Melobol comments on Does dryers actually damage clothes?

Does dryers actually damage clothes? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 9 months ago by ComradePenguin@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I see all sorts of answers online, but am not fully convinced. I tried finding some research on the longevity of clothes between wash and wash + dry. Considering that it dries for hours just the mechanical movement should damage the clothes I would assume?

[–] Melobol@lemmy.ml 22 points 9 months ago (4 children)

By rules of physics it will damage it. Its rubbing against other clothes, its getting blasted with heat and it's getting folded/bended over and over.
Damage is dependent on the material, but dor sure it wears them down.

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[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (3 children)

See thats the distinction that I'm curious about.

When articles say "Do not tumble dry" I wonder "Are we concerned about the heat from an old fashioned rotating oven or the mechanical stress on the fabric?" because I have a fancy pants heat pump dryer and my wife still insists it will somehow ruin the clothes.

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[–] Melobol@lemmy.ml 4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Wife is always right! - Aside of the joke, I would attack this from an other point.
If the pants has a 'permanent' crease the dryer definitely will remove it, and the ironing will be a nightmare afterwards.
If you have garment bags you can always use it for the dryer, it would prevent some damage: stretching and so on.
If the price of your pants is less than a "disposable" amount for your family - probably not worth the hassle. If it's pricey then honestly it is not that much more work to hang it on a pants hanger to dry. In that case it's better safe than sorry.
I've heard stories about dry cleaners just using washing machines in the back, never got caught and got great reviews. So there is that. ;)

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[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 child)

I've always had the argument about baby/toddler clothes.

We dont buy expensive stuff, they get absolutely trashed by food, dirt, poop, paint, markers... but she still insists on air drying because the label says so. We're due to have our second in a bit over a month so I imagine this is going to become a topic again.