Whether it’s an investment piece you saved up for months to buy, your favorite sparkly top, or just a well-loved item you want to last forever, extending the life of your clothing is important for your wallet and personal style.
Washing clothes is a necessary habit, but one that can inadvertently weaken fibers or stitching, or worse, even damage your favorite pieces.
There’s one budget-friendly item that can make all the difference. A laundry garment bag costs as low as $10 and can extend the life of your clothes.
As someone who has done more than 100 loads of laundry, testing products from detergents to stain removers to dryer balls for the Good Housekeeping Institute, I can confidently say that numerous items in your home — beyond the obvious! — will benefit from a laundry garment bag.
What items can I wash in a garment bag?
- Underwear & delicates. Metal hooks and underwires in bras can snag on other items or even the machine itself during cycles, causing them to break or bend. Fragile sequins, beads, and strings often come apart during a wash cycle and are difficult to repair. Placing these items in a garment bag will reduce the likelihood of damage.
- Athletic wear. Putting athletic wear in a garment bag will soften the friction on your clothing and help soft materials like spandex last longer. Athletic hoodies with zippers can also go in a garment bag to protect the zippers from snagging anything inside the machine.
- Paired items. A garment bag is also handy for small items like socks and swimsuits, which often get separated from their partners in a full wash cycle. Keeping these items together in a garment bag will make it easier to match and sort when your laundry is done.
- Shoes. At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we tried washing canvas shoes in a washing machine with positive results. Grass stains and dirt can be hard to remove by hand washing, but a mesh bag and a gentle cycle will improve the look of your worn canvas shoes.
How should I use a garment bag?
- Use on a gentle cycle. A gentle cycle will clean your clothing without the stronger agitation of a normal wash cycle.
- Pre-treat stains. Give stains attention before they’re in the washing machine. Pre-treating stubborn spots will improve the overall appearance of your laundry items, since the gentle cycle will not provide strong agitation, and the mesh bag will restrict water flow throughout the wash cycle.
- Zip your zippers. When zippers are left undone, they're more likely to catch on the machine or other clothing. This can cause them to bend or break in the machine, which can ruin your garment.
- Don’t stuff your machine. Give your items space to move in the washing drum so that water and soap distribute evenly through your laundry. It’s important to load your washing machine correctly so that everything comes out clean. Don’t force too many items in the garment bag.
