The tumble dryer and bamboo clothing

Short answer: The fabric can handle a tumble dryer on low heat, but it costs lifespan. Shrinkage, slack elastic and pilling are the three things the dryer speeds up, and all three can be avoided by air drying.

Heat is the problem

High heat makes the fibres in bamboo viscose contract, and the elastic thread in waistbands and edges turns brittle. It first shows as a T-shirt that has become a little shorter, and later as a waistband that no longer holds its shape. The damage builds slowly, so it often goes unnoticed for months.

Elastic takes the most damage

Elastic handles heat worse than anything else in a garment. It loses some stretch with every cycle, and that stretch does not come back. This matters most for items meant to sit close, like a bra or a top with thin straps. See the bamboo tops for women, where the fit depends on the elastic.

Movement causes pilling

The drum rubs clothes against each other and against other items, pulling loose fibre ends out of the surface. Those ends gather into small balls, known as pilling. It is most visible on soft, slightly thicker fabrics, such as the surface of bamboo sweatwear, where there is a lot of fabric to rub.

Shrinkage mostly happens in length

When clothes shrink in the dryer, they usually shrink in length. A T-shirt can get shorter without getting narrower, and sleeves can ride up. Most of it happens in the first few cycles, but the heat keeps tightening the fibres a little each time, so the difference grows over time.

Air drying is the gentle choice

The gentlest option is to hang clothes up after washing. Pull them into shape while wet and let them dry at room temperature. Bamboo viscose dries fairly quickly on a rack, and thin fabric is often dry in half a day. That way you avoid both the heat and the friction.

If you use the dryer anyway

Sometimes there is no space or time for air drying. Use the lowest heat setting and take the clothes out while they are still slightly damp. Then hang them up to finish drying. That keeps the damage to a minimum, also on a bamboo bra, where the elastic is especially sensitive to heat.

Sort before tumbling

If you tumble, keep the delicate items out of the machine. Underwear, bras and thin tops go on the rack, while towels and heavy fabrics go in the dryer. Sorting takes an extra minute, but it extends the life of the clothes that sit closest to your body and get worn most.

Check the care label

The care label tells you what the maker recommends for that exact item. If it says no tumble drying, the reason is often the elastic or a special finish on the fabric. Follow the label even if other garments in the same material can be tumbled, as seams, blends and weight vary.

Frequently asked questions

How much does clothing shrink in the dryer

Usually a few percent on top of washing, mostly in length. Shrinkage is greatest in the first few cycles, but the heat keeps tightening the fibres a little each time.

Can tumbling make clothes softer

For a short while they feel softer, but the surface wears at the same time. Air dried clothes may feel slightly stiff at first, then soften again with wear.

What about a drying cabinet

The same principle applies. Use low heat, take the clothes out while slightly damp, and let them finish drying on a rack at room temperature.