Let’s be honest, the clothes dryer is one of the unsung heroes of the modern home. It’s a magical box that turns a mountain of damp laundry into warm, fluffy piles of wearable clothes in under an hour. But with great power comes great responsibility. Knowing What Not To Put In The Dryer is just as important as knowing how to turn it on. Tossing in the wrong item can lead to a range of disasters, from a favorite sweater shrinking to the size of a doll’s, to permanently damaging your machine, or even worse, creating a serious fire hazard.
Here at Clothes Dryer Guide, we’ve seen it all. We’re here to be your trusted partner in laundry, helping you navigate the dos and don’ts of drying. This definitive guide will walk you through everything you absolutely must keep out of your dryer to protect your clothes, your appliance, and your home.
The Absolute No-Go List: What Not to Put in the Dryer (and Why)
Think of this as the golden rulebook of drying. While some items are borderline, the things on this list are a hard “no.” The combination of high heat, tumbling, and confined space can have disastrous effects on these materials.
Flammable & Chemical-Stained Items
This is the most critical category for home safety. The heat from your dryer can easily ignite flammable substances, even in small amounts.
- Anything Stained with Flammable Liquids: This includes cooking oil, gasoline, motor oil, paint thinner, or certain industrial cleaning agents. Even after washing, residues can remain in the fabric fibers. When heated, these residues can release flammable vapors, which can ignite and cause a fire or explosion.
Rule of Thumb: If you spill a flammable substance on clothing, it’s often best to hand wash it multiple times and always, always let it air dry completely, preferably outdoors. Never take the risk.
- Foam, Rubber, or Plastic: This is a huge one. Think bath mats with rubber backing, certain types of pillows or stuffed animals with foam padding, and even some slippers.
- Why it’s a bad idea: The intense heat can cause these materials to melt, warp, or even crumble. Not only does this ruin the item, but melted rubber and plastic can stick to the inside of your dryer drum, creating a future fire hazard and potentially damaging other clothes in subsequent cycles. It can also release toxic fumes.
Delicate Fabrics and Special Materials
Your dryer’s high heat and vigorous tumbling are the enemies of delicate and structured materials. This is where reading the care label becomes your best friend.
- Spandex & Performance Wear: Your favorite yoga pants, running shorts, and cycling gear are designed to be stretchy and moisture-wicking. The high heat of a dryer breaks down the elastic fibers (like Lycra or Spandex), causing them to lose their shape, elasticity, and performance capabilities. They’ll become saggy and won’t fit the same way again.
- Lingerie & Lace: Bras, especially underwire ones, are a definite no. The heat can warp the underwire, and the tumbling action can cause it to poke through the fabric. Delicate lace and silk can easily snag, tear, or shrink in the harsh environment of a dryer.
- Wool, Cashmere & Velvet: These natural and luxury fibers are prone to major shrinkage and felting in the dryer. The combination of heat and friction will cause the fibers to lock together, turning your cozy wool sweater into a stiff, shrunken version of its former self.
- Anything with Embellishments: Sequins, beads, rhinestones, and even some iron-on decals are often attached with heat-sensitive adhesive. The dryer’s heat will melt the glue, causing the decorations to fall off and potentially melt onto other clothes or the dryer drum.
Everyday Items That Secretly Hate the Dryer
Some of the biggest laundry culprits are items we use every day without a second thought.
- Sneakers & Shoes: While some canvas shoes might survive, most athletic shoes contain rubber soles, foam insoles, and special adhesives that will melt and warp in the dryer. The constant banging can also damage the shoe’s structure and potentially harm the inside of your dryer drum.
- Backpacks & Insulated Lunch Bags: Many of these items have plastic components, foam insulation, and waterproof linings that will be destroyed by the heat. Always check the tag, but air-drying is almost always the safest bet.
- Chewing Gum or Crayons: We’ve all been there. A forgotten piece of gum or a crayon left in a pocket. When heated, these melt into a waxy, sticky mess that can coat your entire load of laundry and the inside of your dryer. It’s a nightmare to clean up.
Why Do These Items React So Badly to Heat?
To truly understand what not to put in the dryer, it helps to know a little about how your machine works. Whether you have a classic vented dryer, a condenser model, or a modern heat pump dryer, they all rely on a combination of heat and airflow to remove moisture.
- Vented & Condenser Dryers: These traditional models use a heating element (either gas or electric) to generate high temperatures, often exceeding 135°F (57°C). This intense, direct heat is what causes materials like rubber to melt and delicate fibers like wool to shrink.
- Heat Pump Dryers: While more energy-efficient, heat pump dryers still use warm air to dry clothes. They operate at lower temperatures, making them gentler on fabrics, but they can still damage heat-sensitive items like spandex or anything with adhesives.
As our in-house textile expert, Dr. Evelyn Reed, often says, “Think of your dryer as a small, intense oven. You wouldn’t put your running shoes or a silk blouse in an oven, right? The same logic applies here. The heat fundamentally changes the structure of synthetic polymers and natural protein fibers, and the damage is almost always irreversible.”
Common Dryer Questions We Hear All the Time
We get a lot of questions from our readers. Let’s tackle some of the most common ones to clear up any confusion.
Can you put pillows in the dryer?
It depends entirely on the filling. Down and fiberfill pillows are often dryer-safe on a low-heat, gentle cycle (throwing in a couple of dryer balls helps fluff them up). However, foam pillows, especially memory foam, are a huge no. The foam can break apart and become a fire risk. Always check the care tag first.
What about drying jeans?
Generally, yes, you can dry jeans. However, to prevent shrinking and fading, it’s best to turn them inside out and use a medium or low heat setting. If they contain a high percentage of spandex for stretch, consider air-drying them or removing them from the dryer while they are still slightly damp to preserve the elasticity.
How do I dry a down jacket?
Down jackets can be tricky, but it’s possible. Use the lowest heat setting your dryer has. The key is to throw in two or three clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls. The balls will bounce around, breaking up the clumps of wet down and helping the feathers fluff back up evenly. It may take a long time, but it’s better than having a lumpy, flat jacket.
Bảng trống.A Quick Checklist for Safer Drying Habits
Developing good habits is the best way to protect your belongings and your dryer.
- Read the Care Label: This is your number one tool. The symbols will tell you everything you need to know about whether an item can be tumble-dried and at what temperature.
- Empty All Pockets: Before you load the washer, make it a habit to check every single pocket for coins, keys, lip balm, crayons, or gum.
- Shake It Out: Give each item a good shake before putting it in the dryer. This helps reduce wrinkles and can shorten drying time.
- Don’t Overload the Machine: Clothes need room to tumble and for air to circulate. An overloaded dryer is inefficient and can cause excessive wear and tear on both the clothes and the appliance.
- Clean the Lint Filter After Every Use: This is non-negotiable. A clogged lint filter restricts airflow, makes your dryer work harder (using more energy), and is a leading cause of dryer fires.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the one thing you should never put in a dryer?
A: The absolute most dangerous thing to put in a dryer is any fabric that has been in contact with a flammable liquid like gasoline, oil, or solvents. Even after washing, residue can remain and ignite from the heat, causing a serious fire.
Q: Can you put soaking wet clothes in the dryer?
A: You can, but it’s not ideal. Soaking wet clothes are very heavy and put extra strain on your dryer’s motor and drum. It also takes a very long time and uses a lot of energy. Ensure clothes have gone through a proper spin cycle in the washer first.
Q: What temperature should I use for my clothes?
A: Use high heat for heavy-duty items like cotton towels and bedding. Use medium heat for permanent press items and synthetics. Use low or no heat (air fluff) for delicate items that are dryer-safe, like those containing spandex or rayon.
Q: Why did my clothes shrink in the dryer?
A: Shrinkage is caused by the combination of heat, moisture, and tumbling. Natural fibers like cotton and wool are most susceptible. The heat causes the fibers to contract. To avoid this, use a lower heat setting or air-dry sensitive items.
Q: Is it okay to leave the dryer running when I’m not home?
A: It is strongly recommended that you do not leave your dryer running when you are not home or when you are asleep. While dryer fires are not common, they do happen, and being present allows you to react quickly if you smell smoke or notice a problem.
The Final Word on Smart Drying
Your dryer is an incredible convenience, but it’s a powerful appliance that demands respect. By being mindful of what not to put in the dryer, you’re not just saving your favorite clothes from a tragic, shrunken fate. You are also extending the life of your machine, saving energy, and, most importantly, keeping your home safe. A few extra minutes spent checking labels and air-drying the right items is a small price to pay for peace of mind.
What’s the biggest laundry lesson you’ve ever learned? Share your own dryer triumphs and tragedies in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.