Those made of 100% cotton may shrink in a dryer so it's better to air-dry them. Heavy items like beddings and towels can be tumble dried at medium to high heat to ease the process. For smaller items like cotton tees and dresses, best to dry them on low for a shorter amount of time.
The symbol means do not put in a tumble dryer, usually because the fabric will react with the heat and either shrink or possibly melt. You can spin it in a washing machine without issue.
If your item's label says not to tumble dry, it's best not to, even with zero heat. The tumbling movement could create wrinkles which will be hard to remove without heat. Tumbling without heat could also cause shrinkage after washing.
Cotton T-shirts may shrink in the dryer; Shrinkage is a natural phenomenon and the t-shirts made of natural fibres such as cotton are prone to shrink in tumble drying. When washed fibres of the garments get swell and try to come in a relaxed state. Therefore subsequent tumble drying causes shrinkage into the garments.
If a tag says “do not tumble dry,” that means you should not put the item in the dryer, regardless of the setting. Instead, follow the manufacturer's instructions. If there aren't any explicit instructions for how to dry it, play it safe and hang it up to air-dry.
You can still dry your wet laundry without a tumble drier, though it may be more time consuming. To dry your clothes without a conventional dryer, you can use an extra spin cycle in your washer to wring out excess water, then hang your laundry on a clothing line or drying rack to air dry.
Although not ideal, you can tumble dry cotton bedding if you use a low heat setting to prevent it shrinking and remove the items before the cycle ends (we find it's easier to shake out the creases when the sheets are still a little damp!).
Hang them out to dry – for minimal risk of shrinking, you should air dry your cotton fabrics. If you can machine dry them, use a low-to-moderate heat. Banish the wrinkles – one issue with cotton is that it can crease and wrinkle easily. If you choose to iron it, you should iron it while the fabric is somewhat damp.
The best way to wash 100% cotton is to hand wash in cold water with a mild detergent. If you must machine wash then use the delicate cycle and use cold water. Don't use hot water as that will shrink pure cotton. Another problem with cleaning cotton with hot water is that it can cause some of the dye to leak.
100% cotton is indeed prone to shrinkage, but the extent can vary. Factors like the quality of the cotton, the tightness of the weave, and any pre-shrinking treatments play a role. That said, if you toss a 100% cotton item in a hot dryer, chances are it'll come out a bit smaller than it went in.
Materials not suitable for tumble-drying
Waterproof fabrics can lose their water-repellent properties, and rubber items can melt or deform, which can damage both the item and the dryer. Silk is another material that can shrink or damage in the dryer, as can some woollen items.
A square with a large, empty circle inside indicates tumble dry normal. A square with a large circle inside that is crossed out means do not tumble dry. A square with circle inside symbol and a single dot indicates normal machine drying on a low setting.
A dryer Delicate cycle is typically a tumble dry cycle that uses low heat. Low heat helps protect heat-sensitive fabrics from fraying, fading, shrinking, stretching and warping. Depending on the make and model of your dryer, the cycle may be labeled Delicate, Gentle or Tumble Dry Low.
Shrinkage and Fabric Damage
Your dryer's high heat can cause certain fabrics to shrink or warp. Natural fibers like cotton and wool are particularly susceptible to this. Additionally, the constant tumbling action can lead to pilling, a condition where fabric fibers break and form tiny, unsightly balls on your clothes.
To preserve the quality of your cotton garments, use low to medium heat settings when using a dryer. To further reduce wrinkles, add a few clean, dry towels or dryer balls to the dryer. This helps separate the cotton items and promotes even drying. Remove the cotton items promptly once the dryer cycle is complete.
Avoiding heavy duty cycles, fast spins and high-heat drying can also prevent shrinkage. Use delicate cycles instead, and place delicate clothes in a mesh laundry bag for added protection. When drying, consider a low-heat or air dry setting. When in doubt, always follow the instructions on your garment's care tag.
Cotton can be washed in warm, but not excessively hot, temperatures. Depending on the number of stains, we can alternate between warm and tepid water, but it's worth remembering to always check the tag on our favourite T-shirt before we set the washing machine temperature in order to avoid shrinking!
What types of clothes can I wash with Woolite®? All Woolite® products are liquid detergents and are specially formulated for the machine to not cause shrinking, stretching, or fading on washable suede, linen, cotton, washable wool, silk, rayon, polyester, cotton/polyester, nylon, nylon/spandex and rayon/spandex.
If your clothes are made of cotton and natural fibers, you should use fabric softener. You'll get the benefits of minimal wrinkles and pilling without worrying about whether your clothes are ruined. But the key is not to overuse fabric softener — less is more in this case!
Cotton clothes can generally survive being machine-dried, but pay close attention to their size and blend. Those made of 100% cotton may shrink in a dryer so it's better to air-dry them. Heavy items like beddings and towels can be tumble dried at medium to high heat to ease the process.
Cotton clothing should be washed every two to three times it's worn, depending on how soiled the item is.
Air dry. If you can, skip the dryer entirely. Heat is the main culprit when it comes to shrinking and warping the lovely natural fibers in your 100% cotton clothing. Instead, use a clothing rack (they come in many sizes and configurations) or hang items outside away from direct sunlight.
It depends on the load. Dryer sheets work well for most everyday items made of natural fibers, such as cotton shirts, pants and socks, but it's best to avoid using dryer sheets on athleticwear & microfiber, towels, flame-resistant clothing and water-repellent fabric.
The most likely cause of fabric feeling rigid or stiff is adding the wrong amount of detergent. Follow the instructions below for best washing results: If too little detergent is used, there may be insufficient active ingredients to combat the hardness of the water, which in turn can affect the softness of the fibres.