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Help finding tumble dryer friendly clothes

8 replies

Lavendersquare · 04/10/2025 17:34

Sadly my mother has to go into a nursing home, and the instructions state that all clothes must be suitable for tumble drying. Although she is in her 80’s she has always been a very smart lady who buys quality clothes and looks after them, and I now have to basically replace everything with tumble dryer friendly items.

This isn’t a problem for her basic leggings, jeans etc but my mother has lots of silk, wool, cashmere and expensive clothes that can’t go anywhere near a tumble dryer. She has over 25 jumpers and not one can be tumble dried, and out of her long sleeve tops only two are dryer friendly.

Any suggestions on what type of things I should buy? She likes White Stuff, Seasalt, M&S, Joules, Phase Eight and Crew Clothing as examples and doesn’t like anything frilly, embellished or fussy.

tia

OP posts:
Pinkissmart · 04/10/2025 17:35

Can you wash her delicate clothes?

Cyclingmummy1 · 04/10/2025 17:39

If her LS tops are mainly WS, Seasalt, etc, I'd accept that they are going to be tumble dried and possibly won't last long. Otherwise, you're buying clothes to wear and storing clothes that she will never use again.

Cashmere, silk, etc are a different matter.

Lavendersquare · 04/10/2025 17:39

Pinkissmart · 04/10/2025 17:35

Can you wash her delicate clothes?

No, the care home do all the laundry, everything gets labelled, and even if I had the time, they won’t separate things for laundering elsewhere.

OP posts:
Fairyliz · 04/10/2025 17:39

Pinkissmart · 04/10/2025 17:35

Can you wash her delicate clothes?

That’s what I was going to say. Wool and cashmere jumpers shouldn’t actually be washed a lot, so if she has 25 they probably only want washing a couple of times each throughout the winter.

Lavendersquare · 04/10/2025 17:45

Cyclingmummy1 · 04/10/2025 17:39

If her LS tops are mainly WS, Seasalt, etc, I'd accept that they are going to be tumble dried and possibly won't last long. Otherwise, you're buying clothes to wear and storing clothes that she will never use again.

Cashmere, silk, etc are a different matter.

I think her good things will stay in the family home, there will still be odd occasions when she will wear them. I think all her tops will shrink after one tumble so will need to be replaced anyway.

OP posts:
Cyclingmummy1 · 04/10/2025 17:54

Lavendersquare · 04/10/2025 17:45

I think her good things will stay in the family home, there will still be odd occasions when she will wear them. I think all her tops will shrink after one tumble so will need to be replaced anyway.

What are they made from that will shrink?

DS has gone to university and is embracing the tumble dryer; his clothes seem to be standing up ok.

Cinaferna · 04/10/2025 18:03

I tumble dry cashmere on the cold setting and real silk blouses on warm not hot settings. Lots of clothes that state no tumble drying are actually fine if you don't put them on a hot tumble and don't overload the machine.

But if the home won't accept that, could you look at cotton knits, Kettlewell style tops and tees that match? Or coatigans that don't need washing often if at all, but would keep her warm, with easy care long sleeved tops underneath in cotton and bamboo. If she loves silk and cashmere I'd try to avoid synthetics.

Gettingbysomehow · 04/10/2025 18:15

Cotton traders have lots of easy care clothing that won't be destroyed.
Joggers, nice loose fit jeggings fleece, teashirts, zip up sweatshirts skirts and dresses. I've washed mine loads of times and they still look great. Im. 63 and like to look nice too but you,ve got to be practical. A nursing home isnt the place for silk and cashmere unless you are taking her out for the day and washing it afterwards.
You may also find elasticated waists better. Nursing home food is stodgy and a lot of people put on weight when they go in eating three meals a day plus cake and biscuits and puddings.
I wouldn't have any of those things at home.
You also need to buy crease free items, they dont iron things.

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