What is a laundry bag and why should you buy one?

A laundry bag is a product made of perforated fabric or mesh into which clothes are placed before loading into an automatic washing machine.

The device protects clothes and shoes from abrasion on the inner surface of the drum, prevents deformation of bulky items, damage to delicate fabrics and decorative finishes.

Let's take a closer look at what it is - a bag for washing clothes in a washing machine, why it is needed, where and at what price you can buy it.

Why is it needed: practical benefits

The reason for the popularity of the laundry accessory is not only the safety of laundry and gentle washing.

Reasons to use washing bag:

1. Delicate fabrics of dresses, tights, blouses, and underwear are maximally protected from mechanical stress, tangling, stretching, and do not come into contact with other clothing.

   The risk of damaging the delicate surface with buttons, fasteners, and hooks is minimal.

2. Small items of clothing (belts, scarves, panties, socks) do not stick to the walls of the drum, do not get stuck in the corners of bed linen or sleeves.

   Thus, things are washed and rinsed better, and they are convenient to take out of the machine.

3. Expensive linen made of silk, lace, embroidered or decorated with rhinestones does not lose its appearance. Foam rubber parts (push-up) and voluminous cut elements retain their shape.
4. Cords, clothing bands, and bra underwires usually easily penetrate the holes in the drum. About half of all washing machine breakdowns occur for this reason. A laundry bag reduces this possibility to zero.
5. Large items (coats, down jackets, jackets) trimmed with synthetic fur, many fasteners and buttons, in a washing bag retain the appearance of the fabric and accessories.

Over time, hard elements of fasteners leave small scratches inside the drum and deform the surface, which leads to subsequent damage to the laundry or the mechanism itself.

Shoes hitting the walls not only become deformed and scuffed, but also damage the shock-absorbing system of the washing machine. The unit begins to hum and “knock” during operation. Volumetric nets for washing shoes reduce wear on the mechanism.

Advantages and disadvantages

There are many arguments for handling things using grids:

• delicate washing of linen that cannot withstand high temperatures;
• preservation of the shape of things, the quality of accessories, the integrity of fabrics;
• care for shoes, jackets, coats without having to take them to dry cleaning;
• knitted, woolen, viscose fabrics do not become covered with pills when washed;
• the ability to clean surfaces that were previously processed only by hand;
• Extending the life of high-quality operation of the washing machine.

But the device also has its downsides:

• the need to have a whole line of laundry bags of different sizes and shapes for the entire wardrobe;
• the presence of open parts on the mesh fasteners that can damage other clothing;
• poor quality of washing and rinsing things when choosing the wrong bag.

Kinds

There are a lot of different covers for linen on sale; you can navigate this variety using several parameters:

1. Material quality. Laundry bags are made from synthetic fabrics that are resistant to moisture, dirt, and chemical influences. Polyester or nylon is used in production. Both materials have similar characteristics. Nylon is softer and is often used in smaller lingerie styles.
2. Fabric structure. The bags can be mesh or made of porous fabric with holes. The larger the cells, the better the penetration of water. The smaller the holes, the more carefully the fabrics are washed.
3. Form. The nets can be flat envelopes, bulk bags or containers with a fixed shape: cylindrical, spherical, cubic. Frame models are plastic and retain volume with the help of special elastic inserts.
4. Size. Washing cases can be of different sizes: from compact models for one bra to large ones for a coat or down jacket. Capacity is determined by the length and width of the bag, marked on the packaging. For large nets, indicate the amount of laundry loaded in kilograms.
5. Type of items that need cleaning. There are separate bra models, frame nets for shoes (including sneakers), loose laundry bags or curtains. Each type of cover is effective if used as intended.

You should choose laundry bags on sale based on the price-quality ratio. Such a product is not an expensive one, and its high cost for some brands is not justified by anything other than a big name.

Choosing the right mesh for your washing machine

Recommendations for choosing covers for clothes:

1. If the mesh is equipped with a zipper, the tongue must be securely fixed with a special pad. Otherwise the element will damage other clothes in the drum.
2. A flat envelope bag is best used for washing one item. In this case, the laundry is rinsed better.
3. It is advisable to load several things into bulk bags. These nets are universal and suitable for washing jackets, curtains, and bedspreads.
4. For delicate toilet parts, there are frame models. Bras, underwear with underwire, and corsets retain their shape well only in special cylindrical or spherical meshes with stiffening ribs.
5. For thick items, choose cases with a zipper. For soft, stretchy fabrics, drawstring bags are suitable.

Criteria for choosing shoe covers:

1. The best cover for washing shoes is a rectangular design made of mesh and semi-rigid ribs with soft seals. You can also use a clothing bag, but it will not perform all protective functions.
2. One container is designed for 1 pair. The cover must match the volume of the shoe. Those with large feet should be especially careful when choosing a washing net.
3. The diameter of the holes should be so small as to prevent small parts from getting into the drum and causing the laces to slip.

You can buy nets in hardware stores, large chain department stores, and sometimes they offer similar products in public laundries.

Comparison of bags from different manufacturers:

Judging by the reviews, products costing less than 100 rubles, offered by small Chinese manufacturers, perform their functions just as well as more expensive bags.

Differences are found in the service life of the mesh and the quality of the fittings. Locks fail on average within 3–6 months. The seams may come apart sooner. Therefore, such products are not included in the review.

Making a laundry device with your own hands

You can sew the simplest models of washing covers yourself. To do this, choose the following materials:

• organza;
• mesh polyester;
• tulle cuts.

The degree of wear of the material directly affects the durability of the product and its reliability. It is better to purchase a small piece of new fabric and a soft zipper with plastic teeth.

Making a cover step by step:

1. A rectangle of the desired size is cut out from the selected fabric.
2. The closed zipper is attached to one of the sidewalls so that it is exactly in the middle.
3. Fold the material, symmetrically aligning the opposite side with the fastener.
4. Attach the zipper to the second side. It turns out to be a large ring of fabric connected by a lock.
5. Sew small areas on the sides of the fastener, and then join the sides of the bag with a stitch.
6. If desired, fix the lock pawl by placing a small piece of wide elastic band or a folded square of elastic fabric on top.
7. They trim the lining around the pawl so that when the lock is completely closed, the tongue fits freely inside the “pocket.”
8. Turn the resulting bag inside out. Now all the seams and zipper are inside the cover.

It will take no more than 1 hour to make such a washing cover. To further simplify the work and protect things from getting caught on the lock parts, the tongue is removed from the pawl, replacing it with a loop of thick thread.

A long cord without tight ends is passed through the resulting bend. and the simplest washing device is ready.

How to sew a bag for washing clothes, video instructions:

Terms of use

Tips for using clothing nets:

1. A tightly stuffed bag will not allow the laundry to stretch well, and when rinsed, traces of detergent will remain on the fabric. A grid of any size should not be filled more than ? volume.
2. Capsules with product, washing powder, and laundry balls are not placed inside the bag.
3. Linen made from similar fabrics is placed in one mesh. It is advisable to wash knitted, knitted and delicate items in different bags.
4. Colored and white items are washed separately. For black linen, special bags with small holes are used.

How to wash in shoe containers:

1. When processing shoes, do not add other items of clothing to the case. You can put only the laces in the same bag or wash them without unlacing them.
2. It is advisable to add a few soft items to the drum next to the shoe bag - this will further protect the washing machine from shocks.
3. Before placing in a container, sneakers, sneakers, and moccasins are washed to remove dirt, the soles are cleaned, and any stuck stones are removed.
4. If the insoles are not glued in, they are removed and washed separately.
5. Regardless of the capacity of the drum, do not place more than two nets with shoes in one stack.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products Here.

Conclusion

Mesh laundry bags are a simple but important addition to your washing machine. An inexpensive accessory can save money and eliminate unnecessary purchases. and keep your favorite wardrobe items in their original form for a long time.