Have you ever opened up your dryer and found clumps of clothes all tangled together? Have you ever wondered why clothes stick together in the dryer? Well you’re not alone.
Many people have experienced this phenomenon and wondered why it happens.
What Causes Clothes to Stick Together in the Dryer?
The primary cause of clothes sticking together in the dryer is static electricity.
As fabric rubs against itself or other objects it builds up a static electric charge.
This charge then causes the fabric to stick to itself or other articles of clothing in the dryer.
This is why the dryer sheets are so important – they help to reduce the buildup of static electricity that causes clothes to stick together.
Static Cling and Heat
The main reason clothes stick together in the dryer is a phenomenon known as static cling.
This is where electric charges build up on the surface of the clothes and cause them to stick to each other and other surfaces.
When clothes are agitated in the dryer they rub against each other creating static electricity.
The heat of the dryer also has an effect on static cling.
Clothes dry faster at higher temperatures and the static electricity will increase as the clothes become drier.
As such static electricity tends to be more of a problem when clothes are dried on a high heat setting.
Dryer Sheets
As well as turning the temperature of your dryer down you can also use dryer sheets to reduce the amount of static cling when drying clothes.
Dryer sheets contain chemicals that reduce static electricity preventing your clothes from becoming clingy.
Separating Clothes
Of course another great way to reduce static cling and prevent your clothes from sticking together is to simply separate them into different loads.
This way the fabrics won’t be rubbing together meaning static electricity won’t be able to build up in the same way.
How to Avoid Clothes Sticking Together in the Dryer
The best way to prevent clothes from sticking together in the dryer is to use dryer sheets.
Dryer sheets help reduce static electricity by providing a barrier between clothes.
They also help to absorb moisture which helps to reduce the amount of static electricity that builds up in the dryer.
Additionally it’s important to keep the lint trap clean and to make sure the dryer isn’t overloaded.
Conclusion
Clothes sticking together in the dryer is a common problem but it can be easily prevented.
By using dryer sheets keeping the lint trap clean and avoiding overloading the dryer you can help reduce the amount of static electricity that causes clothes to stick together.