Washing is one of the daily tasks we think we do well… until we realise that we don’t. Whether it’s dishes, clothes or floors. There’s always something to learn or something to improve, because washing is not just about soap, it’s also about removing all the dirt to prevent illness or infection.
Another thing to avoid is accidents. We do not mean things like burning down the house, although that can happen, or damaging household appliances, but avoiding damaging clothes when using the washer-dryer. For many years there has been a myth that these products shrink clothes. Here we explain what the experts say.
True or false that tumble dryers shrink clothes?
It’s not true. According to Samsung, they don’t shrink because fabrics don’t shrink, but when you take your clothes out of the washing machine they do. This is because the temperature, movement and pressure during washing can cause wrinkles and knots in fabrics. This happens more easily with softer fabrics, such as wool or cotton, which compress and stick together different parts of the garment. In other words, the fabrics stick together like glue, causing this sensation.
The good news is that this is less common over time. This is because the more time passes, the more brands try to prevent fabrics from deteriorating. In addition, we now know that there are soft fabrics, so we understand that they can shrink under certain circumstances.
And if you buy a washing machine with a dryer and you don’t want any surprises, you should know that the fabrics that are most prone to shrinking are wool and cotton, because they tend to curl in on themselves, to wrinkle up. As a result, they stick together and are almost impossible to separate. The more heat, pressure and movement they are exposed to, the more knots they form. And when they twist in on themselves, the fibres shrink and so does the fabric, causing your sweater to shrink.
If you still want to tumble dry your clothes, it’s best to reduce the drying temperature to a more appropriate temperature for each garment, depending on its fabric. It is also very important to adjust the movement of the drying cycle, which is why we recommend that you always use “delicates” as the main setting.
