Sun, beach, and sand are the three best friends when we talk about a great sunny day! Moreover, if you have kids they are willing to spend hours in the sandbox, taking their own time to build their sand castles.
However, sand just won’t stay where it should be. In short, as soon as you get in contact with sands you are going to carry it with you everywhere. Sand is going to be all over your clothes and towels, eventually ending up in your washing machine.
Now, if you are noticing sand in your washing machine and wondering why it is there, then we are here with the answers. We are here with a detailed discussion of why there is sand in your washing machine and what you can do about it.
Reasons of sand in the washing machine:
If you are noticing sand in the washing machine, then there are two things that are happening here. One; the clothes you brought back from the beach had sand on them. And two; the wash cycle you used, is not strong enough to dissolve the detergent powder used for washing.
Along with amazing memories we also bring a pile of laundry whenever we visit the beach. The culprit you ask? SAND.
Sand captured in clothes:
There is no other option than cleaning the clothes and putting them in a wash cycle. However, the bad news is that sand is not good for clothes. In Fact is is considered to be an adhesive, which means it can damage the fabric of the clothes.
From pants to towels, sand can get into almost all things. The sand will not just damage your clothes, it will also harm the electric appliances.
Which means not only you have to do a ton of laundry, you can also have a damaged washing machine due to the sand present in the clothes.
To avoid such situations you would want to start with removing all the sand present in the clothes. Make sure all the clothes are dried before putting them in the washer.
Sand can get stuck in between the threads and into the fabric of the clothes. Therefore, before putting the clothes into the washing machine, be sure to shake the clothes. This will help you get rid of the excess sand trapped into the clothes.
Undissolved detergent powder:
There is one more thing that can look like sand trapped in a washing machine, dried detergent powder. This happens when the wash water is not strong enough to dissolve the powdered detergent into the clothes while they are in the wash cycle.
Overtime as the washing machine has lost the moisture, it is left with detergent crystals which end up looking like sand. Now, the concerning part is it is also not good for the machine.
As soon as you notice them, they need to be cleaned. There are multiple ways to get your washing machine clean, however for instance you can use your vacuum to clean the sand.
One of the best and easiest ways of getting rid of sand is to wash the sand away. For additional cleaning you can add some vinegar and baking soda to the washing machine.
How to get rid of sand in the washing machine?
As soon as you notice sand inside your washing machine, the first thing to do is get rid of the sand inside the washing machine.
If not there is a higher chance that this sand will get transferred into other clothes. Imagine getting your newly bought white sheets having sand all over it.
Disgusting right? Therefore, you need ways that will help you get rid of the sand in the washing machine. Here are a few things you can do to get rid of sand in your washing machine:
Vacuuming your washing machine:
The first option is to vacuum the washing machine. Sand is easier to clean when it is dry. Moreover, it is heavy and it will not float in water. However, you can use water to transfer it from one place to another.
Which is why, vacuuming the excess sand from the drum is one of the best things you can do. While vacuuming the washing machine you would want to use a nozzle or an attachment that has a skinny end. This makes your task easier.
Apparently, you won’t find all the sand in the bottom of the washing machine. You may also find some sand sticking on the sides, this is why make sure you are vacuuming the entire washing machine thoroughly.
In case you have a top loader, the job becomes easier. However, if you own a front loader then there’s a chance that you will manually have to keep spinning the drum while you vacuum. This will help you get rid of all the sand present in the washing machine.
Wiping the machine drum after vacuuming:
Once you have vacuumed the washing machine, now it is time for you to give it a wipe. Using a wet paper towel or a piece of damp cloth to clean the washing machine. This way if there is any residue of the sand, you will get rid of it.
Running a wash cycle:
The very last thing that needs to be done is to perform an empty wash cycle. Before you put on a new batch of dirty clothes, it would be a great option to run an empty wash cycle.
Hopefully, these steps would help you get rid of the sand grains present in your washing machine.
What happens if there is sand in your washing machine?
If there is sand present in your washing machine there’s a chance that it will block the flow of water and cause your machine to overheat.
Sand is an adhesive, it will not only damage your clothes, it will also damage the drum of the washing machine. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of the sand present in the washing machine.
Additionally, sand can grind against the sides of your washing machine and end up causing tears and wear. Which ultimately hampers the health of your washing machine.
Over time this can also lead to causing damage to the seals and bearings of the washing machine. Therefore, cleaning the sand out of the washing machine is mandatory.
Tips to prevent sand like grit buildup in the washing machine:
If you are noticing a sand build up in the washing machine. You can follow the mentioned steps to prevent the sand from building up:
Running a wash cycle with vinegar and baking soda:
You can start with vacuuming the machine, if there is a buildup, then the chances are high that only vacuuming would not help. Therefore, just vacuuming would not help.
Which is why you would need to run an empty cycle adding a bit of vinegar and baking soda mixture to the washing machine. These two are natural cleaning agents that will help you remove any sand residue.
Cleaning out the filter:
The next thing you need to do is cleaning out the filter of your washing machine. The filter of the washing machine is where all the dirt gets captured, which is why it is necessary to clean the filter.
Wiping out with a paper towel:
After cleaning the filter now, it is time to wipe out the washing machine using a paper towel. In case any sand grain has been left out, it will get cleaned away during the wipe out.
How do you get sand out of clothes before washing?
Sand will only enter your washing machine if you let it. There are a few things you can do to get sand out of clothes before washing them. Here is what you can do:
Shaking off the excess sand:
The first step of getting rid of sand in your towel and clothes. In order to do that, shake the towels and clothes well.
Soaking in water:
There is no way you will get rid of all the sand just by shaking the clothes. Therefore, you would want to soak the towels and other clothes in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes. This will help the clothes lose the sand.
Air Drying and shaking again:
Once the material has loosened the sand particles stuck in it. Air dry the clothes overnight. Do not put them in the dryer. Then once they have dried completely, give them another shake. And then if you wish you can wash them in the washing machine.
Final thoughts
Sand particles can get captured in fabric and if not removed correctly, it can end up being in your washing machine. Other than that, if the detergent powder used to wash clothes hasn’t been dissolved in the water properly, over time it can dry out and look like sand particles.