How do you clean your scrunchies?

[Lux]

My old scrunchie is starting to smell weird. I usually throw them in the washing machine with my clothes, but I don't want any residue from the detergent to get in my hair. (I haven't yet tried other ways to wash my clothes.) Is there a way to wash them that keeps them clean and doesn't ruin the elastic? I thought maybe cold water would be best, but I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

[Ursula]

I just wash them with my clothes. I use whatever laundry detergent is the cheapest, and no fabric softener. Machine dry, on medium/permanent press setting, along with the clothes.

Most of my scrunchies are relatively cheap cotton material. So they wash up fine.

And if you think about it, your hair will be in contact with whatever you wash your cothes with, as it brushes against your clothing bed sheets, towels, etc.

Scrunchies are cheap, so I wouldn't worry much about damage from washing. And laundry detergent in the tiny amounts left after clothes have been washed, rinsed, and dried, is not much of a risk to your hair.

This is a time to relax and don't worry about it.

[Carolyn]

I just throw mine in the washer. The rinse cycle gets my clothes rinsed well enough to wear so I feel a scrunchie gets rinsed just as well. Unless it's some special color that matches something specific why not just go buy some new ones?

[Shermie Girl]

I have to admit, when my scrunchies get grungy, I just give them the old heave-ho. Then I go buy more. Wasteful, I know.

[Fireweed]

You could try washing them in the sink with shampoo.

[HerbalAnnie]

My cat destroys them so I get to buy new ones.

[dagonlilly]

I just throw them in with my regular clothes. I have yet to have a elastic break usually my thick hair will do that.

[dixie]

In the washer but in one of those dollar store mesh "lingerie" zippered bags so I can find them later. I don't dry in the dryer but airdry to save the elastic.

[hipmama1970]

I put them in the washer, too.

Often times, when there's something in my wash that I want treated specially, I don't use fabric softener. I just put white vinegar in the dispenser instead and everything gets rinsed really well and is pretty static free. You might try that if you're worried, the vinegar is supposed to help the detergent rinse out better.

[CurlyCare]

I'd follow whatever care is appropriate for the fabric. A silk scrunchi, I'd wash by hand with a gentle detergent. Cotton or blends I'd toss in the wash. Like others have said, airdrying may be kinder to the elastic. But if you are mostly concerned about detergent residue, I'd put white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. Gets detergent residue off diapers, so it should work for scrunchis too.

[Mebo]

I do what Dixie does, especially for the "lacier" ones - don't want to snag it on anything else in the load.

By the way, scrunchies make cute collars for little toy dogs. My yorkie wears one sometimes when I'm in the mood to fix her hair and play. She's convinced that she's extra beautiful when she wears one.

[queen_ottf]

I too throw my scrunchies in with my clothes. In fact, I did a major wash of all of my scrunchies about a month ago, so I had this line of scrunchies hanging on the clothesline. It amused me muchly. :+D

[AngelsWatchOver]

I second, third or whatever whateveryone else has said about washing them with clothing. I am too cheap to throw them away, until they snap or the material falls apart. I have not tried the vinegar rinse yet, but sounds good. Thanks for the idea.

[Koala Kim]

I put them in a lingerie bag and wash them with the rest of my clothes.

[sapphire-o]

I've never washed a scrunchy. OK, so I've only had them for a few weeks and they don't seem to smell funny yet. The lady I bought them from said just toss them in the washer for cleaning. It's funny that I've never used scrunchies until I joined LHC.