Will I shrink all my clothes if I put tumble dryer on hot?

[JoyceBarnaby]

Following the very helpful advice of my fellow MNers, I have purchased a lovely, White Knight condenser tumble dryer. I have never owned a tumble dryer before, so this is an exciting new world for me!!

However, I've been drying my clothes on the lower of the two settings and it's taking blimmin' ages to dry anything - about 2 hours for this current lot!!

Is this normal? Or should I be using the warmer settings?

Does anyone have any other tips at all for a complete drying novice?!

i only ever use the high setting for towels, try putting less items in, that usually makes them dry a bit quicker?

I have just got a tumble dryer too so will watch with interest.

What I want to know is I how I get them to come out dry and without creases so I don't have to iron?

only dry about 3 or 4 tops at a time, take them out straight away and hang them up, i have an iron but have never used it!

I always have mine on high

I dry a load of washing at a time- unless it's jeans or heavy towels, then I take some bits out. I always use the hot setting, for everything, and nothing has shrunk apart from one Primark skirt (which could have been my arse expanding really :))

With clothes I never dry them until properly dry.

I put about 6-8 tops in at a time (maximum) and set dryer on low for 20-30 minutes. I take them out immediately, and hang on hangers/drape on airer depending on garment.

This massively decreases ironing ime. I do the same in the summer, but hang them outside rather than inside.

You need to look at the symbol on the clothes to see if they are safe for the hotter setting. There's a square with a circle inside it for a tumble dryer. If it has a single dot inside the circle. it can only take the lower setting. If it has a pair of dots its safe on the hotter setting.

Thanks all - all comments duly noted. I am going to experiment today - oh the excitement of my life!!

I do everything on the hot setting. But do check the label and don't tumble anything with the crossed-out sign.

IMO things like t-shirts never come out uncreased enough not to iron; DDs 'no-iron' school shirts are ok if I do just them and remove and hang promptly.

Sorry - slightly off topic. Have you tried those tumble dryer balls? I think they make clothes softer, but not sure if they actually reduce drying time (which is what I want)..?

I do everything on high too. Apart from my cashmere GAP cardie. That doesn't go near it!

Thankyou for reminding me to go ad put mine on BTW

I do towels on high, but all clothes on low, and a load straight out of the washing machine takes 2hrs. (I usually hang stuff on the airer first, so they only need 20mins to finish them off)

Do check the labels though, it seems you can't tumble anything from FatFace, DH was most upset when I shrunk one of his Tshirts by tumbling it.