Tumble dryers are among the most convenient ways to tackle a large pile of laundry, especially during cold and wet weather. However, it is vital to check the care label when loading garments into the appliance. Not every fabric or item of clothing is built to cope with the heat and motion of a drying cycle.
Certain items placed in a tumble dryer can lose their shape, stretch out and become ruined. Before you reach for the dryer this winter, it is worth checking which pieces are better suited to drying naturally.
Wool jumpers and bras
A wool jumper is one of the last things you want to discover has accidentally gone through a hot tumble-drying cycle. Which? advises against tumble-drying wool because the temperatures inside the drum can cause the fibres to interlock, making the garment tighter and smaller. Testing has found that even specialist dryers designed to gently dry wool are relatively uncommon, so air-drying remains the safest option. Gently squeeze excess water from a woollen garment without wringing or twisting it, then dry it flat to help it retain its shape.
While it can be tempting to toss undergarments into the dryer, the heat and tumbling action can be particularly damaging to items such as bras. Which? says heat can bend bras out of shape and cause them to lose elasticity, potentially shortening the garment's lifespan. This is especially worth keeping in mind with bras that feature delicate lace, padding, underwiring or stretchy materials. A far better approach is to reshape them after washing and allow them to air-dry naturally. It is also important to select a gentler wash cycle, particularly for silk, cashmere or lace garments.
Swimming costumes and tights
Swimming costumes may appear to be reasonably robust items of clothing, but the stretchy fibres that give them their tight fit do not respond well to tumble-dryer heat. According to Which?, the spandex in swimming costumes can distort and break when exposed to the heat of a dryer. This means repeatedly tumble-drying your swimsuit could leave it stretched, misshapen, or lacking in support over time. Instead, gently squeeze out any excess water and leave it to air-dry. Avoid wringing it out too much, as this can also place unnecessary strain on the fabric.
Tights are another item that can easily come out of a tumble dryer looking vastly different from when they went in. Which? cautions that the delicate material can tear during tumble-drying, as heat and movement render it more susceptible to damage. Rather than risking ladders, holes and misshapen tights, leave them to dry naturally. This is particularly important for finer tights, though they should not take too long to dry outside of the tumble dryer. When washing tights, place them in a laundry bag to prevent them from getting tangled during the wash cycle.
Clothes with sequins or embellishments
The experts warned that sequins can catch during the drying process, while metal stones or beads may be damaged by the heat. Embellishments can also snag on other garments inside the drum, resulting in small tears or pulls. For any clothing covered with sequins, beads or gems, air-drying is by far the most sensible choice. Lay the item flat or hang it according to the care label, ensuring the weight of the wet fabric does not strain the decorations.
