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Clothes you should never wash in your washing machine, like ever!

Sandy Verma January 18, 2026 10:25 AM

Washing machines are a gift of science to humans which have made life easier. However, you just can’t keep throwing anything or everything in the name of washing inside your machine! Now, you need to understand that there are some clothes that aren’t meant to be washed in a machine, because they are delicate fabric which can’t survive the rigorous spinning and water pressure or the harsh detergents. Remember, pulling your favourite sweater out of the washer all shrunken, or misshapen bra? On this note, let’s have a look at the clothes you should never (like ever) put into a washing machine, no matter how tired you are! Go ahead:Delicate lingeries (Underwired ones, never!)Your delicate lingeries should never see the face of a washing machine, especially the underwired bras. These are among the biggest victims of washing machines. The vigorous spinning can snap the wires, which may later become pokey through the fabric. It can cause severe discomfort to your skin, or damage your machine’s drum as well. So be extra careful and gently hand wash in cold water. You’ll notice issues like weakened elastics and collapsed cups, among others.Silk, satin clothing

In fact, your silk clothes, undergarments, nighties should also never know how a machine looks. Silk, satin, or any luxury fabrics are sensitive to detergent, machine, heat, and friction. Even a “delicate” cycle can cause silk to lose its natural shine. Sometimes satin fabrics may come out with irreparable damage. Either dry clean or hand wash with gentle detergent.Cashmere sweaters

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It’s like a nightmare come true! Cashmere is a costly fabric which needs special attention and care. It is a clothing disaster to see a shrunken Cashmere sweater. The fibres react to spinning and temperature. Machine wash often leads to felting. Remember, it is an irreversible damage. It’s suggested to hand wash in cold water or get the cloth dry cleaned.Leather and faux leather Never put your leather jackets, pants or skirts into the washing machine. Water causes the natural oils from leather an irreversible harm. It can leave the leather cracked or warped. Faux leather is also not safe for washing in the machines. The plastic coating can peel or crack can appear. You can clean your leather clothes using a damp cloth or get professional help.Heavy embellished clothes

Lehenga

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If your shirt has sequins, beads, or mirror work, these should be hand washed separately as these are not machine friendly. The spinning can damage the sequin or beads work. It can also damage the filter of the machine by clogging it with beads and other things. Gentle hand washing or dry cleaning is suggested for such clothes.SwimwearSwimsuits may look sturdy, but are fragile. The machine can weaken swimwear fibres and can leave them stretched. Continuous machine wash can break down the elasticity of your swimwear faster. Rinse your swimwear with cold water soon after use.Neckties and Scarves

Neckties and Scarves

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Ties are structured garments. They lose their shapes that don’t do well with water and detergent. Machine washing can cause bubbling and also it can ruin their shape permanently.Clothes with “Dry Clean Only” labelsDon’t ignore the label, it’s there for a reason. Fabrics which read “dry clean only” often use dyes or linings that don’t gel well with water. Don’t wash them in the machine. Ignoring these labels is not a good idea for your wardrobe. After all, all your clothes deserve a little extra care.