Clothes dryer problems

Medicechic

I'm guilty of drying everything in the dryer. Although I dry everything on the extra low setting, I think my dryer gets hotter than others and it shrinks everything! I didn't want to part with it, because it matches my washing machine, but I may sell it and buy a cheaper model (maybe it won't shrink everything!). It's a whirlpool cabrio model with the clear front door. My washing machine is a HE top loader.

My boyfriend gives me a hard time about shrinking everything too. I didn't have this problem before, even when we went to the laundry mat with their horrible dryers. Seriously, I have even shrunk towels. I didn't know that was possible.

Anyone have any recommendations?

14 years ago

General

8 replies

Latest reply was from Medicechic

krishnidoux

Veteran

I did like you until :

#1) I got myself a pair of good, foldaway indoor clothe racks such as this one:
http://www.taylorgifts.com/ite.....c=NEXTAG46

#2) I took the habit of buying more than one item in the basics, so that I can rotate easier.

Now, I am the total reverse and find most of my clothes have never seen the inside of a dryer. Except maybe my pajamas. But I line dry my socks and underwear too, and they last longer.

When room is an issue I set up my racks in the bath tub and also dry some clothes on hangers from the curtain rail. But am careful not to put tops on those, as they stretch. On the hangers I put the socks and underwear and on the racks I lay my knits and cottons flat.
If your machine's top allows it, you can also dry things flat on there.

You would be surprised at how fast the new materials dry.

14 years ago

Jenna S.

Active Member

If you think your machine is genuinely running hot or there might be something off about it, you might call the company or a service person to see what they think before committing to buying a new one.

Cottons are much more prone to shrinkage than other fabrics, so buying cottons or cotton-blends that say "pre-shrunk" or to fit slightly larger than you would like can help with shrinkage. Of course, the dryer can still be very hard on your clothes. I don't have my own washer/dryer, so I have some motivation to air dry already.

One thing I find that helps is developing a foolproof and easy air-drying system to encourage you to hang delicate or shrinkable fabrics, like a pretty drying rack so you can just sling garments over the bars with relative speed and ease and forget about them until later. Oh, and there's nothing like wearing clothing that's dried near a sunny window...it's so fresh! And the sun is a natural antiseptic.

14 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

oh and I don't need to iron so much more either. Maybe some shirts, and sometimes give a quick ironing to some jeans... another option is to put in the dryer shortly to get the wrinkles out. But mostly it's really not that much more work.

14 years ago

Anonymous

I don't like how things are stretched out after air drying, though. It's like they never go back to the right shape. One of my *many* pet peeves......brand new cotton tees that shrink up to my belly button after 1 washing.

14 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I'd call the service repair guy to make sure your dryer isn't running too hot. It could be an easy fix.

I do tend to air dry most of my clothes these days. I used to be like you -- tumble dry everything except my bras! -- but then I started line drying my jeans, because I heard that putting them in the dryer ruins them. The dryer destroys the stretch fibres, so they feel nice and tight when you put them on after the come out of the dryer, but they'd bag out in ten minutes. So annoying. Anyway, once I stopped putting jeans in the dryer, and found that yes indeed, they DO keep their shape better, I was a convert; now none of my clothes go in the dryer!

I do still use the dryer all the time for the kids' laundry and the towels, and I'd sure miss it if I didn't have it for that purpose.

14 years ago

Patty

Veteran

Check your lint trap and see that it is clear. Take it to the tap and run some water in it--if it holds water it needs to be cleaned carefully with a brush or replaced. If the lint screen is clogged the dryer will be holding the heat in stead of venting it and you could run hot. Everyone should check their lint screen for this--it can start a fire!!!! Dryer sheets are particularly bad for clogging the screen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

14 years ago

cloud9

Veteran

you may also need to check the ventilation tubes of the dryer (I don't know what they are really called, but the big silvery looking tube that is outside of the dryer at the back). For a while, our dryer would mysteriously shrink everything (hotter than usual). After investigation, we found that the tube was a bit plugged and wasn't connected properly.

14 years ago

Medicechic

(website)

Active Member

I'll have to try calling the service people again. Last time I had them out, they told me that it was hot, but within the service limits. They said I shouldn't complain about the hot because they get so many people that don't have the heat! Grr! I also found the service manual online that lists the temperatures for each setting. I'll have to get out my wireless meat thermometer and measure them again myself since it's too hot to stand outside and hold a thermometer in the vent!

Usually when I do laundry, I have lots and lots. I can't imagine drying basket fulls of clothing on racks. I do occasionally dry my jeans on one, and of course now my bras that I hand wash. I learned my lesson there. Once I get around to it, I also wash a load of delicates and let them dry on the rack.

Oh and the lint trap is clear, I clean it every time and don't use dryer sheets most of the time. Also, the vent is clear. I've taken it off and checked more than once.

Oh and a cool tip I found is to use 1/2 a cup of vinegar in your rinse water with your towels. It acts as a softener and you really can't smell it after they are dried. Regular clothes softener like Downy or Snuggle type makes the towels not absorb water.

14 years ago

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