Not all fabrics are created equal, and neither are their drying requirements. While a clothes dryer offers unmatched convenience, using the wrong settings—or tumble drying items that should never see the inside of a dryer—can lead to shrinkage, damage, and prematurely worn-out clothes. This guide covers how to care for every fabric type in your laundry basket.
Understanding fabric care isn't just about avoiding disasters. Proper drying extends the life of your clothing, keeps colours vibrant, and ensures garments maintain their shape and feel. A few minutes spent learning the basics will save you money and frustration in the long run.
Reading Care Labels
Every garment sold in Australia must include a care label with symbols indicating appropriate washing and drying methods. The tumble dry symbol is a square with a circle inside—think of it as a stylised front-loading dryer.
🏷️ Dryer Care Symbols
- Circle in square (no dots): Tumble dry on any heat
- One dot in circle: Low heat only
- Two dots in circle: Medium heat
- Three dots in circle: High heat permitted
- X over symbol: Do not tumble dry
- Square with horizontal line: Dry flat
- Square with curved line at top: Line dry/hang dry
When in doubt, always follow the care label. Manufacturers test their products and provide these instructions for good reason. Ignoring them risks damage that may not be immediately visible but accumulates over time.
Cotton: The Dryer-Friendly Fabric
Cotton is the most dryer-friendly fabric and makes up a large portion of most households' laundry. It handles heat well and actually softens with tumble drying. However, there are still best practices to follow.
Regular Cotton (T-shirts, Sheets, Towels)
Standard cotton items can handle medium to high heat. For towels and sheets, high heat works well and helps kill bacteria. For coloured cotton garments, medium heat helps preserve colours while still achieving efficient drying.
Be aware that cotton does shrink, particularly with high heat. If you've purchased cotton garments that fit perfectly, consider using medium heat to minimise dimensional changes. Pre-shrunk cotton is more resistant but can still experience some shrinkage.
Cotton Blends
Cotton blended with synthetics (polyester-cotton, cotton-spandex) often requires lower heat to protect the synthetic component. Check the care label and default to medium heat when unsure.
💡 Removing Wrinkles
For cotton items prone to wrinkling, remove them from the dryer while still slightly damp and hang immediately. This prevents wrinkles from setting and often eliminates the need for ironing.
Synthetic Fabrics: Handle with Care
Polyester
Polyester is durable and dries quickly, but high heat can cause permanent damage. Heat can melt polyester fibres, creating shiny patches, stiffness, or warping. Always use low to medium heat for polyester garments.
One advantage: polyester is wrinkle-resistant, so low heat drying typically produces ready-to-wear results with no ironing needed.
Nylon
Similar to polyester, nylon is heat-sensitive. Low heat or air-only cycles work best. Nylon also dries extremely quickly, so check items early—over-drying wastes energy and can damage the fabric.
Spandex/Elastane (Lycra)
The stretchy fibre found in activewear, underwear, and fitted garments is particularly vulnerable to heat. High temperatures break down the elastic properties, causing clothes to lose their stretch and shape permanently.
For items containing spandex, use the lowest heat setting or air-dry only. Better yet, air dry these items outside the dryer entirely—they dry quickly on a rack anyway.
Activewear and Athletic Clothes
Most activewear combines synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon) with spandex for stretch. These items should always be dried on low heat or air-only settings. Many experts recommend skipping the dryer entirely for performance fabrics to maximise their lifespan.
Delicate Fabrics: Usually Best Avoided
Silk
Silk should generally not go in the dryer. The heat and tumbling action can damage the delicate fibres, causing shrinkage, loss of sheen, and permanent texture changes. Always air dry silk garments flat or on a padded hanger.
Exception: some "washable silk" garments may be dryer-safe on no-heat or air-only settings. Check the care label carefully.
Wool
Wool is notorious for shrinking in dryers. The combination of heat, moisture, and agitation causes wool fibres to felt together, resulting in significant shrinkage that cannot be reversed.
Some modern dryers have dedicated wool cycles with very low heat and gentle tumbling. Premium heat pump dryers are particularly good for wool due to their lower operating temperatures. However, most wool items are safest dried flat on a towel away from direct heat.
⚠️ Wool Shrinkage Is Permanent
Unlike cotton shrinkage, which can sometimes be reversed by stretching while damp, felted wool cannot be restored. When in doubt, air dry wool items. It's better to wait longer for dry clothes than to ruin a favourite jumper.
Cashmere
Even more delicate than regular wool, cashmere should never go in a standard dryer. The fine fibres are easily damaged by heat and agitation. Lay flat to dry on a clean towel, reshaping while damp.
Lace and Embroidery
Delicate details like lace trim, embroidery, and beading can snag, stretch, or melt in the dryer. Air dry these items or place them in a mesh laundry bag on an air-only cycle if you must use the dryer.
Special Categories
Denim
Jeans can go in the dryer, but there are trade-offs. High heat causes shrinkage and fades colours faster. For jeans you want to keep dark or maintain their exact fit, air dry or use low heat. If you prefer a snugger fit, a high-heat cycle will provide some shrinkage.
Turn jeans inside out before drying to minimise colour fading and surface abrasion.
Bras and Undergarments
Bras, especially those with underwire or moulded cups, are damaged by dryer heat. The elastic loses stretch, underwires can warp or poke through fabric, and cup shapes can distort. Air dry bras by hanging from the centre gore, not the straps.
Cotton underwear generally handles the dryer well on medium heat. Underwear with lace or spandex content should use low heat or air dry.
Leather and Suede
Never put leather or suede items in the dryer. Heat causes leather to crack, stiffen, and shrink. Always air dry leather away from direct heat sources and treat with appropriate conditioner once dry.
Items with Print or Decals
T-shirts with screen-printed graphics or heat-transfer decals should be dried inside out on low heat. High heat can cause prints to crack, peel, or transfer onto other garments.
Fabric-Specific Dryer Settings Guide
✓ Quick Reference Chart
| Fabric | Dryer Safe? | Heat Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Yes | Medium-High |
| Cotton Blend | Yes | Medium |
| Polyester | Yes | Low-Medium |
| Nylon | Yes | Low |
| Spandex/Lycra | Caution | Air Only |
| Silk | No | Air Dry |
| Wool | Rarely | Air Only/Wool Cycle |
| Linen | Yes | Medium |
| Denim | Yes | Low-Medium |
Preventing Common Problems
Shrinkage
- Use appropriate heat settings for each fabric
- Remove items while slightly damp rather than bone dry
- Consider buying garments one size larger if you know they'll shrink
Colour Fading
- Turn coloured items inside out before drying
- Use lower heat settings for dark colours
- Don't over-dry—remove items promptly when done
Pilling
- Turn garments inside out
- Use lower heat and shorter cycles
- Dry similar fabrics together to reduce friction
Static Cling
- Don't over-dry—static increases with excessive drying
- Use dryer balls to separate items
- Remove synthetic items before they're completely dry
Taking a fabric-conscious approach to drying requires a bit more thought than simply throwing everything in on high heat, but the benefits are substantial. Your clothes will look better, last longer, and maintain their fit and feel. Given the cost of quality clothing, protecting your investment with proper care makes both financial and practical sense.