What to do if you washed clothes with toilet paper?

If you ignore the advice to thoroughly check your pockets, you'll soon end up with clothes covered in paper shreds. Yes, after washing your clothes with toilet paper, the toilet paper will crumble into hundreds of pieces and evenly coat the fabric on both sides. But don't despair—the "crumbs" can be removed from your laundry without any consequences. The main thing is to follow the instructions.

Methods for removing paper particles

Anyone can make a mistake. If you washed your clothes with toilet paper, it is better not to give up, but to start cleaning the laundry again using a special scheme.To remove stuck particles from fabric, you'll need to choose one of several effective methods.

1. Dry and shake out. The most obvious and time-consuming method. After drying, shake out the bulk of the paper, and remove the remaining paper with a stiff clothes brush.
2. Machine drying. Owners of a dryer have it easier: simply load paper-stained clothes into the machine and run a double cycle. The built-in lint filter will remove paper shavings from the fabric.
3. Wash with aspirin. Take 8-10 liters of hot water, dissolve 4 aspirin tablets, and soak the affected item in the solution. The paper pieces will dissolve almost immediately, but the fabric itself will not be damaged—the active ingredient is completely safe for textiles. This method is more convenient when the toilet paper has stained not only the exterior but also the lining and pockets.

You can remove toilet paper from clothes using aspirin, a dryer, a brush, tape, a special roller, or by soaking for a long time.

4. Soak and dry. You can completely dissolve the paper by soaking it in plain water for 12 hours. All that's left to do is dry the item.
5. Use masking tape. Duct tape or electrical tape works great for manual cleaning. Wrap the tape around your palm, sticky side out, and collect all the stuck-on debris. It's time-consuming, but effective.
6. Use a special roller. A cleaning roller works similarly to scotch tape. It's available in hardware stores, is inexpensive, and helps remove stuck-on paper from fabric.

Knowing what to do can help you repair the damage caused by unfortunate neighbors and restore your items to their original appearance. Just be sure to check your pockets before cleaning again—some of the "toilet" may still be there, and the same thing could happen again.

Check the washing machine

In addition to clothes, the washing machine itself suffers from toilet paper getting into the drum. Undissolved particles clog the machine's drainage system: they clog the pipes, the debris filter, or block the pump impeller.Using the washing machine with this "setup" is not recommended. To correct the situation, check the condition of the unit's drain.

Toilet paper that gets into the washing machine can clog the drainage system, clogging the hoses and blocking the pump impeller.

You need to proceed as follows:

• disconnect the machine from communications;
• open the technical hatch by using a flat-head screwdriver and pressing the plastic latches;
• find the trash filter plug;
• place a container underneath and cover the surrounding area with rags;
• Using the emergency drain, drain the water from the washing machine;
• If there is no emergency hose, slowly unscrew the filter and get rid of the water through it;
• remove the nozzle completely, remove dirt and debris from the spiral;
• illuminate the vacated space with a flashlight;
• assess the condition of the pump impeller.

If there's no paper stuck to the impeller, everything's fine—you can replace the filter and continue washing. Otherwise, try cleaning the impeller blades through the snail hole. Still having trouble? Then you'll have to remove the bottom, unscrew the pump, and then clean the impeller. Once you're done cleaning, replace the pump, making sure the fasteners and connections are secure.

It's no wonder everyone insists on thoroughly checking pockets before washing. Forgotten toilet paper in laundry will not only ruin your clothes but also put your machine at risk. The consequences can be removed, but it will take some effort.

   

2 reader comments

1. October 14, 2022 at 2:38 PM

   Maria:

   I washed the lint-laden items with toilet paper (I didn't check the pocket). I'll try aspirin, a tip from YouTube, maybe it will help.

   Answer
   • April 9, 2024 at 9:31 AM

     Maria:

     I washed it for two years, but it didn't work. My husband kicked me out of the house.

     Answer