5 clothes dryer myths revealed by an expert

Perth Clothes dryer machine repairs

A clothes dryer can be a real conundrum. They’ve always been a little daunting for me. They’re big, clunky, noisy, and it wasn’t till I started taking them apart to repair, I learned how to use them correctly. Turns out there’s a right and wrong way to dry wet clothes.

If you’re here because you share my clothes dryer concerns, then you’re in the right place! After much trial and error, I have mastered the art of using a dryer. We’ll be going through some commonly believed dryer myths and myth-busting them like true detectives. Here are 5 commonly held myths about dryers:

Myth #1 Dryers are eating my Socks

I used to believe this for a long time, all of my socks would disappear after one tumble in the dryer. They would just vanish into thin air and I’d be left sockless or with mismatched socks.

Fortunately, there is no such thing as the sock monster that chomps on our socks and we never see them again. But you’re not alone in thinking this, socks do end up disappearing in the dryer. There are a few places you can start looking for your socks:

Check the lint trap

Some dryers have the filter located in the front. If the filter isn’t fitted properly then the pressure from the dryer once it’s loaded can push the sock underneath it. Remember to push the lint filter into the trap before every wash to avoid losing any socks.

Static Electricity

If you’re washing your socks with fitted sheets then remember to check the corner pockets. The socks can get tucked into small spaces. If you’re missing your baby’s socks then look for them in the feet of footie pajamas. Check other larger pieces of clothing for your socks before sending out the signal!

When dryers run, they create a lot of static electricity in the clothes. This causes the socks to stick to other clothes. The physics makes sense when you think of rubbing your socked feet against a rug and having paper stick to your feet. That’s exactly what happens to socks in the dryer.

Keeping the couple the together

Besides the usual hiding places, you can always try these neat tricks to avoid your socks from getting separated

  • Mesh laundry bag: it’s a lifesaver, put all your socks and even baby clothes into it before pooping the bag into the dryer. The mesh will help the moisture seep out of the clothes and the bag will keep the socks together!

  • If you can’t find a mesh then safety pins will do. Pin the socks together to avoid any separation on their end

The last place you can look for your beloved socks is around and under the laundry appliances.

Myth #2 Ignore the Lint trap

Lint is a pesky little thing that causes major problems. So ignoring lint buildup is NOT recommended because it’s a safety hazard.

But where does lint come from? Lint is fabric from cotton and wool clothing that comes off due to friction caused by washing and drying. The lint can stick to other clothes and even block dryer vents and ducts. This can lead to decreased efficiency and increased energy consumption.

But the most dangerous aspect of lint buildup is the fire risk. Since the lint blocks vents and ducts it leads to dryer malfunction which can end up causing a fire. Fire may have been a friend to the cavemen but it’s not a benefit for our appliances.

 

You can avoid any mishaps by regularly cleaning the lint traps and ducts.

Myth #3 More dryer sheets fix everything

No, a dryer sheet will not fix the scratchy feel of your clothing. It can set fire to your dryer though. Too much of anything is bad, it’s the same in the case of dryer sheets. While dryer sheets are essential in maintaining the soft downing feeling of your clothes, adding too many is a bad call.

Dryer sheets leave a residue on clothes making them softer and fragrant. Similarly, they can also leave a residue on the dryer itself. The sheets also reduce static in the clothes, and as we mentioned above prevent clothes from sticking.

The sticky residue can clog the lint trap making air circulation difficult. And we know that good air circulation is imperative in preventing overheating and fires.

Every fabric needs a different amount of dryer sheets, so check the label before tossing in the sheets.

Myth #4 Overloading the dryer is no big deal

I get it, it’s easier to load the dryer to the brim and dry all the clothes in one go. While it seems like water and energy-saving thing to do, it’s the opposite.

Stuffing the dryer leads to poorer airflow, creating longer drying cycles because the moisture has no place to evaporate into. Always fill your dryer up halfway, it leaves enough space for the clothes to dry and tumble around.

 

On the other hand, Not filling the dryer up properly leaves the clothes open to over-drying and damages the fabric.

Myth #5 The dryer is shrinking my clothes

This one is the most common myth about dryers. I always hate it when my favorite clothes shrink to the size of a babys’…well not exactly a baby, but small enough to not fit me anymore.

This myth can be debunked by logic, like all myths! It’s widely known that hot air causes shrinkage, but there are a few more factors at play. Let’s go over some hows and why’s of the shrinking theory

Why do clothes shrink?

When clothes are manufactured, the fabric is often stretched to get the most out of the piece of fabric. The usual, capitalism. When the threads are stretched, they end up losing tension. This makes the fabric go back to its original size, thus making your clothes look smaller or tighter than usual. Don’t worry, you’re not getting fat. Eat that brownie!

Does hot water alone cause shrinkage?

Hot water alone doesn’t cause shrinkage. If the clothes were in the washer with hot water then the fibers will soak up the moisture. Then when the clothing gets into the dryer, it starts drying and shrinking.

Longer drying cycles also subject clothes to hot air longer than necessary. Leading to fabric strands shrinking beyond their natural state and will continue to shrink till the dryer isn’t stopped.

Dryer movement affecting shrinkage

Now that we’ve busted this long-held myth, let us also learn some tips to prevent shrinkage

Ways to keep your clothes from shrinking

Dryers not only dry the clothes by blowing hot air against them, but they also spin the clothes around to uniformly dry clothes. Clothes can also shrink due to tumbling. Aggressive tumbling can further shrink clothes along with hot air.

  • Keep an eye on the water during washes: we’ve discussed this, the shrinkage starts from the washer. People believe different clothes and fabrics require water at different temperatures. Sportswear requires hot water to clean properly. This is false, hot water does more damage than good. Choose warm water to wash any clothes you might’ve sweat in.

     

    Similarly, stains like blood, coffee stains, and oil don’t need hot water to wash them out. It only ends up deepening them. Again, warm water will work perfectly fine for those annoying stains. Thankfully detergents are now capable of removing different stains at the same temperature of the water!

  • Keep the dryer settings according to your clothes: keep the heat setting to the lowest. Now I know, it’s time-consuming and requires longer drying cycles. But it’s one of the best ways to prevent shrinkage. The fabric will get fewer chances to shrink.

    Spinning and tumbling are pretty essential for the drying process, but you can always adjust the spin speed to your liking. Slower spins will reduce the tumbling and friction leading to lesser chances of shrinkage.

  • Labels, labels, labels: garment labels give the perfect tips on how to wash and dry your clothes. But they’re so hard to understand and why do these labels even matter?

    Always read labels. The manufacturers put them in so that we know exactly how to care for them. Fabrics like cotton, wool, linen, and silk are delicate and require more care from your end. They also absorb a lot of water so a hot wash and drying can greatly affect them.

    “Hand-wash only” means hand-wash only. Such clothes need a more careful hand and prevent shrinkage and fraying. But if you’re low on time or are tired then a gentle wash and air drying can work too!

  • Sometimes, air drying is better: air drying is best when you don’t want your clothes to shrink. I understand, it’s easier and quicker to just throw your wet clothes into the dryer and then take a nap while the machine does its job.

    But think, is the shrinkage worth it? Air drying is not only good for your clothes but also for the environment. Makes the clothes last longer!

Takeaway

And there you have it, dryer myths busted. It’s pretty easy to tumble dry and the fastest spin and use the hottest water to save up on time. But none of these steps will give any long-term benefits. 

Remember if you are having any issues with your dryer, spare yourself the effort and risk, and call a skilled dryer repair technician today!