What can’t go in a laundrette tumble dryer?

[curlyellen]

I’ve never owned a tumble dryer. Ds is starting uni so I want to tell him what he can/can’t put in the dryers at Uni. I’m assuming it’s the things that I’d put on a cold or delicate wash like sportswear and wool? What about replica football tops? T shirts with plastic designs?

I assume all cotton and poly cotton is fine, including socks and plain t shirts?

Sorry, I probably sound completely stupid, but just don’t want him to be phoning me because his clothes have shrunk!

in general I’d say no to replica football tops
but tumble dryers at laundrettes do have different heat settings

Stuff that says so on the label. There's a no tumble dry symbol on them.

If you follow that, you'll never get anything dry

I'd say if there's a lower setting, try to use that where you can as in my experience even basic cotton shrinks eventually on higher temps.

Definitely not anything with a plastic motif eg football shirts (plus they'd dry really quickly on an airer anyway) and nothing with any foam padding

He won't have access to outside drying facilities, so in reality, he will need to use the tumble dryer for almost everything. Sports shirts are virtually dry when they come out of the washing machine so I would recommend he puts those on hangers right away and hangs them on the outside of the wardrobe in his room or near the window for the final airing.

Using a tumbler for T-shirts with plastic designs is not ideal as the heat can make them sticky. But if they are cotton T-shirts, he won't have much option. He should use the lowest heat in general and always turn the T-shirts inside out first. Also needs to turn jeans inside out for washing and drying. Remove them from the tumble dryer as soon as it has finished , shake to minimise creases and put things on hangers.

In reality, he should expect a few things like socks to shrink over time but not too much. I wouldn't send him off with anything made of wool. It's almost certain to be wrecked.

Having said all this, don't be surprised if he just brings his laundry home
I

Thanks for all the replies. I'm getting him a small folding airer for his room, so he can use that for sportswear, football tops and t shirts with plastic designs. Otherwise I'll tell him to use a lowish heat for everything else.