Denim clothing like jeans is notoriously hard to dry unless the weather is nice.
When you're pressed for time or have a string of rainy days, you might think, "I want to dry my jeans in the dryer!" but you may also worry, "What if they fade or shrink in the machine?"
So, in this article, we will explain:
- Is it okay to put jeans in the dryer?
- Tips for minimizing fading and shrinking when drying jeans in a machine
- Precautions when using a dryer for jeans
and more!!
Dryer-Safe Quick-Dry Premium Jeans Tapered Straight Antibacterial, Stain-Resistant, & Water-Repellent White Denim / Men's
Is it okay to put jeans in the dryer?
When drying your jeans, it is perfectly fine to use a dryer if you follow a few precautions.
Since jeans were originally designed as workwear, they are made of sturdy fabric.
However, you need to be careful, as heat can cause them to shrink.
For 100% cotton jeans, it is said that they can shrink by about 1–2 cm when dried in a machine.
Therefore, it is safer to avoid using a dryer for skinny jeans or other tight-fitting styles.
Additionally, for expensive jeans or pairs you absolutely do not want to ruin, it is safer to avoid the dryer as there is a possibility of damaging the fabric.
If you want to keep your jeans in good condition for a long time, we recommend following the methods for long-lasting care without fading that we introduced in our previous article.
Tips for minimizing fading and shrinking when drying jeans in a machine
Using a dryer is convenient for drying your jeans in a short amount of time, especially when you are busy or the weather prevents natural air drying.
It requires a bit more effort than other laundry, but it is possible to minimize shrinkage.
Here are some tips for using a dryer while keeping the beautiful silhouette of your jeans intact.
Turn them inside out before putting them in the dryer
Turning them inside out helps prevent the surface of the denim from getting damaged, and it is also expected to reduce fading and color transfer.
Additionally, it allows air to circulate more easily through parts that are prone to staying damp, such as pockets where fabric overlaps, which can shorten drying time.
If you turn them inside out before washing, you can leave them that way for the drying process—killing two birds with one stone.
Adjust the drying time
The key to reducing shrinkage in jeans is to "shorten the drying time."
A good rule of thumb is to set the dryer for half the time you would use for a regular load of laundry.
Though they will still be damp, removing them and hanging them in a well-ventilated area to smooth out wrinkles and reshape them will significantly shorten the total drying time compared to air-drying from start to finish, while also curbing shrinkage and wrinkling.
Adjust the drying temperature
Depending on the type of dryer, you may be able to adjust the temperature.
To dry your jeans while minimizing shrinkage, set the temperature to medium.
The faster denim fabric dries after washing, the more likely it is to shrink.
Therefore, setting it to high heat could cause the moisture to evaporate too quickly, leading to significant shrinkage.
Use a laundromat dryer
Home dryers have small capacities, so there isn't enough space between the clothes or between the clothes and the drum.
This causes the jeans to rub against the machine more often or get tangled with other garments, which can cause excessive rubbing in specific areas and lead to unwanted color loss.
While it takes more effort to go to a laundromat and costs a little money, laundromat dryers have large drums that allow jeans to tumble freely. This allows heat to transfer efficiently and can lead to reduced drying times.
It is also a good idea to add 2–3 bath towels or items you don't mind getting color-transferred onto to act as a cushion to prevent the fabric from rubbing.
Precautions when using a dryer for jeans
While jeans are generally made from sturdy fabric, they are also prone to issues like shrinking and fading.
Therefore, you should pay attention to the following points.
Do not use a dryer for the first wash
When washing a new pair of jeans for the first time, you must be particularly careful about "color fading."
Regardless of how you wash or dry them for the first time, some fading is inevitable.
Preserving the unique, natural texture of the jeans at this stage will determine how stylish they look later on.
During the first wash, the natural texture is easily damaged, which can lead to uneven fading. Adding heat from a dryer puts even more stress on the fabric and can cause damage.
Therefore, it is best to avoid the dryer as much as possible for the first wash.
Using a dryer on purpose to shrink your jeans?!
There is also a method where you intentionally use a dryer to shrink your jeans.
In particular, 100% cotton jeans that have not been pre-washed can be shrunk significantly by drying them at a high temperature for an extended period.
However, we do not recommend this method.
It can damage the fabric, cause loss of shape, and in some cases, shrink them more than expected, rendering them unwearable.
As mentioned in a previous article, if you want to shrink your jeans, there are methods like washing them in 40°C–50°C hot water.
Also, if the waist has stretched, it is possible to have it taken in by a professional tailor.
If you are going to use a dryer to shrink a stretched pair of jeans, consider it carefully while checking the characteristics of your specific pair.
Dryer-Safe Premium Classic Straight Jeans Used Color / Men's
Quick-drying and stain-resistant jeans are easy to care for
For those who find drying to be a hassle or who want to avoid the dryer due to concerns about fading and shrinking, we recommend jeans that are easy to dry after washing.
You should choose jeans that feature quick-drying functions, use easily-dried materials, or are thin in construction.
Additionally, stain-resistant jeans are less prone to dirt, which can reduce the frequency of washing and save you time on maintenance on busy days.
BOBSON's sports jeans are made of the latest denim, embedding jade and ceramic into the fabric, making them lightweight and exceptionally quick-drying.
Active Jeans - Okayama Denim Indigo Color / Unisex
This white denim features super water-repellent, antibacterial, and stain-resistant processing, making it easy to wash away dirt with just water—care is a breeze!
Of course, it also has excellent quick-drying properties!
Premium Jeans Tapered Straight Antibacterial, Stain-Resistant, & Water-Repellent White Denim / Men's
Washing your jeans thoroughly and drying them in a machine helps reduce damage from invisible germs and keeps your jeans sanitary and long-lasting.
Use your dryer effectively to maintain your jeans!
We also explain this in detail in our video, so please take a look!
If you want to know about water washing and shade drying without using a dryer, please watch this video as well.
