Items you should only ever air-dry and never put in a tumble dryer
Eluxfan (@eluxfan71/Instagram)
The tumble dryer - along with the washing machine - is undoubtedly one of the most useful appliances when it comes to efficient laundry management in the home.
That said, it's not a good idea for you to get rid of your drying rack/clothes horse after purchasing a dryer: some laundered items should always only be air-dried, as they can be damaged by the heat generated inside a dryer.
Below, we provide a list of items that you should never put in a dryer:
1. Leather (and imitation leather)
L.V. Olavi Rantala/Flickr
Leather (and imitation leather) is a very delicate material that does not do well when exposed to contact with water or high temperatures.
If any of your leather garments do inadvertently get wet (when you're caught in the rain, for example), you should only air-dry these items.
2. Intimates
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Some items of underwear are made of very delicate fabrics that can easily be damaged in the dryer.
Bras, in particular, can lose their shape, and the underwires and bra hooks can damage both the bra itself and the dryer. It is much better to dry bras (and other delicate intimates) laid flat on a dry, clean towel.
3. Delicate fabrics
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Lace, mesh, nylons, tulle and other, similar delicate fabrics can be damaged in a tumble dryer due to the heat and the tumbling action.
It is much better to air-dry garments made of these fabrics.
4. Elasticized clothes
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Clothing made of elasticized/stretch fabrics such as swimwear, sportswear, socks, and underwear may lose their elasticity when tumble-dried at high temperatures.
5. Sequins, rhinestones and appliques
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Clothes and fabrics with sequins, rhinestones and beads should never be put in the dryer, as the heat could easily melt or dislodge them.
6. Wool, silk and fur
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All-natural fabrics such as wool, silk and fur (and even synthetic fur) do not do well when exposed to high temperatures and should always only be air-dried.
Some modern dryers have do have delicate programs specifically for wool and silk, but always check the laundering labels on these garments first: if tumble drying is not mentioned, it's best not to take the risk.
7. Down
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Down (feather) jackets, pillows and duvets should never be put in the dryer to avoid damaging them: dry them in the open air, taking care to shake the garments regularly to ensure the down is distributed evenly.
8. Bags
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Bags should generally never be dried in a tumble dryer as the materials they are typically made of can easily be damaged by the heat, permanently damaging them.
9. Shoes
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While you may think that fabric/canvas shoes could be put in a dryer without ant risk, the high heat can actually cause the soles to peel off and the rubber parts to melt, damaging your shoes irreparably. Again, always only air-dry wet shoes.
10. Fleece garments
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Finally, fleece - like many other synthetic fabrics - can easily shed and/or shrink in the heat generated by a dryer. If you want avoid this risk, air-dry always your fleece garments.
What other items do you avoid putting in the dryer?
