Having to use a dryer

Have another one to add to all the 'washing clothes' threads on here today! I have a lot of clothes which are quite delicate and 'handwash only'. At the moment I just put them on the handwash cycle of the washing machine with no heat and hang them on a clothes horse that does the job grand. I'm moving to a place with no washing machine soon, so will be relying on a launderette, which means everything will have to go in the dryer. What sort of clothes should are OK to go in the dryer? I assume jeans, work trousers and manmade fibres are OK? I was thinking of getting some of those cheap 3/4 length tops from H&M and things like that. What do I do with bras? Will they fall to pieces in the dryer?

Giselle

I'm very lazy and would put most things straight into the dryer. In the launderette you'll have to put your manmade fibres into the 'cool' cycle, and things like jeans can go in the hot cycle.

I wouldn't ever put woollies or things like silk, seude or leather in the dryer. Presently I use the handwash cycle for underwear and let them dry naturally, but in your situation I'd handwash them in the sink and let them air dry.



Look for that symbol on clothes labels, it means don't tumble!

Giselle

Giselle wrote: »

I'm very lazy and would put most things straight into the dryer. In the launderette you'll have to put your manmade fibres into the 'cool' cycle, and things like jeans can go in the hot cycle.

I wouldn't ever put woollies or things like silk, seude or leather in the dryer. Presently I use the handwash cycle for underwear and let them dry naturally, but in your situation I'd handwash them in the sink and let them air dry.



Look for that symbol on clothes labels, it means don't tumble!

I know, I'm not that bad at washing. I'm usually really over-cautious and pay close attention to the instructions, as I find that even the recommended temps/settings damage my clothes. I won't really be able to handwash either I guess I'll have to leave all my cashmere/wool stuff in storage and take manmade stuff as it seems to do well in the dryer. Looks like I'll have to stock up on Fabreeze as well!

Giselle

Sorry Izzy, I bet you're a whizzyizzy at the washing.:)

Very swanky to have so much cashmere you've to put it into storage!

lainey316

Laundrettes don't all have 30 degree cycles either, it's very annoying. My clothes (t-shirts and bras in particular) got trashed when I was travelling and didn't have any choice but to use the dryer or carry wet clothes around.

When I was living in a flat without a washing machine one summer, I found the laundrette nearest the flat, and carried at least half my stuff back from there wet in a basin and dried it on the clothes horse. I was too afraid of shrinkage/damage.

Giselle

Giselle wrote: »

Sorry Izzy, I bet you're a whizzyizzy at the washing.:)

Very swanky to have so much cashmere you've to put it into storage!

LOL, I have a few jumpers, I get a lot of nice things at charity shops here for <£20. It's so lovely and cozy but no way am I putting it near a dryer!

QuiteInterestin

I used to live in a block of apartments with a communal laundry room. I found these larger/service dryers were far harsher on clothes then the domestic clothes dryers you'd find in houses and apartments. I'd stick to handwashing your delicates and drying them on a clothes horse. Even your jeans/t shirts etc, don't dry them totally in the dryer, take them out when there still a little damp and dry them the rest of the way on a clothes horse. Don't leave them drying in your bedroom if possibe, supposedly breathing in the damp air from drying clothing isn't the best for your lungs (though that might be an old wives tale!:))

QuiteInterestin

QuiteInterestin wrote: »

I used to live in a block of apartments with a communal laundry room. I found these larger/service dryers were far harsher on clothes then the domestic clothes dryers you'd find in houses and apartments. I'd stick to handwashing your delicates and drying them on a clothes horse. Even your jeans/t shirts etc, don't dry them totally in the dryer, take them out when there still a little damp and dry them the rest of the way on a clothes horse. Don't leave them drying in your bedroom if possibe, supposedly breathing in the damp air from drying clothing isn't the best for your lungs (though that might be an old wives tale!:))

That's the problem, I'll only have a communal sink in a communal bathroom, so I can't really hog it washing stuff, and there's nowhere to dry clothes but the bedroom. Hmm. Looks like I might just have to bring old clothes

I think that's true about the clothes in the bedroom, I get a really bad wheeze when I do it!