Does bamboo clothing shrink in the tumble dryer

Short answer: Does bamboo clothing shrink in the tumble dryer? It can, because heat and tumbling pull on soft viscose fibres. For tops and blouses, a drying rack or line is the safest choice. Here is when the rack wins and what to do if the machine is your only option.

Does bamboo clothing shrink in a tumble dryer

Does bamboo clothing shrink when it goes in the dryer? It can. Viscose is soft and pliable when wet, and heat and constant movement may pull the fibres together as they dry. The effect is usually small, but it is the main reason many care labels point towards drying flat or on a line instead of a machine.

Why a drying rack is the safest choice

On a rack the fabric lies still, and the fibres dry without heat and without being thrown around. That is the gentlest way to dry viscose, and it protects both size and drape. If you have the time, the rack is almost always the best choice for tops and blouses you want to sit the way they did before.

What the tumble dryer does to fine knits

In the dryer the fabric meets heat and hard movement while it is wet and soft. That can pull the fibres together, and edges may wear or ripple. Tops with narrow straps and fine necklines notice it first. Only use the machine if the label in your clothes clearly allows it. Browse the range for women to compare cuts.

How to lay a top on the rack

Shake the garment lightly and pull it into shape while it is damp. Lay the top flat over the bars, or hang it if it is not heavy. A piece hanging from the shoulders can stretch, so lay heavier pieces flat instead. Give each piece room, and keep the rack away from the radiator, since direct heat does what the dryer does.

When the tumble dryer is all you have

Sometimes the machine is all you have. Then pick the mildest setting, fill the drum only halfway and take the clothes out while they are still slightly damp. Finish drying on a rack. It is no guarantee, but it lowers the strain, and gentle drying gives a better result than a long hot cycle.

How to keep the fit of your tops over time

The fit lasts longest when you wash gently and dry flat or on a line. Do not stuff tops in with heavy items such as towels and jeans. Turn them inside out in the wash and use a mild detergent. Do that every time, and you keep both shape and drape through many washes.

Socks and underwear dry quickly on a rack

Small pieces like socks for women dry fast on a rack, and there is rarely a reason to use the machine. The same rule applies, though: check the label first. If it says no tumble dryer, let the rack do the work. Small pieces often dry in a few hours and take almost no space.

Check the label and follow it

The label in your own clothes is the most important source, because it was written for that exact piece. For a T-shirt like your bamboo T-shirts for women, read the label before you choose machine or rack. If you are in doubt, pick the gentlest method, because you can never regret that one.

Frequently asked questions

Can bamboo clothing go in the tumble dryer

It is best avoided, because heat and tumbling can make the fabric shrink. Check the label in your clothes, and use a rack or a line if you are in any doubt.

How do I dry blouses without stretching them

Lay them flat on the rack and pull them into shape while damp. Avoid hanging heavy pieces by the shoulders, because the weight can stretch the fabric.

What if I only have a tumble dryer

Choose the mildest setting, fill the drum only halfway and take the clothes out while still slightly damp. Finish drying on a rack.

See our range of bamboo tops.