Simple question on washing and drying...?

Question

I am doing the washing for the first time in my life.

I washed a few T-shirts and hung them out to dry. They are dry know, but they feel hard (though I used fabric softener).

Should I but them in the dryer now?

Will that make them less hard?

Thank you :)

Answer 1

Yes, I've found that if the clothes feel too stiff (and I also use liquid fabric softener) that if I throw them in the dryer for a little while it helps to soften them.  If you wet a small rag and the squeeze out as much water as you can and throw it in the dryer with them, that can help too as the moisture in the cloth helps.

Answer 2

Before you hang them next time give them a good shaking (so the front and back of the shirt seperate). Also if you are using a cheaper fabric softener try going for downy next time or another name brand. I've found with the cheaper stuff the stuff isn't as soft.

Make sure you aren't putting too much soap in your load too. Residual soap can make clothing stiff...

Answer 3

i don't usually use fabric softener so i'm not sure how effective it is.  But I've hung some clothes before.  I think if you leave them out for dry in the hot sun it gets harder than if you hang inside.  But if you dry using the dryer you shouldn't have the dryness problem

Answer 4

That's exactly what I do. It only takes 5 minutes or so in the dryer to soften them up.

Answer 5

Hang drying is very economical as the only real cost is taking the time to hang them up.  If you're able to keep an eye on them, pull them down when they're still just a bit damp and put them in the dryer.  Sometimes the harsher wrinkles from hang-drying won't come out from just putting them into the dryer.  Generally they'll be wrinkle-free if you're able to get them into the dryer when still a bit damp.