The Key Fabric Types You Should Always Try To Hang Dry

Your clothes dryer is like a vending machine — albeit a little slower than the typical ones. You put in wet clothes (the only currency it accepts), select the setting you want, and the dryer gives you dry clothes once it's done. Everyone is happy in this equation. But things take a turn for the worse when your beloved appliance starts returning garments that are two sizes too small, sporting faded colors, or looking like they went head-to-head with the heat-breathing machine and lost the match (terribly!). To avoid turning your beloved clothes into a mop or hosting a half-hearted funeral for them, keep your delicates, activewear, leather-based garments, woolen items, and embellished pieces out of the dryer and let these fabrics hang dry instead.

Besides preserving the fabric's life and keeping it in tip-top shape, hang-drying clothes is an excellent way to conserve energy. Additionally, this eco-friendly practice will help lower your utility bills since dryers use anywhere between 1.8 and 5 kilowatt-hours of electricity per load. Plus, the sun's rays and fresh air work in tandem to eliminate foul odors clinging to your clothes post-wash. Lingering microbes are given the boot, too. However, avoid putting them directly in line with the sun's glare, as some fabrics might fade over time. Turn them inside out before hanging them to dry. The best part, though? Fewer clothes going in the dryer means you'll have to spend less time and effort employing clever hacks for cleaning out your dryer lint trap.

Clothes made of Spandex or similar elastic materials are among the top items you should never dry in your dryer. This means your active- and swimwear clothes shouldn't be subjected to a dryer's heat since it can twist them out of shape, impact their elasticity, and reduce their water-resistant or moisture-wicking properties. Silk is another material you never want to put in the dryer if you don't want the expensive fabric to shrink excessively or develop unsightly creases. Clothes containing lace should be dried outside of the dryer, too. Delicates like bras, hosiery, and underwear should also be hung out to dry (literally!).

Similarly, leather and fur — real and artificial — products should be line-dried, but keep them away from the sun. These fabrics lose their firm shape and crack under the dryer's high temperatures. You also want to keep wool out of the dryer to avoid shrinkage unless its care label approves tumble drying or your appliance carries a Woolmark certification. Finally, clothes featuring beads, sequins, fancy stones, and other glue-attached items should only be hung to dry, or they might fall off, hurting other garments in the process. To err on the side of caution, always check the care label of your clothes before putting them in the dryer. So, invest in a sturdy clothesline coated in rust-free materials to keep your clothes looking new. The same goes for the clothes pins. In a pinch, and it's raining? You can utilize your shower curtain rod in the bathroom for hang drying — just be sure to space your items. Further, shaking out the wet garments prevents wrinkles and stiffness while allowing your hung-dry laundry to dry faster.