Laundry Schmaundry – Your Dryer Loves You or Loves You Not?

1.  Stains still on the clothes when thrown in the dryer will always be on the clothes. Heat sets the stain. As you throw things in the dryer, check for stains and rewash.  It’s cheaper than buying new clothes.

2.  Zippers that go in dryer will usually come out looking like roller coaster track. (Pants might be the exception.)   Hang them to dry after finger pressing the zippers smooth.  Zippers are usually made out of a different fabric than the clothing.   Fabrics shrink at different rates. The majority of the zippered tops at the thrift store are there because the owner probably got tired of sitting down and having the zipper rise to meet her.

This rule also applies to bras and fabrics with mixed fibers. Spandex shrinks less than cotton so the material can bubble. Heat also slowly depletes the integrity of the fabric, so you might not notice the damage until it’s too late.

Sweaters rarely go in my dryer, they are also hung dry, sometimes just smoothed over the back of my couch.  I know, lazy, right?

My drying rack folds up and fits neatly between the washer and the wall.

3.  Pens left in pockets can break open in the dryer and like a Spin Art Machine and spread ink throughout the ENTIRE interior of the dryer.  Don’t worry, in a few days it will completely dry and you can still use your dryer.  Names are not used to protect the guilty.  Gum can be scraped off the dryer, so can stickers, gummy candies,  and things too disgusting to even be correctly labeled. If you didn’t check the pockets before washing, check before drying.

4.  If saving money, 1/2 dryer sheet works.  I also leave in the old one when toss in a new one.  It takes a few cycles to completely use up the stinky, static killing stuff.  You can also throw the used dryer sheet in the wash cycle to add a little extra whatever-it-is-that’s-on-those-things to your water.

5.  FOLD OR HANG CLOTHES IMMEDIATELY. I don’t like to iron and don’t have time to iron.  I don’t have time to rewash or redry a wrinkled load.  Kids shouldn’t have to hunt in baskets of clean, wrinkled laundry to find something to wear.  I fold clothes into each person’s basket, the kids are required to put them away.  I also have one basket for linens.  By disciplining yourself to take the time to fold immediately, you can save more time and money.

If you’re really pressed for time, take clothes out from the dryer and lay them flat on the dryer.  Come back to fold and put in baskets as soon as possible.

6.  Use correct hangers.  The pink one is for articles with sleeves.  The white hanger is for articles with straps.  If you all know this, then this is ONLY for my children, just in case they ever read my blog.  The white hanger leaves funny marks on the shoulders of dress shirts.

7. Clean lint trap with each load. Yea, you might know this, but when you read these stats, you’ll realize a lot of people don’t.  I could be saving lives, here, people.  Bear with me.  Some have the lint traps below the door, can dig in there and get out a lot of extra lint.  Once a year I unplug dryer, unscrew the entire back, and dig out lint and things.  Last year, score, 50 bobby pins were nestled in with lint near the fan. I  took an amazing picture but, surprise,  the card wasn’t in the camera so the picture never showed up.

8. Rolled up  hems means the garment was overdried, especially for heavy items, denim skirts and jeans.  Pockets with flaps can permanently dry askew. Finger press pocket flaps down, then partially dry in dryer or air dry. If previous overdrying has rolled up your hem, try ironing them dry.

9.  Keep fabric weight in mind.  If you put a pair of dark jeans with ten dark dress shirts, the shirts  dry first and are overdried by the time the jeans are dry.

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