| Author | Content |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 11, 2007
10:13 PM Post #3726013
| This is driving me nuts...Our dryer is super-big capacity and does great for drying clothes. But comforters and sheets end up in a giant, tightly-rolled wad after only a few minutes in there. I've tried those rubber dryer balls, so don't even mention 'em. LOL What can I do to dry this stuff, short of hanging it up to dry it?
This is a big, king-sized bedspread:
This message was edited Jul 11, 2007 10:14 PM
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
vossner
Richmond, TX
(Zone 9a)
July 11, 2007
10:17 PM Post #3726020
| Mine is not super duper big capacity, but this happens when I have very few or 1 item that I want to dry. It just tangles into a wad.
Might be worth calling the mfr to see what they say. But it does happen to me w/ my older whirlpool dryer. |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 11, 2007
10:20 PM Post #3726031
| Thanks for the reply, Vossner. I wish dryers would rotate one way for a few cycles, then go the other direction. Our front-loader does this and it does a great job of things. |
onewish1
Denville, NJ
(Zone 6a)
July 11, 2007
10:24 PM Post #3726048
| I have a super capacity dryer also... putting more items in does not help... just a bigger wad of stuff... don't have an answer for you... sorry
Allison |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 11, 2007
10:34 PM Post #3726087
| These things are great for big loads of bluejeans or towels -- individual articles of clothing -- try and dry a big comforter or bedspread. I reckon we should put up a clothesline? Then I'll have to clean bird poop off the linens. LOL |
onewish1
Denville, NJ
(Zone 6a)
July 11, 2007
10:38 PM Post #3726104
| maybe a small pillow with the comforter? |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 11, 2007
10:50 PM Post #3726152
| I might try that. I just know the dryer balls end up in the wad. I suspect a pillow will get wrapped up in the mess, too. Can't hurt to try, though. |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 11, 2007
10:55 PM Post #3726167
| GW -- i too have the same problem. I'll go down half way through the cycle and shake it out to "untwist" it.
BUt I have to say, it doesn't do that all the time. IF i'm doing only sheets, duvet -- then yes... but i think if I have towels in there too, its not as bad.
sometimes it's so twisted up in knots it's frustrating... and things get caught in the "deep pockets" too. |
vossner
Richmond, TX
(Zone 9a)
July 11, 2007
10:56 PM Post #3726169
| gardenwife, looks like you've touched a nerve here, lol |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 11, 2007
11:00 PM Post #3726193
| LOL...UG, i dont even wanna think about it!!
I wonder why it's so different? when i had my "normal' sized Kenmore (at my last house) i never had this problem... and for the BIG stuff, you'd go to the laundomat - where they have big over sized driers -- and it didnt happen there.
Next time i wash my sheets -- I'll pay closer attention to if they wad up or not...and what i may be doing differently, cuz it doesnt happen all the time. |
Magpye
NW Qtr, AR
(Zone 6a)
July 11, 2007
11:14 PM Post #3726249
| Heck .. As sure as I'd throw some other lil item in there with the 'big' shtuffs (like a small pillow in with a blanket, spread or comforter) - they'd just roll up around that too!! .. LOL ..
My only resolve has been to set my dryer for a few minutes at a time: like 10 minutes or so (to prevent wasted energy) - and make a point to yank it out, plump it about a bit and chunk her back in there for another 10 minutes or so. Then, repeat .. as necessary.
My king bed sheets don't have near the problem tho' - unless I chunk the fitted AND the flat sheet in, together! Gotta keep'em separated, or they'll tie up in fights! (hee)
Apparently, a lot has to do with the greater mass and weight of such items as spreads and comforters ..
Wish you 'luck', GW ...
- Magpye |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 11, 2007
11:32 PM Post #3726309
| Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one driven to distraction by 'em. Some of our comforters did wad up at the laundromat, come to think of it. They were the huge dryers. I know I about burned myself a few times when taking them out to re-arrange them!
I finally gave up tonight and just hung the heavy cotton bedspread over the clothes rod we have in the basement. At least there's a dehumidifier going, so it will have help drying. But I have a fluffier comforter in the wash right now. Ugh. ;) |
elsie
Lafayette, NJ
(Zone 6a)
July 15, 2007
8:51 PM Post #3740181
| I don't have a dryer. Remember when they used to tell you to put clean tennis shoes in the dryer with a down comforter to keep the down from being lumpy? I wonder if something heavier like a clean tennis shoes might keep the large blanket or sheets from tying themselves into a knot. |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 15, 2007
9:55 PM Post #3740436
| CLEAN tennis shoes...What a concept. Goodness... ;) |
elsie
Lafayette, NJ
(Zone 6a)
July 15, 2007
10:01 PM Post #3740468
| Now I'm thinking it might be new tennis balls? Racquets? |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 15, 2007
10:09 PM Post #3740493
| I was going to say, I'd have to wash mine several times! ;) |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 16, 2007
8:26 AM Post #3741554
| i've done the gym shoes in with comforters before... can't recall if it made a difference at all though. and the tennis balls are pretty much the same concept as the "drier balls" -- mine just get stuck inside the "wad" -- and usually suck inside the 'large pocket corners' of the bottom sheet. dont think those balls do much good with bedding. |
Sashagirl
by the Muddy Miss., IA
(Zone 5a)
July 16, 2007
8:38 AM Post #3741583
| Kimberly,
Tennis Shoes do work, but 3-4 kids tennies work better, for me. I picked up a couple new pair for a quarter/pr. at Goodwill a few years ago.
That's all I use them for.
Something to consider...and a cheap solution
It's not a "perfect ", but helps a lot, especially with the down comforters.
A few weeks ago, I got the bright idea of throwing my Crocs in with the comforter. bad Idea-they shrunk! Can you believe it?! I was so ticked. lol
Sasha |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 16, 2007
8:58 AM Post #3741622
| OH Sasha -- that's horrible!! Who'da thunk it? |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 16, 2007
10:36 AM Post #3741958
| Oh, wow...I'm surprised you didn't smell burnt rubber! LOL The dryer must have broken down all the little air pockets that keep the foam so resilient. |
lindagarden
Gilbert, AZ
July 17, 2007
2:13 PM Post #3746887
| I have the same problem. And the trouble with them wadding up is that they are so wrinkled you almost have to iron them. I have tried the tennis balls with sheets. They weren't big enough. I will have to try the shoes. It is the sheets I have the most trouble with. If anyone does come up with a solution, let us know.
Have a good day! |
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
2:24 PM Post #3765906
| If the back of your dryer drum has 2 indentations, then get this accessory. I put quilts, etc on it and they just dry - the drum spins around it but the rack remains stationary - works like a charm :)
I take the rack out for the last 5 minutes and let it get fluffy with a clean sneaker.
Dea
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 22, 2007
2:55 PM Post #3765994
| Oh, wow! I am going to go look. LOL |
Magpye
NW Qtr, AR
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
2:59 PM Post #3766002
| Dea ..
| Quoted: | | If the back of your dryer drum has 2 indentations .. |
My dryer has two indentations into the SIDES of the rotating drum ..
Mite there be any chance that you'd be willing to re-install your shelf into your dryer and take a few shots of how its' positioned/how it 'sits' and share them [here] also, please -?-
For the life of me, I jes can't seem to get a good 'visual' .. LOL
I, for one .. would appreciate it.
- Magpye |
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
3:07 PM Post #3766027
| Sure - here's the inside of the drum without the rack... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
3:08 PM Post #3766030
| And with the rack installed ...
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Magpye
NW Qtr, AR
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
3:15 PM Post #3766058
| Ah-hah! ..
Those .. really helped a bunch!!
Thank you so much, Dea.
- Magpye |
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
3:19 PM Post #3766066
| fyi - our dryer is a 9 year old Amana with no bells or whistles except for the rack. I just used it again today to dry a delicate quilt for my MIL that she would have spent a fortune on sending out to a cleaner...not to mention the chemicals - UGGGHHHH.
|
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 22, 2007
3:24 PM Post #3766076
| Hey, I see a couple of dimples on the back of the drum! Woot! They're not very deep - does that matter?
This message was edited Jul 22, 2007 3:24 PM |
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
3:30 PM Post #3766098
| I wouldn't think so - even if the manufacturer doesn't have an accessory, I'm thinking you could devise something that will clear the paddles if your dryer has them. Something like a cookie cooling rack?
|
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
3:43 PM Post #3766120
| Maybe something like this? [HYPERLINK@www.partselect.com]
This is a great site that's broken down by manufacturer :)
|
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
3:48 PM Post #3766131
| This one seems to fit most models that are 29" wide and have an "E" at the end of the model number. Hope this helps everyone :)
[HYPERLINK@www.partselect.com]
You can tell that Sunday is laundry day here ;)
|
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 22, 2007
3:51 PM Post #3766145
| I'm thinking my dimples are farther apart than 4". I will take a photo, nerd that I am (too). |
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
3:52 PM Post #3766147
| Taking pix of our dryer innards...homemaking nerd here raising hand ;)
|
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 22, 2007
4:07 PM Post #3766194
| Okay...Here's the scoop. Our dryer is a Maytag Performa (low end!):
Model PDET920AYW,
Serial number 11288822JL
Behold. Dimples, shallow though they are. They're probably about 12-16" apart. Maybe. Nope, didn't measure!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 22, 2007
4:21 PM Post #3766239
| never even considered that... i'll have to check mine for holes/slots/dimples
i've got a Neptune
my old Kenmore had that shelf.. it was great. I really do miss my old washer and drier [left'em when i moved]
though the ones i have now are MUCH larger, so it really cuts down on my wash time. |
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2007
4:24 PM Post #3766255
| Kimberley - would this work? [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
|
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 22, 2007
4:32 PM Post #3766281
| That might work - just might. I really ought to measure in there. I'm not going to do it right now, but it's on my list. Right now I'm editing photos. :) |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 22, 2007
5:10 PM Post #3766412
| GW -- Priorities...
;-) |
jkom51
Oakland, CA
(Zone 9b)
July 24, 2007
11:35 AM Post #3773307
| BTW, even a dryer that autoreverses won't solve this problem. We have the ultra-fancy F&P topload dryer, which autoreverses automatically. It works nicely on everything but our CA king-size, extra deep pocket sheets - just like in the photo, the fitted sheet catches the flat sheet and pillowcases inside and wraps itself into a wad.
Now, it doesn't do it every time, and it certainly happens LESS than with our old Kenmore heavy-duty dryer. But I'd say about 20-25% of the time, it still happens. |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 24, 2007
8:00 PM Post #3775380
| Well, I don't miss out on having a fancy dryer, then. LOL! If I'm gonna be frustrated, at least I paid under $300 for the thing. ;D |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 24, 2007
10:22 PM Post #3776067
| OH -- dont get me started on these "fancy" appliances!! they all have these computer boards/chips in them that fail at around the 3 year mark, and NOT cheap to replace.
my washer and drier went in the same week and my Frig [another Maytag] went a year later!!
so much for that Maytag quality... that 'ole repairman just doesnt sit around anymore... he's workin' like dog!
Just gimme a washer and drier with push buttons and turn knobs and i'll be a happy camper. |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
July 24, 2007
10:40 PM Post #3776137
| That's why we stick with lower-end machines with manual dials. The electronics are very pricey to fix out of warranty! |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 24, 2007
11:38 PM Post #3776368
| ...and the warranties are laughable... that's them [the repair companies] laughing all the way to the bank. |
kyjoy
Frankfort, KY
August 7, 2007
11:47 AM Post #3828501
| I washed and dried a light-weight duvet yesterday. I spent 30 minutes trying to untangle it. Finally my brother stepped in and got it undone. But, like you say, it was so wrinkled I got to wet it again and hang it out on the line. Smells better anyway. |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 6, 2007
7:40 AM Post #3943066
| Let me say how glad I was to see the photo of what I refer to as my "turd" laundry. It drives me so crazy that I have taken to drying the sheets on the line all the time instead of occasionally.
Thanks Dea as I have a relatively new Maytag and it has that clothes rack but I have never used it. I will give it a try with the next load of sheets and see how that works. I have the FL washer so the clothes spin out almost dry in the first place so perhaps the rack and a short cycle will remedy this problem.
Thanks Kim!
Candee |
vossner
Richmond, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 6, 2007
10:48 AM Post #3943629
| Out of curiosity I called 2 mfgrs and they both gave me the same solution: to add a couple of towels or a couple of jeans to balance the load. Sheets are considered "light", heavy items such as towels help balance the load.
I will try that next time and will report here accordingly.
|
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
September 6, 2007
11:26 AM Post #3943757
| I've tried putting heavier stuff in with them and they end up the filling within the blanket burrito. LOL |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 6, 2007
2:38 PM Post #3944330
| Will be awaiting the report! Thanks. |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
September 6, 2007
5:34 PM Post #3944860
| >>the blanket burrito
OMG gw... that is so funny!!
I did a huge load of sheets the other day...
1 set king, 1 set queen and 2 sets single
and i didn't have it all rolled into one... it turned out pretty nicely.
it definitely was not twisted.
Been a while since i washed the duvet covers... |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
September 6, 2007
5:46 PM Post #3944887
| Well, that's pretty much what it is - a big burrito! LOL!!
This blanket is a heavy, HEAVY bedspread for a king-sized bed. It's huge and very dense. The towels and jeans might help with our sheets, though. I'll have to try that. |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
September 6, 2007
6:10 PM Post #3944937
| I have a King size quilted denim bed spread... it must weigh about 30 pounds... or atleast it feels that way.
that thing i have to take out of the drier at least 3 times to unroll, untwist, etc to get the thing to dry. |
vossner
Richmond, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 11, 2007
5:00 PM Post #3963711
| so-so report:
I put a queen-size sheet set in the dryer with a pair of jeans and one towel and set on delicate drying, they did not wad. However, since I didn't remove the clothes right away, I decided to "freshen up" and set them on high for 10 min. I had a wad!
I think that a setting where they tumble slowly (such as delicate drying/perm. press drying) is more effective than just adding "heavy" items such as jeans, towels, etc. |
Bubba_MoCity
Missouri City, TX
September 11, 2007
5:40 PM Post #3963859
| A scientific test - good thinking, vossner. |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
September 11, 2007
6:34 PM Post #3963989
| >>delicate drying/perm. press drying
Hmmmm --voss, not sure if i have settings like "delicate"
I'll have to go check.
|
vossner
Richmond, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 11, 2007
7:02 PM Post #3964069
| tcs, whatever setting makes your dryer tumble at a low speed should do it. These are just the names on my machine. |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
September 11, 2007
7:19 PM Post #3964123
| nope -- i dont have "speed" settings, only heat settings.
in the manual, for "laundry tips" for bedspread and comforters... "May require repositioning to ensure even drying"
doesn't say anything about "drier wad" |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
September 11, 2007
8:04 PM Post #3964255
| "May require repositioning to ensure even drying"? Yeah, that's one way of putting it! Hah! |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 12, 2007
10:00 AM Post #3966207
| Report,
Tried the sneakers for one load king sheets, don't leave the shoestrings in if you try this at home! I had a wad around a shoe with shoestrings tangled in a bundle!
So, I tried adding the towels, believe it or not not one single towel wound into a wad ONLY the sheets were in the wad! Now go figure?
Candee |
carri895
Moulton, AL
September 16, 2007
10:09 AM Post #3981141
| Hello. Just found this forum when I went looking for a way to solve the bunching up problem in my dryer. Who knew it had a name? I thought maybe my dryer was off balance or something. Thank you for letting me know I'm not doing something wrong.
I will be looking for one of those shelves. I've already tried the towel thing, the tennis shoe thing (with and without laces - learned that the hard way ) and the pillow thing. The very large comforters, bedspreads and duvet covers still get wadded up, no matter what I do. Thank you for posting about that shelf. Mine is also a super large capacity.
Someone posted about wanting a washer and dryer without all the electronic gew-gaws...you might take a look at Speed Queen. Very reasonably priced, buttons and dials instead of electronics, best warranty in the business and washers and dryers are all they do. I wanted a commercial quality set because I have lots of dogs and I use old comforters and blankets as crate pads and furniture covers. I wash a lot of big loads. Often. Except for the "dryer wad" problem (thank you so much for that moniker!), I have been extremely happy with mine.
One of the things that convinced me to go with Speed Queen is the fact that the laundry mat in my town has some gold colored Speed Queens still in use. They haven't made a gold colored appliance in 30 years. And these things still work - and work well - after having been in a commercial setting for that long. The company assured me that the washers and dryers for home use are exactly the same as the ones used in public laundry mats...just without the coin operated thingy.
Jeeze...I sound like an advertisement for Speed Queen, don't I? Sorry. Just want to add that I went with a gas dryer since my house is already plumbed for natural gas. It really does dry faster than my old electric one. Even with the wadding problem, most of my comforters are dry in about 40 minutes.
Thanks again for the great info!
Beth
|
vossner
Richmond, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 16, 2007
12:30 PM Post #3981593
| Beth, I think you are right about using a drying shelf. I'm seriously thinking about getting one myself.
W/Ds do get out of balance from time to time and you can ck it by placing a level on the appliance, then adjusting the legs as required. |
tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)
September 16, 2007
7:52 PM Post #3982841
| Beth,
thanks for the tip on Speed Queen.
Hopefully my Maytags will last a long time... they always used to (hence the Maytag repairman that never worked in those commercials) -- that is why i went with maytag -- reputation (my mom had one that was still running after 25+ yrs, and my old one - purchased in 1989 is still running)
SO... hopefully this one will run til i move, then i'll look into Speed Queen... anything without all the electronic gew-gaws |
carri895
Moulton, AL
September 16, 2007
10:03 PM Post #3983320
| My old GE's lasted 25 years. But the last couple of years I was having to really baby the dryer and it took forever to dry anything. I was doing laundry for a week every time I changed the dogs' bedding. Now I'm done in a couple of days.
I called the Speed Queen company when I was shopping for my washer and dryer. I thought I might like a front loader instead of the top loader I had always had. Interestingly enough, they told me that with the kind of loads I do most often - with the dog hair and dirt - that I would be better off sticking with a top loader. They told me that the pump on a top loader doesn't have to work as hard as one on a front loader and I wouldn't have as many problems with it getting clogged up.
I think they were right. I have a friend who got one of the Maytag Neptunes with all the bells and whistles and he's replacing his pump about every other year. And both my washer and dryer didn't cost as much as just the washer he got.
I'm with you on the no electronics thing. I don't even like that in my vehicles and that's getting harder and harder to find. I wanted a self cleaning gas oven - can't find one without an electronic touch pad. Oh well, I don't use it much anyway. LOL!
Beth |
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
September 17, 2007
12:22 PM Post #3985169
| I didn't know that about top loaders being better for such loads. We have dogs and cats, so hair's an issue for us, too. |
vossner
Richmond, TX
(Zone 9a)
September 17, 2007
5:40 PM Post #3986177
| better report
I did a set of queen sheets today but did not dry. Then washed a load of reg. clothes, added the the wet sheets and voila. No dryer wad. I guess this is what I'll do from now on. Combine sheets with a load of clothes. |
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 17, 2007
5:49 PM Post #3986192
| LOL !! Go ahead and google: clothes wad in dryer
Yup, this thread is #1 :)
|
gardenwife
Newark, OH
(Zone 5b)
September 17, 2007
9:29 PM Post #3987064
| Well, ya know, what can I say? I have my hand on the pulse of the people. ;) |
