Five Things You Should Never Ever Throw into the Dryer

Seriously, just don’t do it.

Life is full of surprises. There are the good surprises, like a birthday party you weren’t expecting or a brand new puppy to pet, and then there are the not-so-fun surprises like accidentally shrinking your favorite sweater in the dryer. While there’s not a lot we can do to avoid some unpleasant surprises, with a little knowledge and a lot of diligence we can avoid making the kind of laundry mistakes that lead to unhappy surprises. Check out the list below for five things you should never- ever put in the dryer.

While it can be tempting to pop a sopping wet suit in the dryer, doing so will break down the spandex and leave you with a droopy suit that just doesn’t fit anymore. Instead of tumble-drying a swimsuit, hang it to dry somewhere out of direct sunlight (so it doesn’t fade) and be patient as it dries.

Most bras and other lingerie items are simply too delicate to go in a dryer. The heat of the dryer will cause your items to lose their shape and become droopy and unwearable. Instead of washing and drying your delicate items in the machine, handwash them in the sink or tub with a little bit of laundry detergent, and then lay them flat to dry.

While there are some Halloween costumes that you can probably pop in the dryer without too much consequence, it’s always better to be safe than sorry as many costumes are made of delicate fabrics or spandex or have small pieces that may melt away in the dryer. Follow the care instructions on your Halloween costume tag, or if it’s a homemade costume, use all caution when thinking about washing and drying your item.

Tights are just too delicate to throw into the dryer. After hand-washing them or washing them in a garment bag on the delicate cycle of your washing machine, hang to dry or lay flat somewhere they won’t be exposed to too much heat. Taking the time to hang dry your tights will prevent the sort of runs and tangles that could potentially ruin your favorite pair.

While experts recommend washing your bathmat every week or so, it’s important to be careful with how you wash and dry your bathmat. The rubber-backing can break down in the heat of the dryer.

When it comes to your favorite t-shirt and your coziest blanket, the dryer is usually your best friend. However, use caution when applying intense heat to specific items. Other items that didn’t make this list because they’re made from delicate and sophisticated materials like cashmere, wool, silk, velvet, and leather should always be dry cleaned. The more you know!

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