What do you put in your tumble dryer?

[BigcatLittlecat]

Within the last month we have bought a tumble dryer. I'm sure it's amazing, but what do you use yours for? What do you NOT put in there? Ive heard horror stories about clothes shrinking. So far I have put sheets, towels and socks in. I don't want it on all the time, but just need a little help as feel it could be more productive!

Towels, sheets, kids clothes unless they say not to, pants….I feel like socks do shrink, but ours is older - only got high heat and low heat settings, no sensor

Check the label. Lots can’t go in like many t shirts, sports stuff and wools but plenty can like underwear, sheets and towels. If it’s only tumble dry on low I usually don’t bother and just air dry. Sometimes even no tumble dry stuff I put in for a quick 20 mins if they are slightly damp. The labels will keep you right.

Careful with mattress protector sheets. I've torn a few. Advise you to hang dry.

Everything goes in.

Almost everything except jumpers and football kits. I put my bras in as well but I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to

Depends on you dryer! i put in everything but wool and silk, but mine is a very gentle heat pump one.

Everything including knitwear and underwear. I use different programmes, including the 30min one for delicate stuff and hang those to finish drying. I do hand wash and hang dry cashmere and silk scarves tho.

From the wash: Usually only bedding and towels.
I put my pillows in weekly for 20 mins to get dust etc out. Same with duvet, but monthly.
Occasionally, jeans.

Mainly towels, bedding, underwear, older clothes, I don't like to put best or new clothes in as it does wear them out a bit more. I line dry as much as possible though, it all got dry yesterday.

That's not what wears clothes out. Vigorous spins in the washing machine have more impact than a gentle tumble in warm air.

only towels, bedding, underwear and socks. All the other clothes go on the airer. If they are taking a while to dry, but are almost dry, I pop them in the dryer for 5 mins to finish them off.
I don't put clothes in the dryer for a complete cycle, mainly because they would shrink in ours.

I've never had clothes shrink in a tumble dryer. Are you using the right settings?

Everything except wool and silk (hypothetical as none of us wear either) and sports clothing in technical fabrics which comes out of the WM virtually dry anyway. Line dry as much as possible but haven't got space for airers inside but if things are just a bit damp off the line I try and find apace on radiators. However it's a heat pump dryer so cheap to run and lots of cycles for different fabrics.

Bedding and towels.

I was considering getting a tumble dryer but pretty much all our clothes say do not tumble dry so I wasn’t sure it would be worthwhile - is it safe to ignore that then as long as you use a low heat?

Just about everything - other than real delicate stuff.

Everything except towels and bedding.

The sheets just get tangled up and don't smell fresh, they go on the line all year.

I can't stand tumbled towels, I like my towels to be hard and exfoliate my skin when I'm drying myself. Also dry on the line then heated airer etc.

Everything apart from anything with wool in it.

Everything apart from jumpers and shirts I hang up.

I don't really dry laundry in mine, it's only a small one and I bought it to air clothing that was pretty dry from outside but needed airing before being put away. i.e. sheets, towels, underwear etc.

In the winter I dry stuff overnight on the airer then just shove it in the tumble dryer to make sure it is completely dry and aired the next morning.

I hate the autumn/winter months when it is too wet to put stuff outside to dry on the line and looking at the next ten or so days, looks like it will have to be dried indoors as it looks wet, wet, wet!

@yonem a heat pump dryer would likely be fine as it uses longer cycles but a much more gentle heat.

@BigcatLittlecat we tumble dry the vast majority of our clothes with no issues. Plus obviously things like bedding, towels etc. The only thing we don't tumble dry are some of our knitwear, anything really delicate like wool or silk and my smart wool blend work trousers that say don't tumble dry. We have a different laundry basket for line dry only items so I can put them on a delicates/handwash setting in the washing machine then put the whole load on the airer rather than having to separate things.

Everything, apart from wool jumpers.

I don’t usually do much in the way of clothes, mostly just bedding, blankets/throws, cloths, towels, socks & underwear.

I prefer drying clothes outside or on the airer especially DD’s uniform which dries so fast. That works fine, as means all the bulky stuff gets dried and put away quickly and only a small amount on the airer.

Interesting thread, I feel my old tumbler did shrink a few things and now I only dry pants, towels, bedding and shirts. However I now have a heat pump one, which i know should be gentler. Might start putting more in, so many labels say no tumble dry and doesn’t seem to be consistent, so 2 similar t-shirts one will have the do tumble label and another won’t..

We have solar. Hence only use TD when sun is shining, usually for either small s tuff I CBA to peg it all out (socks etc) or big stuff that takes a lot of line room (sheets etc.)
Towels are good for a 10 min fluff in it too.