Washing Certain Items in Mesh Laundry Sacks: Advice on Proper Cleaning
Gotta love mesh laundry bags! Always gotta have some on hand, in every size, stored neatly in that laundry room of yours. If you're like me, almost every wash cycle sees one or two of these puppies tumbling around like a bunch of crazy tumbleweeds. I use them to protect my clothes and make my chore-times easier. They're a must-have for any laundry lover. In fact, there are some items that simply need to be washed in a mesh laundry bag. Stock up on a few and never look back!
Making sure you pick the right size for the job is crucial. You ain't gonna have no room for detergent or good ol' H2O to circulate in that bag if you overfill it! Once the wash cycle is done, most items can come out of that mesh bag and be hung or laid flat to dry. The mesh bag will dry on its own too, so no worries there.
Bras
Boy oh boy, bras are tricky beasts. Don't be fooled by their supposedly tough exterior! Fabrics like lace, silk, and satin weaves are easy prey for snags from those pesky zippers or rough fabrics like denim. Hand-washing, if possible, is ideal. But if you're goin' the washing machine route, go with the gentle cycle and pop that bad boy in a mesh bag. Make sure all hooks and fasteners are secured, though, or you're brainin' the mesh bag!
Bonus! If one of them stubborn underwires escapes, it'll get caught in that mesh bag instead of doing some damage to the washer or makin' its way into the drain pump.
Socks and Tights
Mesh bags are like superheroes for socks! They save the day whenever anything tries to snag 'em or tangle 'em up with other laundry. You can also pre-sort all your socks so you don't have to deal with the dreaded lone sock mystery. Tights and silky socks get hung up to air-dry, but cotton socks can stay in the mesh bag and get tossed in the dryer.
Embellished Items
Whether the embellishment is sequins, beading, studs, or embroidery, you don't wanna ruin that look if decorations fall off or get pulled outta shape. After pretreating any visible stains, turn the item inside out, and put just the one garment in a mesh bag before using the gentle cycle.
Silk Items
Silk has that luxurious sheen because those long fibers float so smoothly over the surface. To keep that sheen intact, always use a mesh laundry bag when washing silk pillowcases, garments, and scarves in the washer.
Activewear
Those activewear clothes, like yoga pants, sports bras, swimwear, tank tops and running shorts, are made from high-performance materials. Other clothes or rough spots in the washer drum can snag these delicate fabrics. A mesh bag reduces friction and protects elasticity.
Lingerie
Delicate lingerie gets thrown around in regular wash cycles, especially if you ain't sorting your laundry properly. If you still have a machine with a center agitator, lingerie can get caught up in that whirlpool of doom. Slip any lingerie or silky fabrics in a mesh laundry bag to rescue them from certain snag-age.
Loosely Woven or Knitted Clothing
A knit shirt can face the inside of a machine on its own. But a loosely knit sweater is a snag magnet. Slip that baby into a mesh bag to save it from tearing or shedding threads like a wild weed gone wild.
Baby Clothes
Baby clothes, especially tiny socks, can easily get lost in the washer. Not only is that a hassle, but it can lead to costly drain line and pump repairs. Pretreat stains, sort that laundry, slide the socks into a mesh bag, and wave 'bye-bye' to tiny lost socks.
If you got kids, mesh bags are also handy for washing plastic building bricks, baby toys, and even washable stuffed animals in the washing machine.
Sources:[1] Hemsley, K. (2021, February 10). How to Wash a Bra: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Your Bras Fresh and Clean. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.thedetailist.com/blog/how-to-wash-a-bra-the-ultimate-guide/[2] Cook, V. (2019, May 13). How to Wash Socks: A Guide to Keeping Your Feet Cozy. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.chickensinmysoup.com/how-to-wash-socks/[3] Mayall, C. (2018, April 20). The Definitive Guide to Hand Washing Cotton Socks. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.wickedgoodyarn.com/blog/definitive-guide-to-hand-washing-cotton-socks[4] No Author. (n.d.). How to Care for Lacy Lingerie. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.lingeriecompany.com/blog/how-to-care-for-lacy-lingerie[5] Arnold, C. M. (2019, July 8). How to Wash Silk Garments: Step-by-Step Guide. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://fashionability.com/washing-silk-garments-step-by-step-guide/
Mesh laundry bags are essential for protecting delicate clothes such as bras, which can easily snag on zippers or rough fabrics during a washing machine cycle. These bags are also useful for saving socks from tangling and preserving the sheen on silk items. Embellished items, like lingerie, with sequins, beading, studs, or embroidery, should be washed in mesh laundry bags to prevent decorations from falling off or getting damaged. If an underwire metal frame in a bra escapes, it will get caught in the mesh bag instead of damaging the washer or entering the drain pump.
When dealing with lingerie, mesh laundry bags can help protect delicate fabrics from getting caught up in the washer drum, especially if the machine has a center agitator. For activewear, mesh bags are helpful in reducing friction and protecting elasticity, preventing snags that can occur when these clothes are washed with other items. Additionally, loosely woven or knitted clothing can avoid tearing or shedding threads if they are placed in mesh laundry bags. Baby clothes, including tiny socks, can easily get lost in the washer; however, with mesh laundry bags, it's possible to prevent this hassle and potential costly damages.
Sources:
[1] https://www.thedetailist.com/blog/how-to-wash-a-bra-the-ultimate-guide/
[2] https://www.chickensinmysoup.com/how-to-wash-socks/
[3] https://www.wickedgoodyarn.com/blog/definitive-guide-to-hand-washing-cotton-socks
[4] https://www.lingeriecompany.com/blog/how-to-care-for-lacy-lingerie
[5] https://fashionability.com/washing-silk-garments-step-by-step-guide/
