Hang your jeans up to air dry or use a no heat cycle Exposing your jeans to direct heat in the dryer can shrink, fade or yellow denim, and it can also cause damage to stretch denim fabrics that contain spandex or Lycra.
DRY. Using the dryer can damage denim, as well as shrink it. Air drying helps preserve the fit, color and fabric.
Wherever you can, choose the delicate settings on your tumble dryer to be absolutely sure you aren't causing problems for your jeans. You can always take them out and hang them on a radiator or on a rack to better preserve them for the long run.
The Best Ways to Dry Your Jeans
Switching to a no- or low-heat drying option, or opting for an air dry setup, will still prolong your denim's lifespan. Plus, it'll probably leave your blue jeans feeling more comfortable for longer too—a true win-win.
The best method for drying your clothes depends on various factors. For delicate items or those prone to shrinkage, air-drying is generally recommended. For quick drying and convenience, a tumble dryer is often the preferred option. A combination of both methods can also be effective.
Air drying clothes is more environmentally friendly, saves money, reduces wrinkles and creases, and increases the lifespan of your clothes. However, air-drying clothes is dependent on the weather, takes more time and requires a little more effort. Tumble drying your clothes is quick and requires minimal effort.
Hang your jeans up to air dry or use a no heat cycle
Exposing your jeans to direct heat in the dryer can shrink, fade or yellow denim, and it can also cause damage to stretch denim fabrics that contain spandex or Lycra.
Dry clothes can become stiff for many reasons. These include the fabric not being properly rinsed during your laundry load and using too much detergent which can leave behind residue on your clothing, making the fabric stiff.
Cold water helps preserve the color of your denim, prevents shrinking, and maintains fabric integrity. Similarly, rigorous washing can damage your jeans, stretch the fabric, and fade that beautiful shade of blue. Turn your denim clothes inside out and wash in cold water on the hand-wash or delicate setting.
Set your washing machine to the gentle cycle (or delicate cycle, depending on your machine) and choose the coldest water option. Add a small amount of detergent, then let the cycle run. 5. Air-dry your jeans.
Yes, jeans shrink in the dryer. If you're looking for a more technical explanation, jeans shrink in the dryer because the high heat and the agitation from the tumbling cause the bonds in the fibers to break and the fabric to contract.
Use Automatic Dry for best drying results. Use Timed Dry for the occasional damp load that needs more drying time.
Set Dryer to Low or Medium Heat and Gentle Cycle
The heat from dryers is damaging to denim, so set your dryer to low or medium heat on a gentle cycle. Pause the dryer 75% through the cycle to check on your denim and feel if the jeans are nearly dried. Jeans that are hot in the dryer have been in there for too long.
Why Do Jeans Get Tighter After Washing? Washing jeans in hot water and cycling them through a hot dryer can contract fibers and elastics, making them feel extra snug. Cold washes and a low-heat tumble dry are the best ways to launder jeans without shrinking them.
If you are looking for extra softening effects and added fragrance, dryer sheets may be the better option; however, if you have allergies, dryer balls may help to spare irritations. For moisture-wicking fabrics such as activewear, microfiber and absorbent towels, dryer balls may work better than dryer sheets.
Clothes feel stiff after air drying because fabric fibers bond more tightly as they dry naturally. The absence of motion, like in a tumble dryer, allows hydrogen bonds in fibers to reform more rigidly. Factors such as detergent residue and minerals in water can also contribute to stiffness.
This helps prevent over-drying and makes it easier to smooth out any wrinkles. Gently tug and reshape your jeans while they're still slightly damp to help maintain their shape and fit. For the best results, you might want to tumble dry your jeans for about 10-15 minutes, then hang them to air dry the rest of the way.
A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after every 3-10 wears, or when they start to smell. If you're regularly active in your jeans (think: manual work, anything where you work up a sweat), wash them every 3 wears, but if you're working at a desk, you can probably go through multiple wears without washing.
Air drying jeans can take anywhere from a couple of hours outdoors in the sun to a full day or more indoors during cold or humid weather. If you're in a pinch and need to speed the process along, run your jeans through the dryer on low heat until they're nearly dry, but not overheated.
Using a hair dryer
Dry jeans with a hair dryer can only be at a distance of at least 30 cm; Set the hair dryer to maximum power, so you dry the jeans as quick as possible and don't leave the denim in the artificial air for too long; Only hang the jeans inside out.
If you really cannot resist the temptation of drying your jeans in the dryer, make sure you air dry them first. Only then put them in the dryer at low temperature – this will soften them up.
Dryers tend to shrink clothes, and coupled with the heat, it wears down the fabric. In fact, dryers have been found to shrink clothes twice as much as regular washing does, and tumble drying shrinks twice as much as normal air drying.
Air drying clothes indoors can lead to several health risks like raised humidity levels that lead to mold or mildew growth.
Blot Your Hair With a Microfiber Towel
Effectively drying your hair starts with the towel you use. Microfiber towels are my towel of choice—they're known for their moisture-wicking properties, meaning they can soak up more water than other towels can without you having to wring the life out of your strands.