What items shouldn’t you tumble dry? From bath mats to bras, the clothing and household items that should never go in the dryer

TUMBLE dryers are fantastic things - they can seriously speed up the washing and drying cycle, meaning you can wear your favourite clothes, clean, fresh and freshly laundered at record time.

But, many of us will be all too familiar with clothes coming out of the wash not quite as nice as they went in – and it seems certain things should not be put in whatsoever. Here's the lowdown.

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What items should you never tumble dry?

Bikinis and swimming costumes

Anything with Spandex will start to break down if you put it in the dryer, losing its elasticity as a result of the high heat.

And no-one wants a baggy bottomed bathing suit when it comes to hitting the beach…

Bras

If you value the shape of your bra, avoid chucking them in the dryer with everything else.

Bras are too delicate for the dryer and the heat can cause misshapen cups – which won’t look to great when it comes to getting dressed.

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Rubber-backed mats

Your tumble dryer will cause the rubber that provides extra grip on your mat fall apart…plus you could potentially cause a fire.

Tights

Even if you only pop your tights in the dryer for a couple of minutes, you risk them becoming tangled, knotted and running.

You’re much better off hanging your hosiery to dry next to a heater instead - they’re so delicate, they’ll dry really quickly.

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Blinged-up clothes

Any item of clothing with embellishment or sewed on beading should be left out of your load.

You risk losing any sewn on bling – or melting it.

Ugg boots

It may be tempting to throw your faithful Uggs in the dryer, but doing so will likely cause the sheepskin to shrink in the dryer’s high heat.

This is one where you’re better off finding a warm dry spot to leave them to dry and waiting it out.

Stick them in a sunny spot and wait it out.

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What is fine to tumble dry?

Gym leggings

Maybe not every time you wash them, but if you’re in a rush popping your Lycra capris in the dryer is fine once in a while – as long as the heat is on a low setting.

Trainers and plimsolls

As long as they’re not high-performance sport’s shoes it is fine to stick your trainers in the dryer.

Make sure you keep them on a low heat – putting a couple of dry towels in with them will help to speed things up.

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Dress shirts

Just keep the heat low.

Feather pillows

They will take a while, but if you keep the heat on low you should be fine.