If you’ve been scrolling online the past few weeks, you may have noticed a laundry “hack” pop up in your feed. You know the one, where people are tossing their laundry detergent cap into their washing machine with their clothes, claiming it will help prevent the cap from becoming sticky and filled with detergent residue.
But as with everything you see online, you’re probably asking yourself if it really works. To figure it out once and for all, we asked Carolyn Forté, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care and Cleaning Lab executive director, for her input on the matter. Here’s what she had to say.
Should you put your laundry cap in the machine?
In this day in age, no. This may come as a surprise, especially because many detergents state on their label that you can add them to the washer to clean. But here’s why you shouldn’t.
“In older machines that used a lot more water, the cap would likely get rinsed clean, but now, it’s more likely to get caught in your clothes, cause snags and even crack and leave behind bits of plastic in your washer,” says Forté.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid using this “hack,” especially if you have a new washing machine.
Instead of tossing the cap in the washer, Forté recommends rinsing the cap separately in the sink. It may take a few extra seconds, but your clothes and washer will thank you.
If you’re having a hard time kicking the cap habit, here are a few of our favorite laundry detergents, without caps, that we’d recommend you use instead.
Kate Franke (she/her) is an editorial assistant in the Hearst Lifestyle Group, covering for Woman’s Day and Good Housekeeping. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!
