Laundry Problem

[BrooklineBiker]

Hi everyone,
I would like to be able to wash rags, little kid socks and underwear, and other small items in mesh bags in my laundry machine. Left on their own, small pieces of cloth will jam the drainage on the washing machine. I bought some small mesh purpose built laundry bags on Amazon and they disintegrated. Any recommendations for a better approach? Thanks!

[MBot]

Mesh fabric is easily purchased. With very basic sewing skills, you can make your own. Or hire a local individual to.

[Happy Little Chipmunk]

Could something like this work for you? http://www.dogundermydesk.com/2013/03/mesh-lingerie-bags-tutorial/

Not sure how the balancing of your brood fits with sewing projects, however!

For years I've been meaning to sew up some zippered laundry bags for undergarments and other small things. It would make it much easier to ensure that line-dry stuff made it to the rack before everything gets dumped in the dryer. With some practice, these bags or something similar would make great presents for my sisters and aunties! Perhaps this will be the year...

[BrooklineBiker]

Hi Mbot and Chipmunk,
Thanks for responding. What strength of fabric would serve cold water cycles in washing machines? The bags I purchased before for rag washing were a fairly heavy mesh.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I tried using mesh lingerie bags, but the baby socks just didn't get clean or dry.

[MillenialMustache]

I bought one for a few dollars, I believe made by Tide, at Target five or six years ago. I wash it nearly every week, and it is holding up fine. Look for lingerie bags.

[Happy Little Chipmunk]

re: what type of mesh? I think any decent fabric store will have loads of options; I'd just ask. If I decide to do this I'll post photos!

The key to getting things in the bag clean is not to over-fill it. I'm thinking using several bags would be nice...you could pre-sort as you load to make folding easier.

[Catbert]

You might even try putting in a pillow case and knotting the opening.  If you try DON'T over stuff.  It needs room to move around.

[teen persuasion]

I picked up mesh lingerie bags with zippers at Dollar Tree years ago.  The worked well until the zippers began failing after a few years.  I got a set of slightly larger drawstring bags that I'm currently using.  I think the zip ones were two to a set, and the drawstring ones may have been 4 - 6 in a set.  A few of the drawstring ones have developed a weak spot/slit, which I should mend, but those still work for bulky items I want to protect like sweaters, and I just use an intact one for little kids' socks or lingerie.

[MamaFootball]

If you save those plastic mesh bags that onions or fruit come in, they work just fine in the washer. I just tie and untie. I don't use the dryer, so I'm not sure whether they melt or not.

[labrat]

If you can find a pillow case/protector that zips, these tend to work well with lightly soiled small items.  I have a fancypants one from Crate and Barrel but it has been going strong for over 5 years now.

I'm washing baby socks and other small items in these now and they have been great: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CAKHQDW/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[agent_clone]

Something to keep in mind when looking at mesh bags is if you are washing bras with them then you need to make sure the mesh pattern is not too large.  I fairly recently bought a mesh bag for which the hooks of bras would get stuck in it far too much making it difficult to get them out of it.

Otherwise personally I simply purchased one from an equivalent to Target in the US.  The one where the mesh was to big was purchased from a 2 dollar shop.  The current one seems to be made out of polyester.  I can't comment on longevity as I think I purchased it sometime this year and I only use it about once a week.

[bonjourliz]

I bought one for a few dollars, I believe made by Tide, at Target five or six years ago. I wash it nearly every week, and it is holding up fine. Look for lingerie bags.

Me too. 

[BrooklineBiker]

Thanks everyone this is really helpful! You are saving me from a return to an expensive paper towel habit.

[Thegoblinchief]

Weird. Must be something specific to your laundry machine, because I've never had that issue.

As far as the bras go, I simply hook them closed before washing. They rarely unhook and snag anything.

[worms]

I appreciate that in the US, washing machines are different from what we are more used to in Europe, but apparently one of the most common items that washing machine engineers find caught between the inner and outer drum on a front-loading machine is the wire from an under-wired bra.  Makes the most horrendous noise on spin-cycle but not strong enough to actually stop the machine.

[spruce]

Ditto on the Target lingerie bag. I bought one years ago, use it weekly in the washer and dryer, and have had no problems with the mesh or the zipper. It's a great way to make sure all your socks stay together!

[RetiredAt63]

I like the very fine mesh ones for bras.  They tend to be more expensive.   Not only do hooks snag in coarser mesh bags, but they can still put tiny holes in other clothes.    I have bought the dollar store ones for washing raw fleece, and they are getting a workout - no agitation, but repeated temperatures above 150F.  So far so good.

[Dicey]

I used to work at Nordstrom and bought a some there during the Anniversary Sale. They have held up extremely well (10+ years). Recently, I found some of the same type at an estate sale. Score! I have purchased less expensive bags, but they have not held up. Also, washing bras and other small items this way makes the washed items last longer, which quickly pays back the initial cost of the lingerie bags and them some.

Goblinchief, if you hook 'em, bag 'em, and line dry them, you will easily double their life expectancy. Those babies ain't cheap!