Hung Out to Dry
How to Master Your Next Laundry Day
Can you trust your clothes dryer? How many times have you needed to quickly dry some pieces of clothing and thought to pop them into the electric dryer, only for them to come out shrunken, shrivelled, or otherwise ruined?
Fast and efficient technology like the electric clothes dryer ensure to make our lives easier; but wrapping our heads around using them can be a confusing task, especially when the very technology is rapidly changing and evolving every day.
To make matters more confusing, Australia’s cost of living is constantly rising due to inflation, meaning it’s getting more and more expensive to pay for utilities like gas and electricity.
With such frequent clothes dryer use among those who own one, it’s useful to now which fabrics can go in the clothes dryer safely, without altering their shape or shrinking them.
Denim
Denim jeans and shorts remain a popular clothing option for many. Produced from cotton, denim is a sturdy and often tough fabric suitable for almost all times of the day.
Denim fabrics can safely go into the clothes dryer. However, for the best results and optimal care, it’s best to remove them from the dryer just before the cycle ends, and to let them air dry, as it will allow them to keep their shape for longer.
A low temperature and delicate cycle is recommended for those using a tumble dryer.
Cotton
As one of the most popular options for clothing materials, cotton is often spun into yarn or thread and is used to make soft and breathable clothing, particularly suitable for climates where the weather changes multiple times a day (sound familiar Melburnians?).
Cotton is also commonly used to make bedding and can often be found blended with synthetics like polyester and other fabrics like linen or rayon. Cotton clothes are common, but caution must be taken when drying them as 100% cotton clothes are likely to shrink in the dryer, whilst most blends are able to withstand the drying cycle shrink-free.
Checking the tag for drying instructions is always helpful if you’re ever unsure.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a lightweight synthetic fibre made from a polymer. Acrylic fibres are most commonly used in the manufacturing of warm clothing, such as scarves, gloves, tracksuits and sweaters.
Due to its synthetic properties, acrylic clothing is completely safe to put in the clothes dryer, although a low temperature cycle is recommended for the best results.
Drying acrylic clothing on a high temperature setting will likely result in a permanent wrinkle.
Timing is everything – be sure to grab your acrylic clothing out of the dryer as soon as the cycle is finished, as leaving them in will also result in wrinkles.
However, not all hope is lost if your acrylic clothing does suffer a few wrinkles. Using a clothes iron on a medium setting can help with straightening them out.
Linen
Produced from the fibres of the flax plant, linen is often very absorbent and used for towels, bedding, and a number of clothing options.
As a natural fibre, linen is easily blended with other fabrics, allowing consumers more affordable options at checkout.
Drying linen sheets and towels in the clothes dryer is a safe and easy option, especially during the colder months. Most linen options are dryer safe, however tumble drying may impact its lifespan.
Linen is also easily crinkled due to its thin make-up, but drying linen pieces on a low temperature is suitable. Linen clothing, however, is recommended to be professionally dry-cleaned or air-dried to avoid shrinkage and creasing.
Microfibre
Microfibre is a synthetic tiny fibre typically made from polyesters and polyamides such as nylon.
Traditionally, microfibres are used in the production of mats, knitwear, cleaning dusters, upholstery and specialised clothes such as sports jerseys.
Clothes and covers made from microfibres can be safely dried in the clothes dryer on a low temperature and on a short cycle, as microfibres typically dry quickly in comparison to other materials. It’s recommended microfibre products are dried together to prevent the build up of lint.
Nylon
Nylon clothing items come in a number of varieties and blends. Traditionally used for the production of stockings, 100% nylon products are less common, with cotton, polyester, and spandex blends most common for comfort.
Nylon products are clothes dryer safe, but clothing care labels should always be checked before putting items in the machine. As nylon tends to dry quickly, it is recommended nylon is put through the drying machine on a low temperature and short cycle.
Nylon should be taken out of the clothes dryer as soon as possible and dried with a drying sheet, as it builds up static cling.
Polyester
Polyester is a common synthetic fabric used to produce a variety of clothing items.
Polyester is also often used with a variety of blends to create home furnishings, apparel, and blankets.
Polyester is quick to dry, so a clothes dryer may not even be necessary, however, using a clothes dryer is unlikely to damage polyester items. Using a low temperature setting is optimal, as well s using a drying sheet, as polyester builds up static cling.
What Can't Go In The Dryer?
Fabrics such as cashmere, lace, leather and suede, rayon, silk, and wool should never go in the clothes dryer, at risk of shrinking, wrinkles, irreversible damage and even fire.
If you aren't sure, check the clothing care label closely to ensure you know what your clothes are made from and how you should be washing and drying them.
Doing your laundry from the comfort of your own home is a massive advantage; it saves travel costs, time, and costs per use.
But finding the right machine for the job can be a challenging task.
Click here for Canstar Blue's Best Clothes Dryers Guide.
Click here for Canstar Blue's Best Front Load Washing Machines Guide.
Wash Bar Coin Laundry
Melbourne's Newest and Most Highly Rated Coin Laundry
For those heading out to the laundromat to do their laundry, Dharm and Deval at Wash Bar Coin Laundry have got you covered.
The couple have offered affordable and sustainable washing locations to those located in and around Melbourne's CBD since 2017, with locations in North Melbourne and Flemington.
Not only are their washing and drying machines highly efficient, Dharm and Deval's locations are suited for customers entertainment needs, with 24/7 streamed music, free internet access and a cafe on site at their Flemington location.
"We tried to cater all the amenities that we missed while doing our laundry."
Dharm and Deval first started their laundry service back in 2017.
Their aim was to provide affordable and efficient laundry services to those who couldn't do it at home.
"That thought of opening a modern coin laundry was the first snap of Wash Bar Coin Laundry."
With it, they provide a place to kick back and relax, with free internet access, a cafe, and music available at their laundromat locations.
"Once we started there was no looking back."
Because of Dharm and Deval's dedication to their business, laundry day no longer has to be drab and boring.
Dharm and Deval are continuing to develop plans to expand their business in the future.
Wrapping your head around Laundry day can become a harder task than expected.
With fast fashion trends meaning clothes can become more easily susceptible to damage due to washing and drying, sustainability should be kept in mind to not only keep your clothes intact, but to help minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
So, when it comes to your next laundry day, check out the weather and reconsider when using machines.
6 Reasons to Air-Dry Your Clothes
Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash
Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash
It's Environmentally Friendly
Line drying saves on energy. Switching to Line-drying can help massively reduce your household carbon footprint.
For many households, the clothes dryer is the second-most energy-consuming appliance.
It Saves Your Clothes
Despite the best advice, clothes are still highly likely to become damaged from the clothes dryer.
Line drying prevents your clothes from withering, overheating and shrinking.
It Creates Laundry Consciousness
Line-drying allows you to assess how often your clothes should be washed and dried.
Since line-drying takes longer, it allows you to be more aware of how badly your clothes need to be washed, and whether they should be worn again or saved for a later date.
It Whitens and Disinfects Clothes
UV rays from the sun can help to disinfect wet and damp clothing and can even help to remove lingering stains.
It Saves Money
Line-drying is free, allowing you to save on the costs of running an electric dryer or buying dryer sheets.
It Reduces Wrinkles and Shrinking
Hanging your clothes on a line allows wrinkles cased by washing to dissipate.
As the clothes are weighed down by the weight of the water, they stretch to their natural form.
Reconsidering on your next laundry day can massively impact the way you can save money, your clothes and the environment.
Whether you wash and dry your clothes at home, use laundromats like Wash Bar Coin Laundry, or hand wash your clothes yourself, air-drying remains the highly recommended option by everyone.
Save time, costs and your clothes and master your laundry days by making the conscious decisions that can make a difference.
