, organized stacks. To house basic baskets, simply add shelves or sliding hardware to an old dresser or bookcase. Consider labeling a basket for each family member so that you (or they!) can easily transport laundry to and from their respective spaces, or designate hampers for whites, colors, and delicates. The possibilities for personalization are endless!

Out-of-the-Way Ironing Board

This wall-mount solution keeps your ironing board out of the way but still accessible. Frame an old scrap piece of wood and paint it a complementary color to your laundry room scheme. Attach spare hooks to the front, and then use brackets to secure the project to the wall. Hang your board on the hooks for a finished, storage-savvy look.

Clever Clothesline

A clothesline is the perfect, portable way to hang-dry your items, whether you want a more environmentally friendly home or simply want to avoid the basic drying rack. Twist two pieces of rope together and tuck your shirts, scarves, and other extras through the twists to create a no-clothespins-required line.

The dirty laundry basket appears to never be empty. You wash, dry, iron, or fold, and then repeat the process. But are you washing your clothes correctly? Here are some laundry tips you may not be aware of, as well as the best way to wash clothes.

Use Aluminum Foil

If you’re out of dryer sheets, throw a ball of aluminum foil in your dyer. The aluminum will fight static buildup and help keep your clothing separated

Freeze Your Jeans

If you like to wear your jeans more than once between washings, stick them in the freezer between wears. The frigid air will kill bacteria that can cause odor.

Check the Temperature

Use cold water for dark colors that tend to bleed and for delicate fabrics that are prone to shrinking. Coldwater is also an eco-friendly choice that will save you money on your energy bill. Warm water is best for man-made fibers and jeans. Use hot water for whites, cloth diapers, bedding, and towels.

Unshrink Your Clothes

Is it possible that your favorite T-shirt has shrunk? Soak the shrunken item of clothing in lukewarm water with a splash of baby shampoo. This will relax the fibers, allowing you to stretch them out again.

Use Less Detergent

Using too much detergent can cause your clothes to remain dirty since too much detergent causes an abundance of suds that can trap soil on your clothing. Instead, try using half the recommended amount of detergent and adjust from there.

Wash Bright Colors With Salt

You can use salt to prevent colors from fading. Just toss a teaspoon of salt in with your dark clothes to help make the color last longer. Washing colored clothing inside out can also help maintain color.

Sweaters Should Skip the Dryer

Skip the dryer when laundering winter sweaters. Instead, drying them flat will help them maintain their shape.

Save Drying Time

When you’re running short on drying time, throw a dry towel in with the load. The towel will help absorb some of the moisture and help your clothes dry quicker.

Reduce Wrinkles

To reduce wrinkles and the need to iron, use a dryer sheet and set your dryer to the lowest setting possible. As soon as the clothes are dry, remove them from the dryer and fold or hang them to keep them crisp.

Top-Loading or Front-Loading?

If you’re in the market for a new washing machine, the options can be overwhelming. Top-loading machines with an agitator often cost less and have a faster run-time than top-loading machines without an agitator (known as a high-efficiency machine). High-efficiency machines are better at cleaning and use less water than agitator models. Front-loading machines are more expensive, but do a better job at cleaning than top-loading and are gentler on clothing. However, front-loaders can take longer to complete a cycle than top-loaders. Do some research to find which model will work best for your needs.

Clean Your Machine

Your washing machine does need to be cleaned regularly. Every couple of months, set your washer to the largest load setting and hottest water temperature. Add a quart of white vinegar and a cup of baking soda and let the washer agitate for a minute. Then open the lid or pause the cycle and let the mixture sit for an hour. Scrub any parts, such as the lid, with a toothbrush to remove buildup. After an hour, let the cycle complete and run a second cycle on hot to remove any residue left behind. Your clothes will thank you.

Use mouthwash to clean the washing machine

Washing machines must be disinfected on a regular basis in order to continue functioning properly. There are special detergents available, but you can also use regular mouthwash – simply add half a glass to the area in the washing machine where you normally put the detergent and start the full washing cycle. Fungus, mold, and dangerous bacteria will be eliminated.

Don’t dry your clothes too much

It’s very hard to iron clothes that were dried for longer than necessary because the fabric becomes resistant to thermal impact. In some very difficult cases, even an iron with a steamer won’t help you. It’s easier to iron the clothes that are damp. And if your clothes do get overdried, just sprinkle some water on them.

Use special bags when washing socks

Many people have had the experience of their socks disappearing in the washing machine. Scientists Simon Moore and Geoff Ellis even devised a formula to solve the mystery.

However, experienced housewives advise purchasing special bags for washing small pieces of clothing for each family member. In this case, the problem of misplaced clothing will be easily resolved.

To whiten your clothes, put some aspirin pills in the washing machine

Because of the yellow sweat stains that frequently appear, some people try to avoid wearing white clothes. If you’ve ever been afraid of ruining a nice, white shirt, we have some good news for you! Because of the salicylic acid, putting several aspirin pills in the washing machine can help whiten your whites. So grab your favorite white shirt and rejoice that yellow sweat stains are no longer a problem!

Use baby shampoo to restore clothes that shrank

This may seem strange, but baby shampoo or conditioner can shrink your clothes back to their original size. Simply add a small amount to a container of warm water and soak the item of clothing for 10-15 minutes. Then, pat it dry with a towel and lay it out horizontally to completely dry. The conditioner will flatten and restore the fiber to its original size.

 Don’t use conditioner when washing something white

Experienced housewives don’t recommend adding conditioner when you are washing something white because it doesn’t let the clothes become as white as possible. If your goal is to get your clothes to be brilliantly white, then you need to use a special bleach instead of your usual detergent and conditioner. Other components don’t let the bleach work as well as it can.

 Don’t sort your clothes by color

Don’t sort the clothes by their color – sort them by the density of the fabric. Heavy fabrics absorb more water than lighter ones. That’s why the detergent is washed out of different things to a different extent and why mixed washing damages the clothes made of thin fiber. But you should remember 2 exceptions:

• White clothes are always washed separately.
• The temperature shouldn’t be higher than 85° F or the clothes of different colors will lose the saturation of the colors.

for Laundry Day

Laundry rooms act as a drop zone in the home, collecting clothing, shoes, cleaning supplies, and other items, which can result in a headache-inducing mess. With these low-cost DIY hacks, you can transform your crowded chaos into an orderly workspace.

By BobVila.com

Fresher Towels

The secret to fresh-smelling towels straight from the wash? Vinegar. Add one to two cups to your hot cycle—and skip the soap. Then cycle through again as normal.

DIY Fabric Softener

Commercial fabric softener, which is available in stores as a liquid or in the form of dryer sheets, lives up to its name. What you may not realize is that vinegar, despite its lower cost, performs exactly as effective as those products. Pour the vinegar directly into your washing machine’s fabric softener dispenser, and if desired, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (for aroma) and around a quarter-cup of rubbing alcohol (for disinfecting).

DIY Bleach Pen

Bleach pens are a great weapon in your laundry arsenal. And making your own is an easy way to save. Mix two tablespoons of cornstarch in a cup of water and stir on the stovetop until boiling. Once the mixture thickens, remove and allow to cool completely.

Save Lost Socks with a Clothespin

Rather than throwing lonely socks into a drawer until their companion returns, leave them on display as a visual reminder. Attach multiple clothespins to a plank of wood, each about 3 inches apart, to make a lost-and-found zone. Then, as you notice orphan socks coming out of the dryer, pin them up!

DIY Detergent

There are two reasons to go for homemade detergent over store-bought. First and foremost, DIY detergent is inexpensive, so there is a financial incentive. There’s also a health benefit: creating your own offers you complete control over the components. A simple method calls for only bar soap, washing soda (sodium carbonate), and borax, which fights mold and mildew.

Lay Out a Folding Station

When you’re working in a small laundry room or nook, every inch counts. Utilize the space above two front-loading washers and dryers by building a wood countertop; Bryn Alexandra purchased and cut plywood from Lowe’s to serve as a countertop for folding clean laundry.

Squeeze in More Storage

When you’re short on space in the laundry room, things can get chaotic quickly. But it might turn out the best storage space is hiding right under your feet—or under your machines, rather. Store-bought washer and dryer pedestals are expensive, though. So forget buying and start DIY-ing!

Add Fluff

Remember to bring the tennis balls inside for your dryer the next time you play doubles. Tennis balls are an excellent alternative to dryer sheets, and they also soften your fabric. Wrap them in an old white sock before adding them to your load to prevent color leakage. Tennis balls not only fluff heavy things like comforters, coats, and pillows, but they also help your clothing dry faster.

Write on the Machine

Keep a dry erase marker handy by your washer and dryer to leave laundry-related notes and reminders for each other. Any special instructions can now be easily communicated and you’ll avoid shrinking all those clothes that should have never gone in the dryer. For even better organization, use different colors for certain care labels—and remember to clean the marker off after each load.

By Sarita Harbour

Laundry Room Storage Ideas

Whether you’re dealing with a dedicated laundry room, a closet outfitted with a stacked washer and dryer, or simply the everyday challenge of finding a space where you can sort and fold clothes, you have storage options—if you know where to look. See how the following homeowners met their storage needs with smart, practical and repurposed solutions.

Triple-Duty Laundry Area

When living space is truly at a premium, look for ways to create a multipurpose area. This cozy nook serves not one, not two, but three purposes: laundry area, home office, and craft center.

Pantry-Style Laundry

What do you do when you don’t even have room for a laundry room? Tuck your washer and dryer into a kitchen pantry, and hide it behind cabinet doors. Shelves and hooks built into the door provide storage for detergents, cleaning solutions, and even brooms and mops.

Wash on the Walls

If you don’t have floor space for a stand-alone drying rack or traditional shelves for clothes, screw a strip (or two, in this case) of coat hooks to your laundry room wall. Then hang a clothes rack and light metal shelving to hold your laundry items.

Laundry Ladder

Wondering what to do with that old wooden ladder? Give it a coat of paint in your favorite color and hang it from your ceiling to act as a drying rack, or cut it and mount it to the wall to create a drop-down drying rack.

Dollhouse Laundry Storage

An old dollhouse is raised up on brackets to become storage for paper towels, soap, and other laundry room essentials.  

Laundry Chest Sorting Station

This isn’t a chest of drawers; rather, it’s a handy chest of laundry baskets! Baskets glide out on tracks for sorting, then neatly retract when not in use. To optimize efficiency, add a handmade ironing board countertop.

Big DIY PVC Laundry Sorting Station

Have a large family—or a certain teenager who just generates a ton of dirty clothes? Make this DIY laundry sorter out of inexpensive PVC pipe, fittings, and laundry bags.

Teeny Tiny Laundry Closet

Check out this laundry closet if you think your laundry room is too small. Despite its small size, it manages to house a washer and dryer as well as built-in shelves that carry a variety of laundry materials. The homeowners also included a flip-down ironing board beneath cabinet doors, a retro convenience that’s appropriate for today.

Laundry Sorting Center From Pallets

This space-saving laundry organization center was made from old pallets and three black laundry baskets. Chalkboard paint and paste wax provide a rich finish.

Lost Sock Holder

Lost socks are a laundry room inevitability. Place a metal basket on the wall to keep lost socks in and you can reunite them as soon as their mates reappear.

Wall Organizer

So many bits and pieces end up in the laundry room. Lost socks, hanging clothes ready to go into closets, and of course, the ironing board and iron. Organize them all together in an easy DIY wall unit, that also makes enough space on its shelf for a plant to brighten the room.

Over-the-Door Laundry Storage

If your laundry room doesn’t have space for conventional storage shelves or racks, do what this homeowner did and pick up an inexpensive over-the-door rack from your local hardware store. Paint the back of the door with chalkboard paint, and you can leave messages, washing instructions, or not-so-subtle notes about cleaning supplies to prod reluctant helpers!

Laundry Basket Storage

It’s very handy to have a place to store laundry baskets full of clothes until you’re ready to put them all away. This do-it-yourself version was built using just plywood and L-brackets. If necessary, the top is a great place to perform some ironing. It merges nicely in if you paint it to match the room.

Lint Bin

If you don’t have enough room for a trash can in your laundry room, you have a dilemma: where to put the dryer lint? It’s not convenient to duck outside while you’re in the middle of moving clothes from washer to dryer. Mount an outdoor flyer box onto the wall, and you’ve solved your problem. Paint it to match the room, and it doubles as decor.

Knit Hats

Though knit hats get soiled and stinky from sitting on sweaty heads all day, their delicate fabric and shape just cannot withstand a spin cycle. When it does come time to wash your hat, doing so by hand with a mild detergent will ensure that it maintains its structure and softness.

Memory Foam Pillows

Unless otherwise stated on the label, memory foam pillows are not machine washable. When these pillows go through the wash, they turn into soggy messes with no evident structure—and some don’t even make it out of the spin cycle alive.

Coins

Most people wouldn’t put loose change in the wash on purpose, but even doing so by accident can cause some seriously expensive damage should they break the machine. Before you put your jeans and pants through a wash cycle, check the pockets for any coins that might’ve slipped through the cracks.

Anything Embellished

Embellished items don’t belong in the washing machine, seeing as anything with sewn- or glued-on details is far too delicate to make it through a wash cycle unscathed. To keep these articles of clothing intact, either hand-wash them or take them to the dry cleaner for a professional touch.

Flammable Stains

Yes, the washing machine’s entire purpose is to get rid of stains, but there are some that just aren’t compatible with the appliance. Things like gasoline, cooking oil, and alcohol are all highly flammable, and putting clothes covered in them in the washing machine can start a house fire. If you do accidentally soil your garments with something flammable, simply spot-treat the stain with a solvent-based stain remover—like Seventh Generation Natural Stain Remover Spray ($4)—and then hand-wash the item.

Running Sneakers

Throwing regular sneakers in the washing machine is totally fine—in fact, it’s a good trick for keeping white shoes in pristine condition—but running shoes are a different story. Most athletic sneakers that go through a spin cycle come out smaller than before, so be careful to only wash your sneakers if they’re approved for the appliance.

Purses

Some amateur fashion bloggers might recommend throwing a dirty leather or suede purse in the laundry, but these expensive items should never, ever set foot in the machine. Not only will the washer severely harm the bag’s shape and material, but it will also mess up the zipper and any embellishments on the exterior.

Raincoats

Think about this for a second: If your raincoat is waterproof, then how is it going to soak up the water of the washing machine for a deep cleanse? Exactly. Instead, every time a raincoat gets washed, it traps the water like a balloon until it eventually explodes (and makes a huge mess).

Unzipped Zippers

Things with zippers can certainly go in the wash, so long as they are closed. Open zippers swirling around in the washing machine, however, can get caught on other items, potentially causing disastrous damage to precious articles of clothing.

Lace Items

As is the case for embellished garbs, anything made of lace is far too fine to be thrown into the washing machine. If you need to wash your lace, laundry care company The Laundress recommends hand-washing the item in cold water and then laying it in its natural shape to air dry.

Ties

Ties tend to be made with fine fabrics like silk and wool, and so throwing them in the washing machine will lead to shrinkage, damage, and/or color loss. Your best course of action when it comes to tidying up your ties is to just take them to a dry cleaner, where they can be properly handled by a professional.

King-Size Comforters

A king-size comforter is simply too big for a typical washing machine, and trying to wash one will both break the machine and leave the comforter just as dirty as it was before. However, most most laundromats and dry cleaners house industrial-sized machines large enough to wash almost anything. Head to one to both clean your comforter and keep your machine intact.

Pet Hair

Sure, a piece of clothing covered in pet hair might come out of the wash clean, but all that fur is going to linger in your machine until it either leaves via other articles of clothing or clogs the drain—and neither option is fun to deal with. Instead, lint roll your pet-hair-coated clothing before tossing it in the wash.

Pens

Always check your coat’s pockets before putting them in the hamper. Should a pen accidentally sneak into a load of laundry, it could explode in the wash and get ink stains on everything in the machine, putting you back at square one.

Anything with Rubber

When something partially made of rubber ends up in the wash, the heat from the machine destroys the adhesive holding it together, causing the rubber to either come apart or straight-up melt. And while some rubber-backed items—like bath mats and rugs—can withstand a delicate wash cycle, under no circumstances should any ever go in the dryer.

Car Keys

Nobody purposefully washes their car keys, but all too often they end up in a load of laundry anyway, resulting in some serious scratches to the washing machine’s interior. Also, these days, most car keys are electric, and washing them in water can render them unusable.

Bras

Not only can the washing machine destroy a bra’s underwire, but the undergarment’s clasps can also get stuck to other pieces of laundry and cause serious tears.

Excess Detergent

Douse your laundry with too much detergent and your clothes will come out of the washing machine with residue all over them, requiring yet another rinse cycle. What’s more, overdoing it on the soap can cause a build-up of mold in your machine, meaning that both your washer and your clothes will require additional cleaning.