Preventing Wrinkly Clothes in the Dryer
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Some times there are simple things we do on a daily basis, that just make sense, and don’t occur to us that someone else may not know to do it.
The other day when I was folding some laundry that my husband had put in the dryer, I noticed every thing seemed exceptionally wrinkly.
Now, I’m not one to complain when I’ve got someone willing to help out with the laundry, but I asked him to show me how he loads the dryer. To my surprise, he just grabs from the washer and tosses into the dryer……..sounds correct doesn’t it?
Well, yes and no.
There’s a simple way to minimize wrinkling, it only takes a few seconds with minimal effort. It occurred to me that if my husband didn’t know this little trick, there may be more people who’d like to hear about it….you can call me a Laundry Superhero if you must! {wink} Saving the world, one load of laundry at a time!
No matter what type of washer you have, front- load or top-load, clothes get twisted and tangled during washing and spinning. To cut down on wrinkles you MUST untangle those clothes before they go into the dryer.
Clothes need breathing room in the dryer. The tighter they are, the more wrinkly they will look when you remove them from the dryer. So to avoid this, as you remove each piece from the washer, untangle from an other piece and give it a good shake and fluff before tossing into the dryer.
Not only will they come out with less wrinkles, but this will cut down on drying time as well.
…..did you just have an “ah ha!” moment? I did when I first learned this little trick years ago.
Go try it……..and tell your family and friends! be the laundry superhero!
Remember whether you are Team Bar, like I am, or Team Sheet, Bounce can help you keep that winkle free laundry smelling fresh today and every day!
A BIG congrats to Cara! She was the winner of a Year Supply of Bounce! ……She’s also a bar girl {high five}
Random.org chose #170
Do you shake and fluff your clothes when putting them in the dryer?
Disclaimer: The awesome people at Bounce provided me with a Blissdom conference ticket and hotel room, they did not compensate me in any other way to write this post. All opinions and love of the Bounce Bar are all my own.
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I’m always amazed at how well the bounce bars work. I wasn’t a believer when they first came out. I do like Downy’s scent better. 🙂
I *did* just have an a-ha moment! My laundry thanks you!
WOW…..thanks for sharing! I DO NOT iron, so that is a super great tip for a person like me!
I’m a sheet girl!
I don’t iron either Amy!!
um, duh, why didn’t that ever occur to me!? Thank you so much for posting this great tip – you are awesome!
ohhhh, thanks for the tip. I despise ironing, so this will be super helpful. I’m off to share it.
I always shake them out and untangle, you’re so right it cuts down on drying time and makes the clothes less wrinkled. Of course, taking them out of the dryer promptly is important too.
I don’t use bounce any longer, too many harmful fragrances and chemicals that I don’t want on our clothes. I use vinegar in the fabric softener compartment and my clothes are not only static free but fluffier, because the vinegar removes residue left behind by soaps. My towels have never been softer! 😉
Ooh! I’ll have to try that!
I agree, you must shake out the clothes:) Done this for years and never iron….oh and I love the bar and sheets!
Great tip!! I used to do that but somehow fell out of the practice of doing it. Thanks for the reminder! I need all the laundry tips I can get.
Am wondering also why I didn’t think of this earlier, especially since the washer at our new place mangles clothes beyond recognition. I’m super paranoid about wrinkles! I always hover around the dryer and put the clothes on hangers immediately after they come out.
I do actually shake and fluff the clothes as I put them in the dryer… I always have, but I never really thought about it before! Isn’t it funny how differently husband’s do laundry? 😉
I need to declare something that came up between my spouse and I. I take clothes out of the dryer, regardless of how many hours they’ve been just sitting in there, and if I dont have the time to fold/hang them, I will at least lay them flat so as to minimize wrinkling. He will just pull them out, by hand, and toss them onto a chair. Whose idea is best to avoid the wrinkles? He claims it doesn’t make any difference, FYI. Help us!!
Thank you SO much! I can’t wait to put in a load!
I never really thought about that in terms of preventing wrinkles. I usually just do that with towels and blankets to cut the dry time so you don’t have a big damp lump in the middle when they come out. What I do for random wrinkles is keep a spray bottle by the washer/dryer. If I go to wear something and realize it’s wrinkly, I’ll give it a quick spritz and toss it in the dryer for a few minutes.
I think you are a genius!! I wish someone would have taught me this *years* ago. I am going to try it while doing laundry this weekend to test it out. I also just bought a Bounce bar and am excited to see how it works 🙂
‘I’ll just put this load in the dryer and then go read some blogs…’ Now I wish I’d done it the other way around! Can’t wait for my next drying load so I can try it. I didn’t know this. Thank you for telling us. xx
Yup, I learned that little trick from my grandmother, except she was a little obsessive about it and even partially folded the clothes layering them in the dryer one at a time! I’m not that patient, I’ll stick to just shaking them out and tossing them in.
he just grabs from the washer and tosses into the dryer
Boy does that sound familiar! I will never understand why my guy does it. I know he’s seen me load the dryer before. He does the same with hang dry clothes too.
I love this tip!
I shake out and fluff and my laundry before putting it into the dryer. I’m not exactly sure when I picked up on this little trick, but it sure does help.
Thank you, Thank you!!!! Embarrassed to say, I never even thought about it when I too just tossed from the washer to the dryer 🙂 Makes PERFECT sense & I’m so thankful to now have unwrinkled clothes 🙂
Since getting my front loader I’ve noticed so much more twisted and tangled clothing from the washer, sometimes it feels like I’n un-tangling a necklace it’s so bad . I now un-tangle and fluff before drying…it’s a must!
Thank you for the tip and the explanation. One of the girls at work was telling me the other day that she shakes out her laundry as she’s loading the dryer but didn’t know why she did it. I thought it sounded a little silly but now it makes sense.
Stacy
Creating Sweet Smiles
I just had an ah-ha moment too! And I shared that tip with my (team bar) husband who also shared in my ah-ha moment!
We just stocked up on bars today actually at Target – they were on clearance from their Great Save Event and I had a coupon! Cheap bars – love it!
Um… I do that ALL THE TIME! And the clothes are actually none the worse for wear! No extra wrinkles (and very few left over ones). I never noticed that before. Sorry, but I do this…um… once in a millenium.
I mean, wad the clothes up. Straight from the washer to the dryer. no fluffing or anything.
I fluff the clothes once in a millenium. Sorry, my brain has gone on vacation.
My mama taught me how to do laundry about a thousand years ago. She told to shake out each piece of laundry as it went from the washer to the dryer. Mama is a smart old girl!
My Nanny used to MAKE me do this…she had some serious laundry rules. Now I tend toward the lazy side, but I’m reading this right as I am getting ready to throw Evan’s jeans for tommorrow into the dryer {can you say behind} and I am going to only put in four pairs, and shake them first =)
If you are a Laundry Superhero, then I must be your evil nemesis, Dr. Lazy Mommy! You totally just rocked my world with this simple tip. Definitely an AHA moment. How is it possible that I never learned this before? I totally blame my mother… some people just shouldn’t be permitted to breed.
This is my first time here. Your blog is fabulous! I’ll definitely be back!
Great tip! I usually only do this with heavy items like jeans, but I’ll have to start doing it for everything!
We do a good shake down of each piece of clothes before it goes into the dryer. It is tempting to just get it and stuff it in, but you will have wrinkly clothes as a result.
Um, duh. Where have I been? Thanks for the tip! That reminds me. I must go start load!
Day (week?) late&a dollar short 🙂 but while I am untangling i also yank jeans/pants seams & zipper/button plackets; and then a “do’gain” when they are warm & coming out. I am not an ironer either (dear friends!) but this one step sure makes most things look like they’ve had a quick touchup. Just a few seconds per item&voila. I know this is heresy here, but have mentioned b4 I have stuff that can’t be softened or it loses its wicking factor (UA, Nike DriFit,etc) so I use dryer balls to cut out the manmade fab clingies (wunnerful these little critters-good for babyclothes too so wont take out fire-retardant). Question-they are MIA on racks lately replaced by MrSteamy-same bumpy ball but with a water port to create steam for freshening or unwrinkling “set” wrinkles. Anybody try one? Any reviews? Usually throw in wet cloth but some drycleans a steam wud b good without wasting a dryel sheet. And I worry abt that too-waterspotting? Help? Thank u!
Thanks Cheryl. That was a useless article. How about some advice that doesn’t border on the absurdly obvious.
I guess I must need the absurdly obvious because this post *did* help me with my laundry. Keep up the tips, Cheryl…you ARE TidyMom after all. 🙂
What. On. Earth! Mr. Brian M where are your manners? I personally thought there were MANY useful tips in this article and find your comment to be beyond rude. It clearly reflects on you (and your lack of filter and kindness) , and not on Cheryl! Thank you Cheryl, for your helpful tips and constant quest to simplify and beautify our lives!
So simple yet a very overlooked tip! Thanks for sharing this, Cheryl. This is especially helpful to those who don’t iron out their clothes!