6 things you should never put in the dryer

A dryer makes laundry day so much easier, but many people don’t realize that some things can’t withstand all that heat.

The Good Housekeeping Institute identified a number of clothing and other items that you probably want to stop putting in the dryer — and this could help you get the most life out of them.

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Keep these 6 things out of your dryer!

Athletic shoes

Heat from your dryer can shrink the rubber and damage the cushioning in your sneakers.

So how do you make your old athletic shoes look and smell like new? The folks at Nike suggest skipping the washer and dryer and following these cleaning instructions instead:

1. Remove excess dirt first using a soft-bristled brush (shoe brush or old toothbrush) to clean the outsole.
2. Mix warm water and a small amount of laundry detergent to create a slightly soapy mixture.
3. Apply a small amount of the water/detergent mixture to a sponge, soft cloth or soft brush and clean affected areas.
4. Apply a small amount of warm water to another sponge or soft cloth to remove any excess detergent.
5. Air dry the shoes at room temperature.

Nike says the same steps can be used to clean your shoe’s insoles.

Bathing suits

The dryer is a quick way to ruin your favorite spandex swimwear, according to retailer SwimsuitsDirect.com. If you’re really in a hurry, use a hair dryer on the cool air setting to dry your suit out.

Bonus tip: Prevent your swimsuit from smelling like chlorine by washing it as soon as you can after swimming.

Bras

Your bras are too delicate for the heat and agitation of a dryer, according to Good Housekeeping. On YouTube, Melissa Maker of Clean My Space rolls her bras in a towel to remove excess moisture before placing them on a drying rack.

Pantyhose or tights

Hosiery is very fragile, so prevent shrinkage and tangles by keeping them out of the dryer. Instead, speed up the drying process by using the towel method that we mentioned above.

Embellished clothing

Embellished and bejeweled clothing is very trendy, but it requires extra care. To make your fabrics last longer, wash them by hand and hang them to dry. That way you won’t risk losing any of the beautiful detailing.

Rubber bath mats

Rubber-backed bath mats are great because they don’t slip and slide all over the place, but that rubber can crumble over time because of your dryer’s high heat. Even worse, Good Housekeeping says the overheating could ignite a dryer fire.

Bath mats that don’t have rubber backing can usually go in the dryer on the low heat setting, but check the label for instructions.

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