To stick the kids clothes in the f***king dryer??

[Jazzybeats]

We have 2 kids, 1 and 3, who generate a lot of washing. We also have a washer dryer.

DP infuriatingly insists on taking out the kids clothes from the wash and hanging them up to dry. Every. Single. Day.

Believes that the washer dryer will shrink the clothes.

Creates a ton of extra work for us that I reckon is not needed.

I don’t have the energy to argue about it but DP constantly moans about the never ending washloads and yet doesn’t see the martyrdom!

AIBU to stick the bastard clothes in the dry cycle or will they really all shrink to nothing???

Depends on how hot you'll have it on plus if clothes are cheaply made

IME kids stuff can shrink; plus dryers use soooo much energy. I hang clothes and just use my dryer for towels. Otherwise the thing would never be off, and our bills would be horrendous.

Stick them in the dryer! It costs more electricity wise but if you fold them straight away afterwards it certainly saves on the ironing! 👍

He's right. If the weather's nice, hang them outside. They will be fresher, and it saves on electricity. YABU to keep on using the dryer when it's not necessary. I thought there was supposed to be great concern for the environment?

Uhm, why would theirs shrink but yours don't ? Am I missing something ? Must admit I love the smell of line dried washing and hate socks in the drier as they always seem to shrink, but why make more work in a busy life ?

Most kids clothes are tumbler friendly. For the very reason that it's never ending and needs to be easy!
Who wants the extra workload?!
Also - the labels will prove to him!

Who on earth irons little kids' clothes??!

This is odd. I tumble dry all of our clothes...

I always hang up our washing and never use the drier. I'm worried about shrinking things, our energy bill is high enough as it is and seems to take hours. Plus it's the putting away bit of laundry I hate, I don't mind hanging up. The drier doesn't put it away for me.

I don't know why I've said drier not dryer

They 100% do shrink. I have tested this out more times than necessary .
I hang all tshirts and anything nice or expensive. The cheap stuff I'm less bothered about goes in. But yes. It shrinks.

Hang them up. So much energy wasted by tumble driers

Tumble things that don't matter so muslin cloths, towels, inexpensive clothes, sheets and bedding etc. Personally I prefer line dry for clothes but thats me. If dried on the right cycle then they shouldn't shrink but cotton items should be done on a gentle cycle to avoid that - they can take the heat but DH is right they do tighten

Definitely agree the tumble dryer is hard on the clothes. I got lots of hand-me-downs from a friend who line dries and they are in fab condition...much better than clothes I brought and tumbled dried. I still put everything in the dryer tho

Virtually everything is dried with a dryer here as we don't have any outdoor space and I think only one jumper's shrunk.

I'd keep sticking them in the dryer and if your DP is not happy they can sort it.

I also think it shrinks. I’m willing to risk it on some stuff. I sometimes go for the worst of both worlds by hanging it on the airer and the finishing off in the dryer (usually when the next load is ready for the airer).

Do you need to wash everyday?

I tend to put kids pants / socks / vests / pj's and tights in the dryer, and hang dresses up on hangers on the airer. Saves a fuck tonne of ironing and faffing about.

I do exactly the same! Have to say that the dryer does shrink the kids stuff (mine are younger though)

I um elf dry everything and yes they shrink, DS is often in clothes a size up which fit perfectly because I have shrunk them.
It’s just a case of having appropriate expectations! 🤣

He's right to hang them. I wouldn't own a dryer for environmental reasons.

They grow out of the clothes so quickly I don't think it matters! I stick them all in the tumble dryer!

I don't even have a line. Absolutely everything is tumble dried. I have two kids and another on the way. I can't keep up with it as it is. We have a very energy efficient large dryer & it's a lifesaver. Used to have a washer / dryer & it wasn't good at all. Stand alone dryer is much better.

Can you compromise , tumble the items which won’t shrink and hang out the items which might . I used my drier a lot more this winter than ever before .
My goodness it was a revelation. £100 extra on the electric bill but so so worth every penny .

YANBU- I use the dryer for everything in the winter and most things in the summer - I have an really efficient tumble dryer with lots of options, and i can safely say that it changed my life. We used to live surrounded by wet and damp washing that dried slowly on clothes horses, getting stiff and smelly and building up even more condensation and moisture in our already damp house. Kids clothes do not shrink in a tumble dryer.