What not to put in the tumble dryer and what can go in

What should never go in the tumble dryer?

Not all textiles are designed to withstand the high temperatures of a tumble dryer. Some materials can shrink, lose their feel or even become damaged when exposed to heat. The following garments and materials should never be put in the tumble dryer:

Wool & Cashmere
Wool and cashmere are particularly delicate and tend to shrink when exposed to the heat of a tumble dryer. Always make sure to wash your woollen clothing by hand or using the wool programme of your washing machine and then allow it to air dry – ideally flat.

Lace, Silk & Satin

Some types of delicate underwear and eveningwear are often made partly from lace, silk or satin. Silk in particular is an elegant but very delicate material. The heat and mechanical movement in the tumble dryer can roughen this smooth fabric and cause it to lose its shine.

As lace, silk and satin dry relatively quickly anyway, air drying is the gentlest option for these materials. Check the care label on your garment to see whether a delicate drying programme may be suitable for your fine laundry.

Sports & Swimwear with Stretch Content
Functional clothing and sportswear are often made from robust yet heat-sensitive materials such as polyamide or elastane. In the tumble dryer, these garments can lose their stretch and functionality, so if they are suitable for tumble drying at all, they should only be dried at very low temperatures.

ECONYL®, which is made from recycled nylon, should also not be put in the tumble dryer. The same applies to the fluffy synthetic fibre polyacrylic. As the material can quickly become dull and felted when exposed to high temperatures, it is better to hang these quick-drying garments on a clothesline. This can help them retain their material properties as well as possible.

Leather & Faux Leather Products, Furs & Faux Fur

Whether genuine or imitation: faux leather and leather, as well as fur and faux fur, should not be put in the tumble dryer. Leather is already unsuitable for the tumble dryer due to its weight, and there is also a risk that heat can cause it to dry out and crack. In the worst case, leather and faux leather accessories can even become completely damaged.

Fur and faux fur should also be left to dry at room temperature if they need to be washed. Genuine fur such as lambskin or sheepskin is particularly delicate and, depending on use, only needs to be cleaned with water occasionally. The tumble dryer is therefore even less suitable for these materials than the washing machine.

What can go in the tumble dryer?

You may now be wondering whether anything can actually go in the tumble dryer. And yes: despite the sensitivity of some textiles, there are many materials that can be dried in a tumble dryer without any problems. These include:

• Towels and bed linen: They are usually made from materials such as cotton or linen and are therefore also quite resistant to heat. They can often become particularly soft and fluffy in the tumble dryer.

• Cotton clothing: T-shirts, jeans and other garments made from pure cotton can also be tumble dried, provided the care label allows it. With jeans in particular, however, it is better to choose a gentle programme to avoid putting too much strain on the material.

• TENCEL™: This popular alternative to cotton can be tumble dried at low temperatures, provided the care label allows it.

• Certain synthetic fibres: Polyester and nylon are also often suitable for tumble drying – but only at low temperatures. Here too, the care label provides information about the appropriate care.

Further tips for using your tumble dryer correctly

To care for your clothing according to its material properties and achieve good drying results, you should always keep the following tips in mind:

• Check the care label: Before putting your clothes in the tumble dryer, check the care label. It will tell you whether the material is suitable for tumble drying and which temperature is recommended.

• Choose the right programme: Modern tumble dryers offer different programmes for different materials. A gentle programme at a low temperature is ideal for more delicate clothing.

• Do not overload the dryer: Overloading the tumble dryer can prevent the laundry from drying evenly and may cause clothes to become creased or damaged. It is therefore better to put less laundry in the dryer to dry it more gently.

• Air dry whenever possible: Delicate textiles should always be air dried to help maintain their structure and material properties. More robust textiles can also benefit from occasional air drying.

By following the care instructions and choosing the right drying programme, you can care for your clothes according to their material properties and use your tumble dryer in a targeted way.