Anyone with experience doing laundry knows the feeling of removing a blouse from the dryer that has

clearly shrunk. While we wish there were simple rules for remembering how to dry clothes, it
sometimes just isn't that easy. To help you keep your clothes free of stains, wrinkles, and damage, use
our guide to drying clothes the right way.

We'll cover different clothing materials, textures, colors, and weights and how you should change your
drying method for each. Learn what setting to use on your dryer and when to opt for a clothes-drying
rack. When you pay close attention to your clothes and treat them with care, you'll be surprised at how
long they last and how nice they feel in return.

<img
src="https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url&#x3D;https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2F
wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F37%2F2015%2F06%2F15205301%2F102569649.jpg" alt="laundry
room ">
Common Clothes Drying Questions

What Clothes Can I Dry?

As a general rule of thumb, clothing items laundered in a permanent-press or regular cycle in the
washing machine can also be dried in the clothes dryer. But it's always best to check the clothing care
label. You especially don't want to machine-dry anything that is required to be washed by hand. When
in doubt, air-dry garments on a clothes-drying rack. This option saves money on fuel bills, extends the
longevity of clothes, and reduces concerns about ruining certain clothing.

How Should I Prep My Clothes for the Dryer?

Before even washing clothes, you need to sort clothing. Separate wash loads by texture (which produce
lint, which attract it), fabric (put clothing items of similar materials together), soil (separate heavily
soiled from lightly soiled), and color (whites, lights, darks, items that bleed). This will serve you well as
you sort clothes for drying. But in a nutshell, separate clothes for drying by weight. Mixing heavier items
with lighter items might mean one comes out overdried and the other still damp.

Give just-washed clothes a glance and a shake. Glance at them to see if the washing machine did its part
in removing stains. If stains remain, take another shot at treating them with our tips on how to remove
stains from laundry. If a stained garment goes into the dryer, the stain will likely become permanent.
Shake out garments or linens before putting them in the dryer to remove hidden items (such as socks),
help items dry faster, and help reduce wrinkles.

How Can I Avoid Overloading the Dryer?

You might think you're saving time and energy by packing as much into your dryer as possible. In reality,
the clothes will take longer to dry and will likely come out looking much like they did when they were
first stuffed in—wrinkled and misshapen. Keep the dryer load small enough to tumble easily and freely
in the dryer drum. Learn how to dry clothes fast by readjusting large loads, such as sheets and blankets,
during their cycle so they dry faster and more evenly. This will help prevent you from having to iron
clothes.

<img
src="https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url&#x3D;https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2F
wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F37%2F2016%2F02%2F15225830%2F102068190.jpg" alt="clothes
hanging on air-drying rack">

Hanging clothes to dry rather than tossing them in the dryer can prevent shrinking, fading, and other
damage caused by heat.

Why and When Should I Air-Dry My Clothes?

Consider the benefits of air-drying clothing rather than using a clothes dryer.

Air-drying uses less energy, which saves money and makes less of an impact on the environment.

Air-drying prevents static cling.

Air-drying outside on a clothesline adds a fresh, clean smell.

Air-drying extends the lifetime of clothing by reducing wear and tear in the dryer.

If you do not have a clothesline, there are ways to dry your clothes indoors. For starters, you may want
to purchase an indoor clothes-drying rack. These usually fold down when not in use, so they store very
easily and discreetly, helping you to organize your laundry room. You can find other surfaces around
your home to drape clothes over, such as a towel rack or shower curtain. Try not to hang damp clothing
on surfaces that may warp or rust when wet, such as wood or metal. Most surfaces in your bathroom
are waterproof, so that's a good place to start air-drying clothes.

Related: How to Fold Clothing and Towels

Here are additional tips for drying clothes indoors:

Hang clothes from a rod or lay them flat on a drying rack when air-drying garments inside the home.

Keep garments separated to allow air circulation and faster drying.

Place clothes near a fan or a heat vent to air-dry more quickly.

Lay sweaters and other stretchy garments flat on a drying rack to help retain their shapes; turn them at
least once to help them dry evenly.

Hang fleece garments from a rod to dry.

Reshape any foam or batting in bra cups before draping bras over a clothing rack to air-dry.

Air-dry camisoles on hangers; use clothespins if the garments seem in danger of slipping off.

Pin panties and slips to hangers by the waistbands, or hang them over a drying rack to air-dry.

How Should I Hang Clothes on a Clothesline?

Whether you air-dry clothes from a clothesline inside or outside, each type of item should be hung in a
particular way so it ends up looking its best.

Pants: Match the inner leg seams of pants, and clothespin the hems of the legs to the line, with the
waist hanging down.

Shirts and tops: Shirts and tops should be pinned to the line from the bottom hem at the side seams.

Socks: Hang socks in pairs, pinning by the toes and letting the top opening hang down.

Bed linens: Fold sheets or blankets in half and pin each end to the line. Leave room between the items, if
possible, for maximum drying.

<img
src="https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url&#x3D;https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2F
wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F37%2F2017%2F10%2F15215914%2F102742833.jpg" alt="laundry
room, teal cabinets, laundry">

Getting the Best Results When Drying Clothes

If you're wondering what temperature to dry clothes, check the clothing care label to make sure you're
doing what's best for the fabric. Some clothes may need a lower heat setting or even require line drying.
If no care label exists, follow these suggestions.

Consider wash temperature: If you can wash your clothes in hot water, they can often be dried on a hot
setting, as well. Cotton bath towels, for example, can be dried in a regular hot setting. Six bath towels
weighing 5 pounds will dry in 40-50 minutes.

Permanent press dryer setting: Items that need to be washed in cooler water probably should be dried
in a permanent-press setting. That setting includes a cool-down cycle at the end of the heated drying
process to help prevent wrinkles. A permanent-press load of 12 items—slacks, shirts, shorts, and
dresses—also weighing 5 pounds will dry in 30-40 minutes. As the load size increases, so does drying
time.

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