Should dirty clothes be put straight into the washing machine?

In essence, washing machines are designed to mimic the action of washing clothes by hand. The device continuously stirs the clothes in the detergent mixture so that dirt is separated or dissolved in water. The friction of the clothes' surfaces against each other also helps to remove stains from the fabric fibers.

So should dirty clothes be put straight into the washing machine or must they go through the hand-washing process? That is the question of many people, especially when modern technology equips new generation washing machines with outstanding features.

Should dirty clothes be put straight into the washing machine?

The normal operation of a washing machine is to drain, soak, wash, rinse and spin. In the washing step, the machine will impact the clothes in a reverse manner with strong force so that they rub against each other to remove stains. Thanks to that, stains and plaque will fall off and dissolve into the water.

If your clothes have a lot of dirt and mud on them, when you put them in the washing machine with other clothes, the dirt will come off, mix with the water and stick to other clothes. Too much dirt will cause the washing drum to become clogged, causing blockages and affecting the durability of the machine. Clothes with hard-to-remove stains like grease and coffee will be difficult to remove if put directly into the washing machine.

In these cases, dirty clothes should not be put directly into the washing machine but should be washed by hand first.

How to treat stains before putting them in the washing machine

For each type of stain, you need a separate treatment to clean it effectively.

Coffee stain

When you get coffee stains on your clothes, you can use a little white vinegar mixed with detergent and water in a 1:1:1 ratio, apply it to the stain. Use a soft brush to gently scrub both sides, then rinse with clean water before putting it in the washing machine.

You can also mix a salt water solution, soak the coffee stained clothes in it for about 10 minutes, then wash again with detergent.

Mud and dirt stains

You can absolutely put these clothes straight into the washing machine if they only have a small amount of mud on them. If there is too much mud, you should treat them with water or detergent to clean them relatively, remove some dirt before putting them in the machine.

Cement mortar, sand and gravel

If you put clothes with a lot of cement or sand directly into the washing machine without rinsing first, the dirt will scratch the washing drum during operation, affecting the washing quality, causing other clothes to tear and fray.

The correct way is to hang the clothes to dry, then shake them vigorously to remove the mortar and gravel before putting them in the washing machine. If the clothes are covered with a lot of mortar, sand and gravel, soak them in water for about 1 hour, then soak them in a soap solution and gently wash them by hand.

Grease stains

These stains are not easy to clean immediately. To completely remove them, you need to use specialized detergents or bleach to clean them before putting them in the washing machine.

Yellow stains

Clothes with yellow stains will be very difficult to remove if put directly into the washing machine. Therefore, you need to treat the stains before putting them in the machine. You can use 4 teaspoons of baking soda dissolved in 1/4 cup of water, leave for 1 hour, then use a toothbrush to scrub the stains.

Tea stains

Soak the clothes in a solution of warm water and detergent for about 2 hours, then rub the stain until it fades before putting it in the washing machine. Alternatively, you can sprinkle some baking soda on the tea stain and soak for about 30 minutes, then rub the tea stain on the clothes until it fades.