While it’s undoubtedly convenient to move all of your wet clothes from the washer to the dryer, not all garments can withstand the high heat of the appliance. If you’re tired of checking every care tag to see which items you can and cannot put in the dryer, there are a few hard and fast rules you can follow to help guide you. From delicate fabrics and shoes to meltable materials, these items should never be put in the dryer.
- Kathy Cohoon, director of franchise operations at Two Maids
- Morgan LaLonde, laundry brand manager for Whirlpool
Bras, Swimwear, Exercise Clothes, and Other Spandex Fabrics
Garments with spandex, like exercise clothes, swimwear, and bras, should be air-dried. “The intense heat of the dryer can break down the fibers in fabrics that contain spandex and cause damage over time or cause the spandex to lose elasticity,” says Kathy Cohoon, director of franchise operations at Two Maids. If your garment only has a small percentage of spandex, though, it can be dried on the lowest heat setting.
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Silk
Delicate fabrics like silk should never be placed in the dryer unless your model has an air-only cycle. “Too much heat will ruin the fabric,” says Morgan LaLonde, laundry brand manager for Whirlpool. “To keep silk looking its best, you typically want to lay silk items flat to dry so they maintain shape and keep them out of direct heat.” With all gentle fabrics, it’s best to check the laundry care tag before washing or drying in any way.
Leather or Faux Leather
Real leather doesn’t handle heat or water well and should not be put in a dryer. “In fact, the heat could cause cracking in the material,” says LaLonde. Synthetic leather is slightly less sensitive, but high heat temperatures could cause it to melt or shrink; air drying is still the best course of action.
Lace
Like silk, garments with lace detailing should be air dried, as the fabric is typically delicate. “When put in the dryer, lace can snag, burn, or shrink,” says Cohoon.
Clothes With Embellishments
Your little one’s favorite sequin blouse? Best not to put it in the dryer. The same goes with garments that have beads or other glued-on embellishments. “The dryer can melt more delicate sequins—causing an issue for your clothing and your dryer—damage the fabric if a bead snags during the tumble, shrink sequins, and ultimately isn’t the best choice,” says Cohoon.
Backpacks or Lunch Boxes
If your kid brings home a messy backpack or juice-filled lunch box, wash it—then leave it out to air dry. “High heat temperatures from dryers will damage the fabric on these items,” says LaLonde. “Specifically accessories on the items, like zipper pulls.”
Faux Fur
If the faux fur on your garments is matted, it can be fluffed or freshened in the dryer using a no heat, air-dry setting. “It’s not recommended to use heat settings on faux fur because it can melt the material,” says LaLonde.
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Sneakers
Though plenty of us throw our sneakers in the dryer after washing them, it’s not recommended. “This can damage the shoes and the machine. The heat can shrink the cloth on the shoe and alter the fit, as well as damage the glue or adhesive that holds your sneakers together,” says Cohoon. “After washing, dry shoes in front of a fan and make sure to leave ample time to remove all moisture.”
Rubber-Backed Mats
If you have a kitchen or bath math with a rubber backing, it’s best to let it air dry after washing. “Rubber-backed mats can fall apart in the dryer due to the heat and tumbling,” says Cohoon. “This isn’t only a huge mess to clean out of your lint trap, but ultimately breaks down the grip backing of your mat and leads to warping over time.”
Hosiery
Pantyhose or tights should never go in the dryer. “Dryers will wear down pantyhose and tights and cause shrinking or snagging,” says LaLonde. “To make sure your pantyhose last as long as possible, hand wash and air dry them.”
