Have you ever accidentally put your eyeglasses in the washing machine and wondered what would happen to them? Regardless of how it happened, finding your eyeglasses submerged in soapy water can be a frightening experience.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what happens when you accidentally put eyeglasses in the washing machine, what to do next, and how to take the glass out of the washing machine.
Your eyeglasses can damage or remain okay when they get accidentally put in the washing machine. To protect them, immediately stop your washer and try to remove them. However, if the eyeglasses hit the drum during the spin cycle, this will make scratches on the drum body.
Table of Contents
What Happens If You Accidentally Put Eye Glasses in Washing Machine?
They are subjected to intense agitation and high-speed spinning when you put your eyeglasses in the washing machine. This causes significant damage to the frame and lenses, and other parts of the glasses.
The machine might make the lenses scratched or cracked, and their frame may also become bent or misshapen.
Additionally, the washing machine’s detergent can cause damage to the coating on the lenses, making them more prone to scratching in the future.
However, If you accidentally put your eyeglasses in the washing machine, you should remove them immediately and assess the damage. If the glasses appear intact and undamaged, you can clean and dry them with a soft, lint-free cloth.
In case there are visible scratches, cracks, or other damage, you should take them to an optician for repair or replacement.
What to do When You Accidentally Put Eye Glasses in Washing Machine?
There are some important steps that you should take when you accidentally put your eyeglasses in the washing machine. However, these steps will only help in damage prevention to glasses, not in fixing them.
Below are these steps:
- Remove the eyeglasses from the washing machine immediately:
Whenever you notice that you accidentally put your eyeglasses in the washing machine, stop your machine and remove the glasses right away.
You must consider that you should not let your machine continue the wash cycle as it can cause more damage to the glasses.
- Inspect the glasses:
Once you have removed the eyeglasses, check its lenses, frames, and other parts for any visible damage.
If you notice any scratches, cracks, or other damage, do not attempt to wear them, as they now require repair.
- Rinse the glasses:
Take a container filled with cold water. Now, Rinse your eyeglasses with cold water to remove any soap or detergent that may be on the glasses.
Also, check the frame and other parts of your eyeglasses to keep them clean.
- Dry the glasses:
As your glasses are now wet with cold water, they need to be dried. To do this, follow the next step.
Use a soft, lint-free cloth to gently dry the glasses. Avoid using paper towels or other rough materials, as they can scratch the lenses.
- Assess the damage:
After drying your glasses, inspect them again for any damage.
In case you notice any issues, take the glasses to an optician or eyeglass repair specialist for assessment and repair.
In the future, you should avoid creating this situation. Practically, It’s best to keep your eyeglasses in a protective case when not in use and clean them with a gentle lens-cleaning solution and a soft cloth.
Can Eye Glasses Survive the Washing Machine?
Although it’s technically possible for your eyeglasses to survive a wash cycle, it’s not a great idea to toss them in the washing machine.
Every washing machine has a high spinning speed. And the machine’s high-speed spinning and detergent can damage the lenses and frame, even if they appear undamaged.
If the lenses’ coating gets compromised after washing it through the washing machine, they’re more likely to get scratched in the future.
Some types of eyeglasses, like those with plastic frames, may hold up better in the washing machine than others. For example, plastic frames may be more likely to survive a trip through the washing machine than metal frames.
However, it’s better to be safe than sorry and avoid washing them this way altogether.
We’ve seen that the brand of eyeglasses doesn’t matter when we think if that eyeglass will damage or not in the washing machine.
How to Take the Eyeglasses Out of Washing Machine?
If your eyeglasses have shattered in the washing machine, you will need to take care when removing the glass. Even though the glasses look fine in the drum, still, follow the below steps intentionally.
Here’s how to take the Eyeglasses out of the washing machine:
- Turn off the washing machine and unplug it from the wall socket.
- Put on a pair of thick gloves to protect your hands.
- Open the washing machine door and carefully remove any large pieces of glass that you can see.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to remove any small pieces of glass.
- Wipe down the inside of the washing machine with a damp cloth to remove any remaining glass fragments.
- Dispose of the broken eyeglasses and any glass fragments safely and appropriately.
Bottom Line
Practically, if you Accidentally put your eyeglasses in the washing machine, this can cause significant damage to the frame and lenses and other parts of the glasses. While it is possible for eyeglasses to survive a trip through the wash cycle, the chances are slim. Try to remove them immediately and check if they are fine or need repair.