Items that have spandex, elastic, or rubber can break down.
Other things can melt, shrink, warp, or crack.
Look at this list of 16 items that should never go in the clothes dryer.
Olga Polishko / Getty Images
Allow it to tumble for no more than 10 minutes.
Bras
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Brasusespandexand elastic to stretch and provide support.
The high heat can cause the fabric to distort or crack.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Hang wet leather goods to air-dry away from direct heat or sunlight.
The high heat can set in wrinkles that are almost impossible to remove.
Tennis Shoes
Tennis shoes can be made out ofsimple canvas, leather, or high-tech performance fabrics.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Afterwashing athletic shoes, skip the dryer.
The high heat can cause the soles to separate and materials to become distorted.
Allow them to air-dry for at least 24 hours before wearing again.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
For a speedier effect on less-fancy footwear, stuff the shoes with crumbled up newspaper.
The pages will soak up the moisture and expedite the drying process.
Sweaters
Sweaters are created from knitted yarns that canlose their shapeif washed incorrectly.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
And the final insult can come if they are tossed in a hot dryer.
The heat can cause natural and human-made fibers toshrink or stretchandincrease pilling.
Excessive heat can cause the hide of anatural furto crack and the fur to fall out.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Simply hang the fur to air-dry away from direct heat or sunlight.
Forfaux fur, high-heat can cause the fibers to melt and tangle.
Allow the garment to air-dry and use a wide-tooth comb to slowly separate the fibers.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
However, they should never be put in the clothes dryer on high heat.
The rubber backing can crumble and even melt.
But after washing, allow it to air-dry.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Dryer heat will cause the fabrics to distort and ruin that summer look.
The heat can cause non-skid soles to separate and melt.
Wool Clothes
Somewool clothingcan betossed in the washer or hand washed easily at home.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
However, nothing made out of wool should be placed in the dryer.
Once the scales interlock, it can be quite difficult to return the fabric to its original size.
Always air-dry, preferably outside but out of direct sunlight.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
