Is it tumble dryable?

As their name suggests, tumble dryers are designed solely for drying clothes, but some resourceful users have discovered a different use for them. They place pre-soaped items in the dryer and run a gentle cycle. But is this a worthwhile endeavor? We decided to find out whether it's really possible to wash clothes in a tumble dryer and what problems might arise. Let's find out.

How do you wash clothes in a dryer?

Let's be clear: we don't support such experiments, as we consider them dangerous and ineffective. However, we will describe the process of washing clothes in a tumble dryer for you. It's important not to confuse a regular tumble dryer with a washer-dryer, as they are two different devices. A washer-dryer is designed specifically for washing and drying clothes.

For a washing machine to clean clothes effectively, it requires a minimum number of items in the drum. The smaller the load, the more efficient the process. The ideal setting is two to three small items and one medium-sized item, such as a sweater or shirt. Here's what housewives typically do:

• First, wet the dirty clothes under the tap;
• lather the item with laundry soap and pay special attention to heavily soiled areas;
• The laundry is wrung out and placed in the drum, after which a short drying program is set and the process is started.

After all this, the item is dried using hot air. At the same time, the machine spins the drum, ensuring minimal mechanical stress. When the program is complete, the user removes the laundry, rinses it in a basin, gently spins it, and returns it to the dryer. The next cycle dries the item, and all that remains is to iron it.

It is extremely important to understand that using the dryer for other than its intended purpose puts it at risk of breakdown!

Based on the above, we can conclude that the unit has all the necessary functions to set the desired pressure and temperature during the washing process. However, this entire process can easily lead to breakdown, as the device is not designed for such purposes. Moreover, the results will be significantly different from those you get with a traditional washing machine.

About the danger and effectiveness of this procedure

Housewives say this method is suitable if their items require a high-quality wash. They also believe the machine is very gentle on fabrics, preventing damage to the fibers, which in turn helps achieve good results with minimal waste.

Our specialists decided to conduct an experiment and concluded that tumble drying is completely ineffective. They took two cotton shirts with similar soil levels. They first soaked them in warm water and lathered them thoroughly. Then, one was left on a rack for an hour, while the other was placed in the dryer for the same amount of time, where it was dried on a gentle setting.

Afterwards, we rinsed the shirts, wrung them out by hand, and returned them to the machine for 40 minutes. In the end, the stains were only partially removed from both the first and second shirts. The state of the stains turned out to be the same, which allows us to say that it doesn’t matter whether the shirt was in the dryer or just lying soapy to the side – the result will be the same.

It's important to understand that the manufacturer strictly prohibits drying dirty items in the drum for a reason. In our case, we placed clothes treated with soap in the machine, which clogs the filters and deposits on the heating element, which in turn leads to an unpleasant odor, carbon deposits on the heating element, and ultimately, machine failure.

After several attempts at washing clothes in the dryer and getting questionable results, you risk having to repair your "home helper," which can cost up to $50. Are you sure you need this? Whenever you decide to experiment, weigh the pros and cons and always keep the consequences in mind.

   

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