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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What have you washed in the washing machine by mistake?

121 replies

ChangeNameLikeIChangeSocks · 02/12/2023 22:00

My dh's work trousers have a lot of pockets and sometimes I miss one.

I find this out when something starts clicking in the washing machine.

Last week I washed a lighter (dh doesn't smoke...) and the key to my car, battery and all.

Both items still work, so I'm not sure how effective my washing machine is.

What is the weirdest thing you have washed in the machine, by accident or design?

OP posts:
Original poster
ChangeNameLikeIChangeSocks · 02/12/2023 23:05

Ladybird69 · 02/12/2023 22:08

My watch! Took it out and it was dead so thought sod it and threw it into the tumble dryer too. Then it came out working perfectly 🤣

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

OP posts:
funbags3 · 02/12/2023 23:06

Passport when on holiday in the States. Sanitary towel. Lighter.

Original poster
ChangeNameLikeIChangeSocks · 02/12/2023 23:07

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 02/12/2023 22:18

A blanket my MIL had asked her Sister to knit. It was a wedding ring blanket so it was very fine and so intricate.

I washed it and it was all felted. Felt horrendous

Yeouch. I've done that:-( washed a sock of my mum's that had been knitted by my sister. It would have fitted a three year old afterwards.

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 02/12/2023 23:07

Used nappy 🤢

Original poster
ChangeNameLikeIChangeSocks · 02/12/2023 23:08

SgtJuneAckland · 02/12/2023 22:19

Playmobil people, I didn't realise until I saw two little faces through the glass

🥺 oh dear! I hope they're OK!

OP posts:
buttons55 · 02/12/2023 23:08

Tissue is annoying. A few years ago when I used to wear them my clip in hair extensions, I was gutted they were over £100 and they were of course ruined 😅

thedementedelf · 02/12/2023 23:10

A nappy.

WillimNot · 02/12/2023 23:11

My make up brushes
I washed them out and put them in a towel to dry. Then later I picked up the washing from the bathroom, saw the towel and put it in the washing machine, totally forgetting the brushes wrapped in it.

Surprisingly they survived very well and came out like new

Original poster
ChangeNameLikeIChangeSocks · 02/12/2023 23:11

These stories are all very good.
I've also done panty liners, screws (dh again) but tissues are the devil's work.

OP posts:
funinthesun19 · 02/12/2023 23:13

A nappy. Those gel crystal things were EVERYWHERE.

Susurrar · 02/12/2023 23:14

Mascara and eyeliner. Brand new. Toddler DS was “helping” me load the washing machine and I didn’t notice that he’d got a hold of them and put them inside the legs of his sleepsuit. He got them
straight out of the shopping bag which I left on the kitchen table.

I have washed many other things since but this one was particularly heartbreaking. Money was really tight then because I changed career and was at entry level, childcare cost was through the roof and a Benefit mascara and liner was a rare treat.

Thankfully DS was very cute. I forgave him.

Unicorn34 · 02/12/2023 23:15

My husbands iPod. He shouldn't have left it in his pocket but it did look very colourful going around in the window!

ladygindiva · 02/12/2023 23:16

bananafishbones1 · 02/12/2023 22:01

Daughter's AirPods

Same. They still worked 🤣

OhHowTheDogsStackUp · 02/12/2023 23:16

Another one for my phone. I only realised I'd done it when I tried to call it and got no signal because it was in the drum.

Amazingly it was completely fine!

I've also accidentally washed a lot of tissues which is always fun.

Oh and I once accidentally selected a 90 degree cycle and spoiled a lovely scarf. I'm still gutted about that and it was 15 years ago.

I am now religious about double checking the cycle and making sure I know where my phone is before I switch it on.

Spareincoming · 02/12/2023 23:18

4head sticks, at least 1 a month every month - DH is an adult, therefore anything he leaves in his pockets is not my fault. Similarly tail rings, pen knives and baler twine.

Elfontheshmelf · 02/12/2023 23:19

My child's swimming hat and goggles

Susurrar · 02/12/2023 23:19

Oh and the most recent one.. an expensive watch that had just been through a battery change and clean etc. I got it out of the little box they gave me at the shop and shoved it in my jeans pocket because I didn’t have a handbag. Delighted to confirm it still works 😂

funbags3 · 02/12/2023 23:20

@funinthesun19 Oh, forgot about nappies. Those crystals stick to everything.

Onand · 02/12/2023 23:20

Prada bag. Lets just say leather and washing machines are not compatible.

Siha345 · 02/12/2023 23:52

My fitness watch. Went through a 40° wash and tumble dry and it works fine. Most recently a tissue. That was not fine

TheChosenTwo · 02/12/2023 23:55

Dh’s betting slip which was a winner 😂 was about 20 years ago and he’s never let me live it down! Him and a friend went out one Saturday and put a couple of bets on, never mentioned it (he’s not really a better but will have the occasional flutter), shoved his jeans in the wash. His mate called him the next day to say they’d won. Oops!! Would have been about 2 grand each 🫣😂

PinkCyclamen · 02/12/2023 23:58

A used sanitary towel (dd had flung pants in wash basket with it still attached, which is grim). It came out of the machine still stuck to gusset of pants immaculately clean and fully intact. Could this be my cost of living money saving tip? 🤣

Luddite26 · 03/12/2023 00:02

Wet wee sodden nappies a couple of times which is a complete nightmare.
Also over 30 years ago my first husband ran a club. I had a twin tub washer at the time and I was up early with the kids and I had put his trousers from the night before into the twin tub,.somehow, I managed to hang the washing out before I found money floating in the washer and on the sides of the spinner. I went in the garden it was only 6am and money was blowing about in the garden dropping off the clothes as the wind blew! He had left the nights takings in his pocket which had been over £2000! I was just running round the garden trying to grab it all.

Lanahg · 03/12/2023 00:04

Pretty bad but my aunt washed her pet ferrit. It must have gone on there to sleep and she didn’t see it. Felt terrible after.

fingerguns · 03/12/2023 00:09

A diesel soaked rag mixed in with regular clothes.

Cue ~20 washes in vinegar, and in between putting bicarbonate of soda in the drum, and also constantly washing the affected clothes in buckets of washing up liquid and hanging them up to dry outside on between each cycle.

It took me 10 days to get rid of the smell enough for me to be happy to wear the clothes again. Utterly awful.

DON'T PUT ANY DIESELLY IN THE WASHING MACHINE.