When the wrong things end in the washing machine
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
September 25, 2012 12:26pm CST
Tonight my husband almost washed his cell phone. He was about to start the washing machine when he discovered that he had forgotten his cellphone in one of his pockets. Fortunately he managed to get his phone out before he started the washing machine.
I am happy that he didn't wash it. I made the same mistake some time ago when I worked in home health care. I visited one of the clients and he asked me to help him fill the washing machine and I put his pants in the waching machine without checking the pockets. He suddenly asked me "where is my alarm?" (he carried a personal alarm that he used when he needed help) Fortunately I didn't start the washing machine yet so I was able to save his alarm 
Have you ever washed or almost washing something that didn't belong in the washing machine? What happened?
Have you ever washed or almost washing something that didn't belong in the washing machine? What happened?3 people like this
13 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
25 Sep 12
The only thing I can think of washing that shouldn't have been washed is money (which if you think about it.. money is dirty (strippers) sooo...) and my name tag. Both of which survived of course and for which I am glad.
They make money pretty strong here in the USA, I suppose they figure most of us will wash our money atleast once in our lives...
A cellphone would have been a disaster to wash! Though once or twice the toilet has done that for me...
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Sep 12
I once washed a 50 kr bill (about $10) and the bill survived. It looked a bit funny when I removed it from the washing machine, but the shop accepted it without problems. Today I usually put the money in my wallet. I hope that I am not going wash anymore money. I am very happy that my husband didn't wash his cellphone. My friend once dropped her cellphone in the toilet and the phone didn't survive.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
26 Sep 12
Money gets crumpled and fades just that little bit, as long as it's whole we can take it here in the USA as well.
Any money I have usually does go to my wallet, but I usually use my debit card for most things instead.
I dropped a cellphone in the toilet years ago and it survived, but one port on it didn't.
1 person likes this
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
25 Sep 12
It does noit seem to matter very much how diligently and thoroughly I check pcokets before doing the laundry. Something always seems to end uo going through the wash that shouldn;t be. Sometimes i will catch it. Other times, i hear the odd sound rattling in the dryer and knoe that i should intvestigate. I can't tell you how many times my late husban'd driver license got cleaned up along with other things that don't need any laundering.1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
30 Sep 12
I am not very good at checking the pockets. I always decide that I am going to check the pockets every time, but I tend to forget about it especially if I in a hurry. I had a bad experience some time ago when I washed my husband's pants without removing the nails that he kept in his pockets. When I emptied the washing maching there were holes in some of the other clothes 
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Sep 12
I always decide that I am going to check the pockets each time, but I tend to forget about it. Sometimes I find a lot of strange things in my husband's pockets. One time he had left some nails in his pocket and I forgot to check the pockets because I started the washing machine. Big mÃstake! The nails fell out of the pockets and made hole in some of our clothes. I told my husband to check his pockets before he throws the clothes in the laundry basket, but he thinks it is my job to check the pockets since I usually do our laundry.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
25 Sep 12
It is so annoying when we put something in the washing machine that shouldn't be there, because we can't stop ours from working until it is finished so that means that we have to wait for an hour before we can get it out again. Luckily we don't normally put expensive things in there by accident but we will often find that a tissue has been left in somebody's pocket and that makes a mess of the rest of the washing, whereas if we'd been able to see it at the beginning and stop the washing for a moment then we would have been able to get it out.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
26 Sep 12
We are not able to stop our washing machine either so it is important to remove things from the pockets before we start the washing machine, but I tend to forget that and sometimes we also leave tissues or other things in the pockets. We always notice that when we remove the clothes, but at that time it is too late. The worse things that we left in the pockets were some nails in one of my husband's pockets and they damaged some of the clothes.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
27 Sep 12
Porco, your this discussion reminded me of a few incidents which ever happened to me before. Your husband is very lucky that he didn't wash his cellphone. Otherwise, he would have to buy another new cellphone. I ever washed a few coins, toy car and even a $5 bill. Luckily, all of them came out no harm and still in good condition. Nowadays, i make sure that i checked all the trousers, pants and shirts before i dumped them into the washer. I tried to make sure that i don't dump any foreign things too often into the washer. Otherwise, i would have to buy another new washer.
1 person likes this
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
26 Sep 12
Have I!
I rarely check on the pockets of the pants before loading them to the washer. So a few "foreign bodies" I have washed were coins, bills, pens, candies, lottery ticket (My husband went berzerk when he learned that I washed them) and the latest was my son's old retainers which have fallen accidentally into the hamper
I rarely check on the pockets of the pants before loading them to the washer. So a few "foreign bodies" I have washed were coins, bills, pens, candies, lottery ticket (My husband went berzerk when he learned that I washed them) and the latest was my son's old retainers which have fallen accidentally into the hamper1 person likes this
@lologirl2021 (5542)
• United States
25 Sep 12
Well i dont think i have ever washed something that didnt belong in the washer machine. I do get bolts and nails in the washer machine thats only because my dad leaves things in his pockets way to much. My boyfriend seems to do the same things at times. He will ask for his wallet and the entire thing had gone through the washing machine. Sorry for your luck but next time you will check your own pockets not my responsibility i tell them. IF you ruin clothes then i guess you will be buying people some new clothes thats all i say.
@airasheila (5454)
• Philippines
26 Sep 12
Hi there Porcospino,
Same as you are, there are times, I usually left something inside the pocket of one of my clothes. I do usually left coins and paper bills but not cellphone as I am not putting this thing inside my pocket. Good thing the coin and paper bills are still better and can still be use.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
26 Sep 12
Well, for me the most that i always forget is a piece of toilet paper in my pants' pocket. I always have one in handy at the office, in case i feel like urinating.
As to my husband, money. Sometimes 100 or 50 pesos.
Luckily, our wash lady, would always see what's in the pockets of our pants and dresses before she proceeds in turning on the washing machine.
1 person likes this
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
25 Sep 12
We haven't washed our phone yet. But my husband is always washing his wallet. Which usually has all of his information and money in it. I'm sure that washing the phone will be around the corner if he starts carrying it around more. Thankfully I have the cell phone most of the time.
1 person likes this
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
25 Sep 12
Yeah we haven't washed our phone yet. But my husband is always forgetting his wallet in the washer. So he has countless times washed his wallet with money, ID and everything else in it. I'm sure at some point he will wash the phone.
@KOSTAS499 (1624)
• Greece
26 Sep 12
Once I left a 100 dracma bill (paper money) in a pocket. I found it after some months all washed and ironed. Like new!!
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
26 Sep 12
coins, pieces of paper and money, all because i didn't check the pockets. with paper, it ends up like lint on the clothes so you have to shake the clothes real well when you hang them up to dry. with bills, i have taken down dry clothes from the line with the bill all crumpled into a ball but still intact. coins are the worst and it happened twice. thankfully, it didn't cause damage to that spinning wheel at the bottom of the tub.
i think one think to also look out for are pets that might jump in.
1 person likes this
