21
Drying special-care items
Most garments and household textiles have manufacturer’s care labels with laundering
instructions. Always follow care label directions when they are available. Pages 10 and
11 include drying instructions for most types of washables. The chart below provides drying
instructions for special-care washables.
ITEMS
Blankets and
woolens
•
Cotton, rayon,
synthetic blankets
•
Electric blankets,
electric sheets,
woolen blankets,
washable woolen
garments
Curtains,
slipcovers
•
Draperies,
slipcovers
Diapers, baby
clothes
Elastic items
Flame-retardant
finishes
DRYING INSTRUCTIONS
Machine drying knitted woolens is not recommended. Block to shape
when wet and allow to air dry. Line dry blankets in the shade on a
breezy day over two lines. Pin edges together and straighten them.
When partly dry, turn the blanket over, re-pin, and re-straighten.
When dry, brush nap.
Dry as recommended for permanent press fabrics on page 10.
If manufacturer recommends machine drying:
1.
Place one or two dry towels in the dryer and preheat 3-5 minutes
on a high setting. This will dry blankets faster and help avoid
pilling.
2.
Put blanket in dryer with warm towels. Set control for 20 minutes.
3.
Check after 10 minutes. Remove when still damp. Overdrying and
long tumbling can cause shrinking and pilling.
4.
Place blanket on flat surface, or over two lines to finish drying.
Gently stretch to original size and shape.
5.
When completely dry, brush gently to raise nap. Press binding
with cool iron if needed.
Remove drapery weights and hooks before laundering.
For slipcovers, replace while still slightly damp. They will dry to fit
tightly.
Dry only a few minutes.
1.
Leave room in dryer for load to fluff.
2.
Remove from dryer while slightly damp. Do not overdry.
Wash and dry small items in a mesh bag or pillowcase for
convenient handling.
Remove diapers and cotton knit items while still slightly damp. They
will feel softer, shrink less, and be easier to fold.
Remove from dryer while still slightly damp.
Some items have been treated with a flame-retardant finish to
improve their resistance to burning. Such items are clearly labeled.
To retain flame-retardant qualities through continuous use and
washing, clean and dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
L A U N D R Y T I P S
continued on next page
