Should you dry the bed sheets in a dryer?

To minimize wrinkles and wear and tear on your bed sheets, tumble dry them on the lowest heat setting. The high heat of the dryer can damage the fabric and cause it to shrink.

Before drying your bed sheet, make sure it’s dryer-friendly by reading the care label. And most importantly, it should fit in your dryer. 

How to dry bed sheets in a dryer?

While most bedsheets are machine washable, not all are dryer-friendly.

Always check the care label before putting your bedsheets in the dryer, as there may be specific drying instructions (for bedsheets that can go in the dryer).

So, there are technically three ways to dry your bed sheets.

• Machine Drying
• Outdoor Drying
• Indoor Drying

Let’s take a quick look at each of the drying methods in detail.

Machine Drying

If the care label on your bed sheets says that they’re machine-dryable, then you can put them in the dryer.

However, it’s always best to read the care label before machine drying your bed sheets, as there may be specific drying instructions.

Check for any symbols that indicate which drying cycle to use, as the drying temperature and duration will depend on the fabric.

After looking at the care label, choose the right drying cycle on your dryer and turn it on.

Make sure to check your bed sheets periodically to ensure that they’re not over-drying. In most cases, your bed sheets should dry in approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

If your bed sheets are done drying, remove them from the dryer and fold them immediately.

Outdoor Drying

If you don’t have a dryer or your bed sheets aren’t dryer-friendly, you can air-dry them naturally.

A quick and efficient method of drying your bed sheets is by hanging them outside to naturally dry in the sun.

Just use clothespins to hang your sheets on a clothesline or drying rack and leave them out to dry. This method is ideal for drying large items like bed sheets.

Drying time will depend on the weather conditions, but in most cases, your bed sheets should dry within a few hours.

Once your bed sheets are dry, remove them from the clothesline and fold them immediately.

With that said, drying your bed sheets in direct sunlight can cause the colors to fade over time, so be careful not to overdry them.

Indoor Drying

If it’s not sunny outside or you don’t have access to an outdoor space, you can dry your bed sheets indoors.

To dry your bed sheets indoors, you can make use of a clothes horse. A clotheshorse is a portable frame used to hang wet laundry for drying purposes.

To use a clothes horse, first, open it up and lay it flat on the floor.

Then, drape your wet bed sheets over the clothes horse and secure them in place using pegs.

Once your bed sheets are pinned in place, leave them to dry naturally at room temperature.

To boost the drying process, you can turn on the fan or open a window to improve air circulation.

Depending on the humidity levels in your home, it can take several hours for your bed sheets to dry completely.

Why Do Bed Sheets Twist in the Dryer?

It’s common for bed sheets to twist in the dryer, especially because of their size and multiple layers.

Also, since bed sheets are large in size, there isn’t enough room for them to move freely inside the machine, causing tangling.

To avoid this problem, you can try the following tips:

Use a dryer ball

A dryer ball is a small, round, and fluffy ball that you can add to your dryer load.

The dryer ball helps to fluff up the bed sheets and prevents them from tangling.

Add a few tennis balls

Adding a few tennis balls to your dryer load can also help to prevent bed sheets from tangling.

Just like dryer balls, tennis balls help to fluff up the bed sheets and keep them from sticking together.

Use a laundry bag

Another effective way to prevent bed sheets from tangling in the dryer is to use a laundry bag.

A laundry bag is a small, mesh bag to which you can add your bed sheets before putting them in the machine.

The laundry bag allows the bed sheets to move freely inside the dryer, preventing them from tangling.

Just make sure that there is enough space inside the laundry bag for the bed sheets to move around freely.

Avoid Overloading

It’s also important to avoid overloading the dryer with bed sheets.

Overloading the dryer can cause bed sheets to twist and tangle.

To avoid this, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how much your dryer can hold.

Separate the load based on fabric type

Another way to avoid tangling is to separate the load based on the fabric type.

If you’re drying a mixed load of bed sheets, you can separate the load into two batches.

For example, one batch is for cotton bed sheets, and another batch is for polyester bed sheets.

This will keep the sheets from getting tangled and ensure they dry evenly.

It also makes it easy to select the right drying settings as different fabrics have different drying requirements.

Use a lower heat setting

When drying bed sheets, it’s important to use a lower heat setting.

Using a high heat setting can cause the bed sheets to wrinkle and tangle.

So, be sure to use the lowest heat setting that is appropriate for the fabric type.

Use a shorter drying cycle

Another way to prevent bed sheets from tangling in the dryer is to use a shorter drying cycle.

Using a shorter drying cycle will help to prevent the bed sheets from over-drying and wrinkling.

How to remove wrinkles from bed sheets?

If you’ve noticed wrinkles in your bedsheets after they’ve been dried in a dryer, there are a few things you can do.

• You can try using a fabric steamer or iron on the low heat setting to remove the wrinkles.
• It may require re-washing the sheets and then drying them on a lower heat setting.
• In case your bed sheets are made of natural fibers like cotton or linen, you can also try soaking them in a solution of warm water and fabric softener for 30 minutes before washing. This will help to relax the fibers and remove any wrinkles.
• Just make sure it’s suitable for fabric softeners (You can confirm this by referring to the care label).

What’s the Best Way to Dry Bed Sheets?

The best way to dry bed sheets is by hanging them outside to air-dry in the sun.

This method is quick and efficient, and it doesn’t require the use of a dryer.

However, if you don’t have access to an outdoor space, you can dry your bed sheets indoors using a clothes horse.

Final Thoughts 

While you can technically dry bed sheets in a dryer, it’s not always the best option.

Drying bed sheets in a dryer can cause them to wrinkle, tangle, and even shrink, especially if the bed sheet that you are machine-drying is not machine-friendly.

It’s recommended that you read the care label first before deciding to dry your bedsheet in a dryer.

If the care label is missing or not clear, it’s best to stick with the outdoor drying method to be on the safe side.

Frequently Asked Questions