Tumble dryer times for different fabrics

They save time and effort, need little maintenance and make your life easier. Tumble dryers are perfect for getting your clothes ready even during rainy, cold spells. They're a real bonus when you need your washing dry in just a few minutes.

But has the dryer ever shrunk one of your garments? Or been a bit rough on some fabrics? This is very common, and it happens because these machines have different programmes for each type of fabric that you usually don't know about.

That's why it's important to adjust the drying settings across all the cycles, so you can control the time and temperature in each process.

No matter where you do this — at home or at a self-service launderette like Lavandería Azul — you should always keep in mind the right times for each type of fabric, especially when drying heat-sensitive pieces.

Drying methods for each type of garment

Just as you separate your washing before laundering it, you should do the same when drying. Before putting clothes in the dryer you need to make two loads, or more depending on how many items there are: one for whites and one for colours.

You also need to identify the type of fabric you're going to dry — whether it's lightweight, quick-drying material, or thicker fabrics that need more time or a higher temperature.

This way the machine runs an even cycle on all sides for the whole load without damaging any item, and with the right programme setting.

It's important not to overload the dryer, as this leads to unnecessarily high energy costs and reduces the appliance's performance, since the fabrics don't dry properly.

The times for each cycle vary and depend on the fabric: cotton, wool, mixed fibres, lingerie, microfibres and so on, as well as the temperature: timed hot or cold. Below you can see the most suitable drying method to use for each fabric.

Full dryer loads of cotton clothing can have a 10-minute dry on a timer at medium heat. It's a natural fabric used more than any other and, happily, it dries quickly and stands up to heat.

This category includes towels, curtains, sheets, jeans and other denim garments, linen items and T-shirts that are 100% cotton.

These are garments that contain a percentage of cotton and a percentage of other materials — in fact most clothing is a blend. Use a full cycle on a slightly gentler programme than pure cotton, with a lower temperature that can range from low to cold. The drying time needed is 10 to 15 minutes.

These are very soft items that tend to shrink easily, and heat can damage their cashmere, crêpe, gabardine, worsted or alpaca fibres. They dry very quickly, so you only need to put them in the dryer for 5 minutes at a low to cold temperature to complete the cycle. This group includes jumpers, blankets, tights, babywear and so on.

These have a low cotton content and therefore need a longer drying cycle but at a very low temperature, since they're synthetic and don't withstand heat the way organic fabrics do.

They can overheat easily and even scorch or fall apart in the dryer. These are lightweight, pill-resistant microfibre garments made with polyester fibres, nylon and Lycra.

These need the longest drying time, with cycles of up to 30 minutes and a timer at medium to high temperature, depending on the fabric of the outer shell.

As these are padded garments, removing all the moisture is tricky, so it's always best to check the label and look at the drying symbols to see which programme is most suitable. This type of textile includes gilets, blankets and all your winter clothing.

Finally, this category includes evening dresses, party outfits and most underwear. In this case you shouldn't use the dryer, as these are garments that, on the manufacturer's advice, should be dried in the open air. Their weaves are more delicate than other fabrics.

Over the last couple of years, many people have preferred to do their washing away from home, and using self-service launderettes has become something of a boom. At Lavandería Adeje we offer 10, 15 and 20 kg washing machines and 15 kg dryers — top-of-the-range machines that look after your clothes without damaging the fabric.

With a wash time of roughly 22 minutes and drying cycles ranging from 5 to 25 minutes, you also have free detergent and fabric softener at your disposal, which means even bigger savings when you use the service.

You can also save time with the large-capacity washers and dryers, since in a single load you can wash and dry all the clothes your family gets through in a week.

All in all, the process is highly effective and versatile: the machines are high-performance and run quick cycles that take all kinds of items, even large duvets with heavy feather fillings that usually won't fit in a domestic machine.

Lastly, you can be confident you're washing in a hygienic system with clean filters, disinfected with an active-oxygen cycle that keeps the equipment free of bacteria and dirt.