WHAT IS A MESH LAUNDRY BAG? HOW IT PROTECTS CLOTHES

Protecting delicates on wash day can help maintain their quality and keep them ready to wear. A mesh laundry bag is a durable, breathable pouch that protects delicates like undergarments, hosiery and small items from snags, tangles and tears while they’re in the washer and dryer. Also referred to as a wash bag, mesh laundry bags allow soap and water to flow through for cleaning in the washer.

Read on to learn what to wash in a mesh laundry bag, washing steps, the dryer suitability of wash bags and more.

WHAT IS A MESH LAUNDRY BAG?

Mesh laundry bags offer a simple way to help protect clothes, prevent tangles and reduce snags in the washer. The openings let water and detergent reach a garment while the bag limits direct contact with other laundry. Zipper and drawstring closures on laundry bags or wash bags should stay closed during the cycle.

MESH LAUNDRY BAG BENEFITS

Using a mesh laundry bag protects garments that need a lighter touch. Benefits of a mesh laundry bag may include:

Helps to prevent snags and tears: Isolating delicate items like bras, lingerie and hosiery can shield them from harsher fabrics and zippers that can cause rips.
Helps eliminate tangling and stretching: Containing loose straps, ties and other items in a mesh laundry bag helps to prevent items from twisting around other laundry or the agitator, if applicable, and helps them preserve their original shape.
Helps to keep items together: You can keep pairs of items together, whether pairs of socks or swimming suit tops and bottoms, from the washer to the dryer.
Contains toys and stuffed animals: A mesh bag can help with washing baby toys, such as washable stuffed animals.
Can be used in your washer and dryer: These protective bags can be used in both the washer and dryer, making transfer even easier.
Helps support thorough cleaning: The material of mesh wash bags is engineered to allow water and soap to pass through with ease, allowing optimal cleaning.

WHAT SHOULD YOU WASH IN A MESH LAUNDRY BAG?

Simplify laundry day, and help extend the life of some of your more fragile items, by using a Delicates mesh laundry bag. A mesh laundry bag can help protect delicate items, but it can’t prevent all damage. A bra wire can still break during the wash. A cycle or temperature that doesn’t suit the fabric can still harm a garment, so follow the care label and choose a Gentle cycle when appropriate. Learn how to use mesh laundry bags and what fabrics may benefit the most from being washed in them.

GARMENT	WHEN A BAG HELPS
Bras and lingerie	Helps to provide extra protection from stretching and snagging.
Tights and small socks	May reduce snagging and helps keep tights and hosiery from tangling, and small socks from getting lost.
Washable knitwear	May help reduce friction on knitwear like certain cashmere fabrics.
Items with ties or hooks	Adds extra security for fasteners like zippers, buttons or hooks and can help protect items from tangling during the wash cycle.

DO YOU NEED A MESH LAUNDRY BAG FOR EVERY LOAD?

You do not need a mesh laundry bag for every load. In fact, it’s recommended to reserve them for delicates and other smaller items to help protect them and keep them together.

Heavier fabrics like jeans and bulkier laundry like towels or bedding often benefit from tumbling around loosely to get properly cleaned. Bagging heavier items may impede the cleaning process.

CARE-LABEL EXCEPTIONS

Mesh laundry bags provide extra care, but they don’t override care label instructions. Read your clothing care label tags for insight about how your garments should be cleaned.

A machine washable laundry symbol is reflected by a wash tub, and indicates that an item can be cleaned in a standard washing machine.

A hand-wash-only symbol includes an image of a hand inside the tub. This symbol means that an article of clothing should be washed by hand.

Dry-clean-only items are represented by an empty circle, signaling that the item is best left to a dry cleaning professional.

HOW TO USE MESH LAUNDRY BAGS

Incorporating mesh laundry bags into your routine adds ease and an extra layer of protection for both your delicates and small items like baby socks. To use a mesh laundry bag:

1) SORT YOUR LAUNDRY AND CHOOSE A BAG SIZE WITH EXTRA ROOM

Follow the care labels and separate out delicate items that may need extra protection from the regular wash, such as bras, silk garments, activewear, undergarments and hosiery.

When selecting the right size mesh laundry bag for your garments, it’s helpful to not overfill it so water and detergent can circulate freely through the clothes to help ensure your clothes are thoroughly cleaned.

2) PREP THE GARMENTS AND CLOSE THE BAG

Start by emptying pockets and removing small objects that could plug washer pumps. Close all zippers, fasten hooks, tie strings and mend any items that have any rips or tears to not worsen the further damage. Turn knit items inside out to help prevent pilling.

Fastening clasps, hooks and closures is a helpful way to prep your clothes for washing. Place garments inside the bag and seal to ensure it doesn’t open during the cycle. Securing the mesh laundry bag’s zipper or drawstring helps keep your items protected during the cycle.

3) CHECK THE CARE LABEL AND RUN THE WASH

Check your care label tags to help you choose the right washing machine cycles and settings, rather than relying on the bag for protection from settings that would be unsuitable for those garments. If the care tag says hand wash or dry clean only, skip the washer altogether.

Place the mesh bag in the washing machine and set the correct machine cycle. Mesh bags with delicates are often paired with a Gentle or Delicate cycle.

MESH LAUNDRY BAGS VS. PILLOWCASES AND OTHER SUBSTITUTES

If a mesh laundry bag isn’t on hand, a pillowcase or a fabric wash bag can sometimes act as a substitute, but there may be trade-offs. See the comparison below to learn more about water flow, closure security and garment fit for various mesh bag substitutes.

OPTION	WATER FLOW	CLOSURE SECURITY	GARMENT FIT
Mesh laundry bag	The mesh lets soap and water flow through easily.	A zip or drawstring closure can help keep items securely inside.	Choose a size that leaves room for water and detergent to circulate.
Pillowcase	Water passes through fabric rather than mesh, so flow may be more limited.	A zippered pillowcase, or one with the ends secured, can hold items in place.	Can hold large, soft items like stuffed animals and small items like shoelaces.
Non-mesh fabric wash bag	Depending on the fabric, water and detergent flow may be more restricted than with mesh.	Closures may vary by bag, so check that it stays fastened during the cycle.	Sizes vary, so choose one that leaves room for items to move.

CAN YOU PUT A MESH LAUNDRY BAG IN THE DRYER?

Generally, you can put a mesh laundry bag in the dryer, but check the care label on both the bag and the garment first and follow the heat setting recommendation. If you’re still not sure, air drying or drying on low or no heat is the more cautious choice.

Drying on low or no heat can help prevent shrinking so it helps to check the care label first. Before loading the dryer, untangle items from one another and tie any loose strings or straps. The Maytag^® Delicates Laundry Wash Bag is designed to help shield delicates from wear and tear in the washer and dryer.

CAN YOU WASH A MESH LAUNDRY BAG?

Yes, you can often wash mesh laundry bags, because that’s what they’re built for, but check the bag’s care instructions first. Shake out any lint or debris, then wash and dry the bag as directed. Check the mesh and closure for wear before reuse, since a damaged bag may not protect items as well.

MESH LAUNDRY BAG FAQs

Washer type, garment preparation and detergent placement can raise questions beyond basic bag use. Read answers to common mesh laundry bag questions below.

Yes, a mesh laundry bag can generally be used in a top load washer with an agitator. Close the bag and place it in the tub with the rest of the load. Avoid wrapping long items tightly around the agitator since that can lead to tangling.

Turning clothes inside out before placing them in a mesh bag can help reduce friction on the outer fabric, especially for knits that may be prone to pilling. Check the care label first, and fasten zippers and hooks before bagging.

Detergent typically goes in the washer’s dispenser, or directly into the tub if there is no dispenser, rather than inside the bag. The mesh lets soap and water flow through, so avoid overfilling the bag to leave room for water and detergent to circulate.

Yes, you can generally use more than one mesh laundry bag in a load, such as separate bags for socks and delicates. Leave enough space for the bags to move and water to circulate, and avoid overloading the washer.