Tumble Dry? Fabric Conditioner?

[Victoria]

Hi, most items of cycle clothing seem to recommend no tumble drying and no fabric conditioner. I have a machine that can dry woollen garments safely (ie, very gentle and cool), and I have to admit to using fabric conditioner to reduce static. Nothing bad seems to happen to them, so does anyone else put their kit in a tumble dryer and/or use conditioner? Curious to know why not.

 

[summerdays]

I don't cos Mr Summerdays tells me off - well on the conditioner front. (Though I ignore him when it comes to towels and conditioner ).

As for the tumble drier - I find it does shrink some clothes - nothing of mine with long sleeves is allowed in because of that - so I would be wary of putting in wool stuff. I just put it on a hanger and leave overnight - it usually dries except a couple of the thicker items need a bit longer.

 

[MacB]

I'm a bit cautious with expensive woollens but everything else, wash at 30 and cool tumble, if it shrinks it was rubbish. Barring fleeces as they dry almost as you're hanging them up. Which reminds me, I need to get a new iron and iron board, or at least a decent ironing board cover. Ours has gotten so thin I'm ironing in the hexagonal metal framework as a pattern now. It's just I don't have a good track record of fitting new ironing board covers.

 

[potsy]

All my technical clothing goes straight from washing machine to a hanger and dries fairly quickly at room temperature.

 

[vickster]

Which reminds me, I need to get a new iron and iron board, or at least a decent ironing board cover. Ours has gotten so thin I'm ironing in the hexagonal metal framework as a pattern now. It's just I don't have a good track record of fitting new ironing board covers.

These are pretty idiot/man proof to fit http://www.jmldirect.com/product.asp?pf_id=I9099&src=froogle&changecurrency=GBP

 

[johnr]

Ecoballs.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I dislike conditioner for 2 reasons, the main one being it can make washing machines go mouldy which is impossible to remove in some places and secondly it reduces the efficacy of towels and the like. To be avoided at all costs.

 

[Young Howard]

Be carefull using fabric conditioner with waterproofs, as it can remove the coating on them then rain will not bead off so you'll have to re-proof them, on the other hand I think Goretex recommend tumble drying for their stuff.

 

[slugonabike]

I think fabric conditioner is supposed to reduce the wicking properties ot tech fabric, hence the advice not to use it.

 

[andrew_s]

Be carefull using fabric conditioner with waterproofs, as it can remove the coating on them then rain will not bead off so you'll have to re-proof them, on the other hand I think Goretex recommend tumble drying for their stuff.

Heat (tumble drying) makes the water repellent coating on waterproofs (or wind/showerproofs) work better. A cool iron will do if you don't tumble dry.

 

[Tynan]

I do avoid fabric conditioner, I tumble dry all my kit

I never clean waterproofs at all

 

[Fab Foodie]

What is this ironing?

 

[Ste T.]

I won't buy anything that can't be tumbled. My missus on the other hand buys nowt that can be.
Having ruined several of her garments I'm now banned from sorting out her gear. Result!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Well, that's left me feeling a bit flat.

Yep, they were really steaming around that bend.... When I first saw that picture it had me in creases....

 

[Fab Foodie]

Ooh you're such a smoothie, Foodie!

I can tell you're im-pressed and not easily board....