GE engineer James Darmstadt said that the rubber gasket found on front loading machines is probably to blame. If there’s a hole or gap in the seam, items can slip through when it is on the spin cycle. He suggests checking for tears when you clean your washer.
With top-loaders, things could fall through the space between the wash tub and walls of the machine. Getting tossed about while spinning can contribute to their fate. To avoid either scenario, it’s recommended to watch how much you pile into the tub per load. Keep it balanced! The other thing you can do? Use mesh bags to hold tiny stuff together.
To help keep sock casualties low and your machine running right, Darmstadt says that consumers should take the time to clean out drain pump. It doesn’t take long and can save you a lot of headache. Just be sure to unplug the washer first.
From the sound of it, it seems like washers are behind all the disappearances, right? Hold on, dryers can be at fault too. According to Darmstadt, a missing or damaged lint screen in the bottom of the dryer can pose a problem for small items like socks.
They can make their way out of the tumbler and sometimes into the exhaust pipe, causing bigger problems. Make sure you maintain the lint screen to minimize missing items.
In a way, this means you and your dryer can be let off the hook. No need to start fishing for lost things in your machine if you don’t have to though – call a professional for that!
