10 Things You Should Never Do If You Own A Tumble Dryer

Tumble dryers might seem pretty no-nonsense and in many respects they are quite simple. There are clearly somethings you should never do if you have a tumble dryer like having it running in a poorly ventilated area for example.

But while there are many things people know not to do there are still quite a few things people do with tumble dryers that they really shouldn’t. So, to ensure you are always operating your tumble dryer safely and efficiently check out our list of top 10 things you should never do below.

1. Stop A Cycle Early

If it really is an emergency you can sometimes get away with this but we strongly recommend letting a cycle come to its natural stop. Tumble dryers can get very hot so if you don’t let a cycle finish and therefore complete its cool down then things can come out very hot. Metal fixtures like buttons and zips can even cause burns.

2. Put All Your Clothes In It

Okay, this might seem a little odd but some clothes just aren’t suitable for a tumble dryer. And others might be okay to dry on short, cooler cycle but will likely get ruined on a more general one. Clothes like bras, and sports shoes can easily get damaged, spandex clothing like swimming costumes can get distorted due to the heat and clothing with heavy embellishments can easily get damaged. So, with clothes like this it’s best to avoid the dryer altogether.

3. Dry Your Bedding

Tumble dryers aren’t just used to dry clothes people use them for all kinds of things. But one thing you should definitely avoid doing is drying thick duvets, sheets, and blankets. Because these are big, dense materials there isn’t enough room in the drum for the air to properly circulate. For these kinds of things, you are best sticking to the old-fashioned drying methods.

4. Put Clothes In Straight From The Washing Machine

Many people make the mistake of just taking their clothes straight from the washing machine and then putting them in the dryer. This is a big mistake for one thing if the clothes aren’t properly untangled the dryer will have to work a lot harder to get them dry.

Costing you time and energy which means higher energy bills and it also increases the risk of damage both to the dryer and the clothes themselves. So, before putting clothing in the dryer take the time to untangle everything and place them in gently.

5. Dry Oil Stains

Yes, this is one most people should know but the mistake does still happen and it could cause a lot of harm. If any clothes are stained with oil (or other flammable substances) they should never be put through a drying cycle. The oil could easily combust during the cycle which will almost definitely cause a fire. So, don’t risk it even if looks like the stain has completely come out small traces of it could still ignite.

6. Run It Unattended

Okay, so you don’t have to watch your tumble dryer for every minute of the drying cycle. But you should check it occasionally to make sure everything is safe. What this tip really means is that you should never turn your dryer on and then leave your home. Yes, the fire risk is minimal but it’s always better to be safe.

7. Over or Underload Your Dryer

Getting the balance right when loading a tumble dryer is difficult. If you only put a few things in to dry then you aren’t being overly energy efficient. However, while this will impact your energy bills it won’t really harm the tumble dryer although we still don’t recommend doing it as it can be very expensive.

However, overloading your tumble dryer is more dangerous as it can damage the drum. It also won’t be energy efficient either but at least underloading is unlikely to cause damage. So, be careful when loading the dryer and try to get a good balance of clothing per cycle.

8. Forget To Check The Filter

The lint filter is an essential part of any tumble dryer but it should be monitored carefully. Ideally, you should clean it after every load which is much easier than it sounds don’t worry. By doing this you can ensure there is never a build-up of lint that you’ll need to take more time to properly clean. It will also help ensure your tumble dryer never starts smelling.

9. Dry Mixed Materials

This is another of those “grey areas” you can do it but if you do don’t expect the best results. Tumble dryers work best when they are drying the same materials in a cycle. Mixing cotton clothing with some thick nylon is going to have a very unbalanced load and at the end of the cycle certain things could still be wet while others will be hot to the touch. So, try to keeping mixing materials to a minimum whenever you can.

10. Forget About Ventilation

Well, I mentioned it in the intro as something everyone knows but over time it is easy to forget about how important proper ventilation is with a tumble dryer. Always ensure your dryers hose has access to a vent or window to ensure safe airflow and remember a dryer doesn’t have to be in a kitchen. While that might be the traditional choice if you have a more suitable well-ventilated area that can accommodate it go for it.