# Is it kosher to wash my cat's bed towels in a laundromat washing machine? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 14, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567 "2023-10-14T14:37:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/21 "2023-10-15T02:17:58Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > You can easily hire other people to run it. Indeed you could. When I was a kid I remember one of our relations being some sort of laundromat czar. Don’t know the extent of his business, but my childhood impression was that he was a pretty rich guy, and I always used to wonder just what volume of coins from the laundromat machines was necessary to constitute his wealth. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/22 "2023-10-15T02:20:53Z")
> [@saje](#): > > I used to take horse blankets to the laundromat. [Snip.] There’s a local laundromat that advertises that they can handle horse blankets. Obviously, they cater towards the equine set generally, and the horse racing industry specifically, but they’ll do any kind of laundry. Their slogan? “We’ll keep your jockeys clean.” > [@wolfpup](#): > > Owned a laundromat. Former corporate IT consultant. Former fighter pilot in the USAF. Former Captain at a top-tier major airline until well-earned retirement. > > Yeah, not many people have that kind of resume. Fewer still could summon that kind of modesty. Yeah. I’m thinking, “Fly, wash, and dry.” Well, at least it rhymes. As for the OP, I owned cats for decades. Never had a problem washing their bedding, but you do have to take care to get the hair out of it first. You can do it by brushing the bedding, or what I used to do: just taking it out on the back deck and giving it a good shake. The fur will fly, literally, but anything left over should not cause a problem. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/23 "2023-10-15T02:26:46Z")
> [@saje](#): > > I used to take horse blankets to the laundromat. That’s a LOT of hair and grit. I always ran a second cycle empty, on hot and with bleach, after my blankets were done. That was going to be my suggestion, but … SDMB being what it is … it’s already there. Our home laundry machines are robust as heck, so I wash the dog blankets here, but then I do as above. I generally still need to vacuum (or wipe with a damp rag) out the drum of the washer afterward (our Labrador retriever has his PhDog in Shedding), and – of course – take a putty knife to the dryer’s lint screen (actually, though it ends up choked, it comes clean surprisingly easily). And I generally _don’t_ take the blankets outside for a pre-shake, either. I should. I probably could. It’s one of my innumerable moral failings that I don’t. So, while I agree with @LSLGuy and others’ take (just do it), the “above and beyond” approach _would_ be – IMHO – to spend a couple shekels and do the “guilt-free” cycle after 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Caribbean\_cruiser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caribbean_cruiser/32/9349_2.png) [@Caribbean\_cruiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caribbean_cruiser)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/24 "2023-10-15T03:33:29Z")
Thank you, one and all! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/25 "2023-10-15T04:59:24Z")
Cat hair is probably the least offensive thing that will go into those washers today. The washing machines in my apartment building have a setting for “Extra Rinse.” I’m pretty sure that’s designed for people who are washing diapers and other similarly “soiled” clothing. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/26 "2023-10-15T05:04:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Owned a laundromat. Former corporate IT consultant. Former fighter pilot in the USAF. Former Captain at a top-tier major airline until well-earned retirement. > > Yeah, not many people have that kind of resume. Fewer still could summon that kind of modesty. _Well, I know I’m a million times as humble as thou art!_ 🤪 😀 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/27 "2023-10-15T11:28:19Z")
Twice a year my gf has me take her horse pads and blankets to a laundromat and launder them. I never really thought about it, I’ve seen worse things being laundered. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/28 "2023-10-15T11:52:33Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > oily rages Band name. As for brushing a blanket, I’ve found that the best way is to lay the blanket flat out on the floor and use a household vacuum cleaner. You’ll need a partner to stand on one edge of the blanket to keep it in place while you vacuum, and then you have to always orient the vac so that the motorized brushes only ever pull the blanket away from your partner (this means keeping the front of the vac assumed at your partner’s feet). This keeps the blanket taut and flat on the floor; any other configuration results in the blanket getting pulled in and wrapped around the brushes. Using this method, you can brush the blanket more aggressively, extracting a lot more hair than you can with hand-brushing. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/29 "2023-10-15T12:09:02Z")
True. But then you have to clean out the guts of your hair-clogged vacuum. 😁 🐈‍⬛ 🐈 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/30 "2023-10-15T12:54:33Z")
Take it to the Laundromat. ---
**Author:** ![TXRebel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@TXRebel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TXRebel)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/31 "2023-10-15T13:33:07Z")
I always use a little bleach when I wash the dogs things. The hair is not really immense and I clean the filters but I like a little disinfectant. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/32 "2023-10-15T17:07:00Z")
I actually bought a carpet rake and I now rake before vacuuming because I got so tired of having to take the vacuum cleaner apart to clean the brush every other time I vacuum. Embarrassingly, the cat hair is not nearly as bad as all the human hair, most of it in my color. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/33 "2023-10-15T17:49:12Z")
We have way too much long human hair around here. Wraps around vacuum rollers. Gets in shower drains. Hairbrushes are always full. You’re liable to see it anywhere. I’ve pulled a few off Bayliss’ head. I know it’s mine, 'cause, yes, I hug him regularly.😊 Hair is a problem. Pet blankets and towels and other items are easier items to dehair. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/34 "2023-10-15T18:52:14Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > Embarrassingly, the cat hair is not nearly as bad as all the human hair, most of it in my color. Well you _are_ bigger than the cat. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/35 "2023-10-15T21:53:33Z")
This reminds me of a related question I’ve had for a while: is there any harm (to cleanliness) if I washed rags used to clean (thus encrusted with non-flammable cleaning solutions and maybe shoe polish in addition to the dust and dirt) with my wearable clothes? ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/36 "2023-10-16T04:28:15Z")
I don’t know if there’s an objective answer to that, but I instinctively shudder at the thought. I personally wash cleaning rags separately in hot water on the “power wash” setting, which would destroy any of my clothes, so I’ve never tried it. Rags with shoe polish on them especially seem like they could stain your clothes. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/37 "2023-10-16T05:04:16Z")
I wouldn’t recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/38 "2023-10-16T11:03:18Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I have had a remarkable run of different “careers”. I sucked at almost all of them, so I had to keep moving. thx for the morning smirk … you might wanna take that phrase over to the **Epitaph** -treat > [@glowacks](#): > > Eh, “owned a laundromat” doesn’t imply anything about _running_ a laundromat. You can easily hire other people to run it. LSL is the guy who goes **“all-in”** … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/39 "2023-10-16T11:55:05Z")
Because of this thread, I asked my gf yesterday if her horse blankets were okay. Turns out they are, but since I asked she sent me to the laundromat with a huge basket of rags to be washed. The laundromat was packed, with primarily unusual people, as usual. There was only one huge washing machine open, so I put my rags in it. I got change (16 quarters!) and started feeding them in, but after taking six of my quarters it refused any further interaction with me. Fück it, I wasted enough time. So I got my rags situated and left. Some crone who was watching me yelled, “hey, you should mark that machine out of order”. I laughed and said, “yeah, I’ll get right on that”. She freaked out!! and screamed, “DON’T YOU SASS ME!” And that’s why I hate my rare visits to the laundromat. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567/40 "2023-10-16T12:17:17Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > This reminds me of a related question I’ve had for a while: is there any harm (to cleanliness) if I washed rags used to clean (thus encrusted with non-flammable cleaning solutions and maybe shoe polish in addition to the dust and dirt) with my wearable clothes? Shoe polish is wax. Nothing good happens when that gets hot. Why would you want to wash them anyhow? IME a polish-impregnated rag gives the best shine. Anything else non-flammable (or _fully_ evaporated if flammable) is fine, but I prefer to run rags separately from clothing; if nothing else, rags often shed a lot of fiber and I’d rather not be picking scads of threads off clothes later. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-kosher-to-wash-my-cats-bed-towels-in-a-laundromat-washing-machine/991567.md?page=3)