Never Dry These Garments Over High Heat.
Despite the fact that I myself dry for more than 20 years, and laundry – is at least three times a week, my household duties, there are some – okay, lots – care instructions that I never bothered to learn. Until my white robes turned gray and shrunk to the size of a mouse blanket, I allowed myself to do so. As someone who until recently did not study some of the basic rules of washing, I present to you this list of things that should not be put in the dryer over high heat, in case you – like me – did not know.
First, some awareness of symbols
Did you know that every garment has a care label, and each of those labels is little more than the head of a cotton swab with tiny microscopic letters that you should be able to read? While some labels contain useful words like “tumble dry”, others simply contain symbols, small print in languages you don’t understand, or written instructions that fade over time.
In these cases, familiarity with the symbols is key. Did we all know that a large circle within a square indicates that the clothes can be tumble dried? And if there is a cross in the mug, can’t you dry it? (I didn’t know.) And do we know that sometimes this circle contains points that indicate the ideal drying temperature: one point for low heat, two for medium and three for high?
Note. This is in contrast to the similar symbol for a small circle within a square that does not touch the edges of the square (which means dry cleaning only) and an “X” all over this shebang (which means do not dry clean).
Okay, team. (Just kidding, we need to know more about laundry.)
Do not dry sheets over high heat
Next on the list of things I was completely wrong about is, folks, don’t dry your sheets over high heat. (Damn. I just did this yesterday.) I definitely thought high-heat sheets were a good way to effectively rid them of any odor-causing bacteria. But no. High temperatures can cause the sheets to shrink over time and no longer fit your bed. It can also cause tears in delicate tissue. Stick to a low fire; or better yet, if you can, dry them outside.
Do not dry sportswear and polyester blends over high heat.
Whether it’s sportswear or real workout gear, these yoga / gym spandex pants should be kept away from high drying temperatures. According to Bounce : “Stretch fabrics need extra care because these fibers can deteriorate with prolonged exposure to heat. This means that these items look better when dried on a flat surface. ”
The idea that I should use my entire kitchen counter to dry wet clothes for workouts is not information I can handle, so I will continue to dry these items over low heat, which Bounce thinks is fine. Thank God for these gentle favors.
What about polyester in a dryer?
Likewise, polyester fibers – because they do not absorb moisture – dry quickly and do not require high heating. Any clothing containing polyester should be dried using the long press mode or over low heat. (High temperatures will cause ripples in the polyester over time). Since polyester is susceptible to static electricity, some drying sheet manufacturers suggest drying sheets, but we do not recommend doing this; here are some great alternatives .
Children’s clothing, sweaters and sequins
It makes sense that baby clothes, because they’re so damn small, don’t require high heat to dry. They can be turned over on low heat or in constant pressing mode. But knit sweaters too? While lightweight knit sweaters can dry with constant pressing, heavy, thick knit sweaters hold their shape better and are less prone to rolling and unraveling when allowed to dry flat. (I think I’ve done this before, but not for reasons of shrinkage. I’ll take a point, even if by accident.)
The delicate cycle (low heat) should also be used for any embellished fabrics such as sequins, beading and decals (such as numbers on the back of sweaters).
Never dry silk, wool and linen in the dryer.
Although silk is so fragile, many people prefer to dry clean it, some are machine washable – just be sure to use cold water and the gentle / gentle mode of your washing machine – and don’t put it in the dryer . It seems in general. It is the same with wool, the fibers of which shrink and weaken from the heat.
Underwear and most bras are delicate and should be dried flat. We are talking about most bras because depending on the size, your bras may not have underwire or cup shape to be respected. You can wear more unstructured sports bras with minimal padding. Those, in my opinion, can go to the dryer. (I’ve been doing this for years and can’t report damage.)
What can be dried over high heat
So what should be dried over high heat? Heavy cotton items that take longer to dry, such as towels, blankets, sweatshirts, or jeans. (Caveat: Drying preference for jeans varies from person to person and from jeans to jeans. In general, drying jeans over high heat is safe as long as you are not worried about shrinkage or discoloration of, say, deep indigo-colored designer denim. Drying is recommended in such cases over low heat or air dry.)