If you’re short on time and in a rush, it’s easy to just throw everything in the dryer from the washer and call it a day—but there can be some major consequences for some of your clothing if you do that. So, we reached out to dryer experts to find out exactly what should never, ever end up in a dryer. And trust us, it’s worth taking an extra minute to make sure your machine is free of these 14 things.
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Flammable Stains
According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 2010 and 2014, U.S. municipal fire departments responded to almost 16,000 fires that involved dryers and washing machines. Of those statistics, dryers were the culprit of 92 percent of them. While it might seem obvious to never put anything that can catch on fire in your dryer, it’s easy to just toss those pants you spilled gas on in the dryer without thinking. “Washing clothes will not completely remove oil residues,” says Tim Adkisson, Director of Product Engineering at Sears Home Services. “Failure to obey this warning can result in fire, explosion, or death.” Here are 13 ways to de-stink your clothes without washing them.
If you’re dryer goes on the fritz, then you’ll need to know these tips on drying clothes outdoors.
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Activewear
While tossing your activewear into the dryer won’t damage the machine itself, it could ruin your clothing. Since most activewear is sweat-wicking or even coated to protect from the sun’s rays, it’s definitely not dryer-friendly. “Drying your activewear in the dryer and exposing it to all that high heat and friction can be damaging to the functional components that these technical fabrics are developed for,” according to Brit Turner, co-founder of Fit Atelier. “The heat can also wear away on any elastic properties that your garments may contain and weakens the material—leading to tears, holes, picks, and runs.” Instead, Turner suggests hanging or laying your activewear flat to dry after washing it in a cold or delicate washing cycle. Find out the 10 laundry mistakes you’re making and how to fix them.