How to I keep my clothes from shrinking in the dryer?

Question

Am I drying them too long? Should I change the setting?

Answer 1

Depending on what you are drying. Try putting the dryer on low heat, take the clothes out before they are completely dry, then hang dry. Some of my stuff I will hang dry, then if it is wrinkly, put it in the dryer just to get the wrinkles out and fluff it up. Also, most stuff you can wash in cold water, that might help too.

Answer 2

Check the label on the clothing. Some clothes simply cannot be put in a dryer because the fabrics e.g. wool, rayon will shrink no matter what the setting. Cotton and cotton-blends can be safely dried on the lowest temperature setting and shortest time possible. You may have to experiement a bit to get the right length of time. Try putting a load in on the lowest setting for no more than 30 minutes. If still damp, dry for another 10 minutes.

Answer 3

Your clothes keep shrinking in dryer because heat is usually the culprit behind the shrinkage of clothes. Very hot water in the washing machine or high-heat drying, either from a laundry dryer or even hot heat from the sun will reduce the size of clothes, especially cotton fabrics. For natural animal fabrics, like wool or mohair, the simple agitation of the wet fabric inside a washer or dryer will create a reaction that can significantly shrink the material. 1.Cotton Fabrics: Cotton shrinks because of what is called relaxation shrinkage. During clothes construction, tension is applied to cotton yarns and fabrics. Tension is released under heat, whether it's steamed, washed or dried, causing the fabric to shrink to its natural size. Because of this process, most cotton fabrics will shrink during the first washing. 2. Animal (Wool) Fabrics: Wool, mohair or cashmere are essentially animal hair and shrink through a process called progressive shrinkage, meaning it will shrink a little each time it is washed. This is mainly why these fabrics are dry cleaned. The shrinkage occurs mostly due to the agitation process that happens in the washer or dryer, raising the scales of the cubicle layer of the wool fibers, causing them to catch on each other. The water and agitation cause the fibers to bind together, altering the size of the fibers. Man-Made Fabrics: Nearly all man-made fabrics, like polyester and acetate, do not shrink. Although, some blends with cotton or wool can shrink minimally. Usually, this does not occur unless the clothes are washed in extremely hot water, dried on the highest heat setting, and sometimes ironed wet on the hottest iron setting. The only reason a synthetic blend will shrink is if there are also natural fibers in the fabric. The more natural fibers, the more likely the fabric will shrink. How to Avoid Shrinkage: To keep clothes made of natural fibers from shrinking, it is best to wash them by hand or on the delicate washing machine cycle in cold water. Avoid putting any clothes that are made of any natural fiber in the dryer. If you must wash clothes made of natural fabric, wash them in cold water and, when drying, It is best to lay out the items on a flat surface. If you are drying cotton material, hang it up. To avoid any possibility of shrinkage, have the clothes dry cleaned. How to Control Shrinkage: First, wash the garment in the hottest but shortest time setting on the washing machine. The heat and agitation will help shrink the fabric, but the short time span will allow you to pay close attention to the quickness of the shrinkage. Then put the clothes in the dryer on the hottest setting. Alternate this until the desired size is accomplished. The amount of natural fibers in the clothes will determine how much attention must be paid to the shrinking process. If the fabric is 100-percent cotton or animal fibers, such as wool, less washing and time will be needed than if it is a polyester/cotton blend. Before washing and drying in washer and heater see the clothes washing instruction manual.

Answer 4

Yes, adjust the temperature down a fair degree. If they are of a particular material, I would not use the dryer at all, but let them dry naturally either hung inside the house or outside on a nice sunny day.

Answer 5

You should try low heat so they don't shrink. Or don't put them in the dryer that's what i do I let them hang dry.

Answer 6

Don't put them in the dryer. After you wash them,hang them like over the back of a chair or something,and let them air dry. My mom does it all the time.

Answer 7

Depends on what kind of dryer you use, but definitely use the "low" setting and nothing should shrink.

Answer 8

Dry on medium or low. Or hang clothes out to dry, Also try not to get 100 percent cotton when you buy clothes.

Answer 9

Don't put them in the dryer. Hang dry them DUH


Oh, and check the label. If it says dry clean only....think about it.

Answer 10

Change the setting to low heat - tumble dry:)