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.
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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Delicate fabrics like silk should …