Why machine-washed clothes wear out (and how to stop it)
Washing machines clean by combining mechanical action, water, detergent, and time. That scrubbing motion is much stronger than hand-washing, so some fabric wear is inevitable—especially on delicate weaves, loose knits, and clothes with trims.

What accelerates damage
Overloading
A packed drum compresses garments. As the drum turns, pieces stretch and grind against each other, raising the risk of pilling, seam stress, and tears.

Careless loading
Tossing items in a heap lets them twist into ropes. The machine then struggles to redistribute, increasing friction and torque on seams.

Harsh settings
High spin speeds, long cycles, hot water, and strong detergents/bleach all increase fiber fatigue.

Hardware hazards
Open zippers, hooks, and rough edges inside the drum can snag and tear.

The bottle “trick”: skip it
Placing plastic water bottles in the washer isn’t recommended. They can:

Batter the drum and door glass,

Unbalance the load and stress bearings,

Shred labels/microplastics into the wash.

If you want anti-tangle help, use purpose-made laundry balls (washer-safe) or, better yet, mesh wash bags—they protect without risking the machine.

Do this instead (works for any machine)
1) Load smart

Sort by fabric weight (towels/denim separate from tees/delicates).

Close zippers, hooks, and Velcro; use a mesh bag for bras and fine knits.

Turn garments inside-out to reduce surface abrasion and pilling.

Fill to ~⅔–¾ full (top-loader) or loosely full with a hand’s space at the top (front-loader)—never crammed, never just 1–2 heavy items.

2) Choose gentler settings

Use Delicate/Gentle for knits, silks, athletic wear.

Cold or warm (not hot) for most items; hot shortens fiber life.

Lower spin (e.g., 600–800 rpm) for delicates to reduce stretch and wrinkling.

3) Dose detergent correctly

Too much = residue + stiffness + extra rinsing (more wear).

Too little = soil remains (abrasive). Follow the scoop for your load size + soil level + water hardness.

4) Protect delicates

Mesh wash bags for lace, knits, activewear, baby items.

Put heavy hardware items (jeans with rivets, jackets with buckles) in their own load.

5) Dry with care

Air-dry when possible; high dryer heat is a major cause of shrinkage and breakdown.

If using a dryer, choose Low heat and remove while slightly damp; use wool dryer balls (dryer only) to reduce time and friction.

6) Maintain the machine

Wipe the drum for burrs; clean the pump filter; run a tub-clean cycle monthly. A smooth, clean drum is kinder to fabric.

Quick rescue for tangling right now
Add one or two large items (e.g., a towel) to small/light loads to help the washer tumble items apart.

Or use anti-tangle laundry balls designed for washers—not bottles.

Bottom line
Clothes wear fastest from overloading, rough mixing, harsh settings, and hardware snags. Skip hacks that can damage the machine; lean on smart sorting, mesh bags, gentle cycles, correct dosing, and kinder drying. That’s how you keep fabric strong, seams intact, and your favorites looking new much longer.