Mum issues an urgent warning about the dangerous yet VERY common mistake you’re making with your washing machine
- A mother has issued a stark warning about machine washing waterproof clothes
- She spotted a line on an instruction label that says doing so can ‘result in injury’
- The instructions claim waterproof items cause ‘abnormal vibrations’ in machine
- But many rubbished the claim saying they wash waterproof items without issue
A mother has issued a stark warning about the dangers of machine washing waterproof clothing – but not everyone is convinced.
The Australian mum spotted a line on her machine’s instruction label that claims washing waterproofed attire can ‘result in injury’ because the dehydrated fabric causes ‘abnormal vibrations’ in the machine.
Sleeping bags, raincoats, ski gear, nappy covers and rubber mats were all listed as examples of waterproof items unsuitable for machine washing, though it’s unclear what machine model the instructions are referring to.
A photo of the label has drawn dozens divided responses since it was uploaded to a Facebook cleaning group on Saturday, with many insisting they have been washing waterproof accessories in machines for years without any issue.
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The instruction label (pictured) claims washing waterproofed attire can ‘result in injury’ because the dehydrated fabric causes ‘abnormal vibrations’ in the machine
‘Do not wash waterproofed clothing,’ the instructions read.
‘Waterproofed clothing causes abnormal vibrations as the clothing is not dehydrated. This causes the main body to fall and results in injury.’
Care instructions for waterproof items on camping website Mountain Warehouse say they should never be washed with ordinary detergent or fabric softener, which strip the material of its waterproof coating.
The instructions say waterproof attire should be washed separately and never mixed with other clothing, but there is no mention of the ‘injury’ causing ‘abnormal vibrations’ referenced in the mother’s Facebook photo.
‘Injury to the washing machine or to you? I am confused,’ one woman replied in the comments section.
Others cast doubt on the claim, saying their washing machines have cycles specifically for waterproof attire.
‘Mine has a waterproof wash cycle. I regularly wash our sleeping bags with no issues. And I wash our Kathmandu jackets all the time and they are still water proof,’ one mum said.
A second said she has been washing her waterproof mattress protectors ‘almost weekly for years’ without any trouble.
A third reported that while washing waterproofed clothing did not cause injury, it did damage the fabric.
Many insist they have been washing waterproof accessories in their machines for years without any issue (stock image)
‘Washing my waterproof jacket made it not waterproof after a few washes,’ she said.
But some supported the theory, with one woman declaring: ‘Scientifically it makes sense, never thought about it.
‘I’ve washed 2 neoprene (water proof) car seat covers in the machine before with no problem but in saying that, that’s all I had in the machine.’
‘That explains why my mattress protector cleaning instructions say to include a towel or linen with the load,’ added a second.