Dec 19, 2017
Laundry is a necessary evil according to cheatsheet.com. It’s time-consuming, laborious, and has to happen all too frequently. After running a load of clothes in the washer, isn’t it just easier to throw everything in the dryer? Absolutely. But will it ruin some of your clothes and other household fabrics? Yes. The unfortunate truth is some things just don’t belong in the dryer.
1. Overalls
Beware the metal fasteners.
They’re just like jeans, right? Well, yes, except for the metal clasps and exposed metals buttons, which will beat your dryer to death. If you cannot afford your favorite overalls the time to dry, you can put them in a pillowcase, pin it shut, and dry them that way. Otherwise you run the risk of denting and chipping the inside of your dryer.
2. Bathing suits
Keep this clothing item in tip-top shape for your next vacation.
As a general rule of thumb, never dry anything with elasticity. Even after a couple of times in the dryer, your bathing suit can start to unravel and lose its stretch, which is exactly what you don’t want to happen. You’re better off hanging your suits outside, clothespin-style.
3. Embellished clothing
This fabric will keep you warm, but don’t warm it in the dryer
Hunker advises to “never use a dryer to dry a sequined or beaded garment: Heat and tumbling can destroy delicate embellishments.” If you have a piece of clothing, or even a pillow, with sequins, beads, gems, or any other sort of detailing, it doesn’t belong in the dryer. When you think about it, the dryer isn’t exactly gentle with clothes — it tosses them around in a high heat until they aren’t wet anymore. Not particularly ideal for delicate stitching.
4. Wool
This fabric will keep you warm, but don’t warm it in the dryer
Clothes and blankets made of wool are great for keeping warm; they’re thick and often well made. Though your wool items probably get a lot of use (especially in the colder months), it’s important to keep them out of the dryer. Wool has been known to not only shrink but lose it’s shape when put in the dryer. To keep your wool items looking their best, shake them out by hand and lay them flat to dry.
5. Silk
This elegant fabric is worth the extra effort.
Silk is another beautiful, elegant fabric that should avoid the dryer. Drying silk can cause a garment to lose its shape and shine. According to Tide, the best way to dry these delicate garments is to “lay wet silk clothing flat onto a clean, absorbent towel and roll it up in the towel to rid excess moisture. Unroll and repeat using a second dry towel, then lay flat on a drying rack or dry towel.” But always avoid the dryer.
6. Velvet
Preserve your velvet by air-drying.
With its luxurious look and feel, it’s hard to stay away from velvet. But unfortunately, the material isn’t the easiest thing to upkeep. If you have velvet pillows or clothing items, it’s best to keep them clean (and dry) by handing them over to professionals. The Guardian puts it plainly, saying, “All velvet should be dry-cleaned.”
7. Rubber bath mats
High heat can crack the rubber backing.
There’s nothing like getting out of the shower and stepping on a fuzzy bath mat. Bath mats with a rubber back are perfect for the bathroom as they’re non-slip and water resistant. But they aren’t perfect for the dryer! Because of their rubber backing, non-slip bath mats can crack on the underside if put in the dryer. And worst case scenario: The rubber material can light on fire if it gets too hot, causing a much more serious issue.
8. Chiffon
This sheer fabric is as delicate as it is beautiful.
Chiffon fabric makes for a beautiful garment. It’s light, sheer, and flattering. It’s also not supposed to go in the dryer. The National Cleaners Association suggests that you solely dry clean your chiffon items. So preserve your chiffon blouses, gowns, dresses, and handkerchiefs by only trusting them in the hands of professionals.
9. Bags and purses
This everyday accessory causes chaos inside a dryer.
Purses are another thing a lot of people think they can just throw in the dryer for an easy, streamlined cleaning process. If you have a purse that needs cleaning, whether it’s plastic, leather, or fabric, putting it in the dryer will probably harm the purse and maybe even your dryer as well. (Remember what we said about material that melts?) The solution? Wipe your purses down with a cloth or Febreze them to keep them clean and fresh, and always air-dry them.
10. Rayon
Rayon also wrinkles easily when it comes in contact with moisture.
According to Real Simple, rayon is created from wood pulp treated with chemicals. Just based off of its contents, you can probably assume rayon isn’t dryer-friendly. More than cotton, rayon is notorious for shrinking in the dryer. Unless you want your new blouse two sizes smaller, it’s best to air-dry your rayon clothing on a flat, dry service.
11. Wigs
Air-dry or blow dry your wigs on a wig stand.
Though the dryer may seem like an easy, no-fuss way to dry your wigs after washing them, it’s best to try a different option (even if you plan on setting the dryer to a low heat setting). Even in a bag, your wig can get terribly tangled and damaged after just one round in the dryer. Instead, Wigs.com suggests air-drying synthetic hair on a wig stand and blow drying wigs made of human hair.
12. Bras
You probably want to keep that expensive undergarment intact.
As a daily staple, bras get a lot of use. That means they need to be cleaned pretty often. But, as every bra-wearing person knows, nothing will shorten the life of a good bra like throwing it in the dryer. The high heat and vigorous motion causes bras to lose their shape and elasticity. The best way to dry a bra is to hang it up or lay it on a flat surface.
13. Tights
There’s nothing worse than finding a run in your tights as you’re putting them on.
There are few things more frustrating than buying a new pair of tights and finding a run in them after a single use. But are your laundering methods to blame? To avoid shrinkage, entanglement, and runs, and to keep your tights looking and feeling new, keep them out of the dryer.
14. Lace
Keep your lace blouses beautiful.
Lace makes beautiful doilies, curtains, table runners, and clothing items. It’s the perfect fabric to add a touch of sophistication and femininity. Though, much like velvet, lace is difficult to keep looking brand new. Lace should never end up in the dryer if you want it to hold its original shape. The Laundress suggests, “gently [pressing] out excess water. Be sure never to wring it (in other words, don’t twist it up tightly and squeeze). Lay flat in its natural shape to dry.”
15. Vegan leather
You don’t want your gorgeous jacket melting.
Vegan leather, or pleather, doesn’t belong in the dryer. The high heat of the dryer can melt your vegan leather garment, ruining it and possibly your dryer. Unfortunately, dry cleaning typically isn’t an option, either. However, there is an easy solution: After carefully washing your garment by hand (or just wiping it down with a soapy washcloth), simply hang your vegan leather to dry.
16. Too much clothing at once
You’d be tempted to dry it all at once.
Okay, so this isn’t a specific clothing item but it’s just as important. Packing your dryer full of wet clothes will just give you a pile of damp, wrinkled garments that you have to run through the dryer twice. To make matters worse a jam-packed dryer “overworks the overwork the drum, bearings, heating elements and cause the unit to breakdown,” according to Compact Appliance. We suggest following the load capacity indicated in the owner’s manual.
Image: Clothes dryer - clipartpanda.com
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