Portable Clothes Dryer Tips: Quickly Drying Darkwash Denim

July 15, 2023 Morus Innovation

Navigation

Introduction
Reduce Load Size
Heat Settings
Inverted Drying
Shorter Cycles
Final Hang Drying
Conclusion

Introduction

Portable clothes dryers offer distinct advantages for drying denim jeans. They allow for smaller, more targeted loads of only one to two pairs of jeans at a time. Small loads allow for better airflow and faster drying without overloading the dryer drum.

Drying denim in smaller loads also reduces wear and damage risks from excess heat buildup. In addition, portable dryers enable more control of heat settings, inverted drying methods, and shorter drying cycles to gently finish off denim and maintain its unique faded appeal.

Reduce Load Size

Drying single jeans or just one to two pairs of jeans at a time in a portable dryer has various benefits. Drying denim in smaller loads is one of the most effective ways to prevent heat damage and extend the lifespan of your jeans. Limiting loads to one or two pairs of jeans allows for:

Better airflow - With more space in the dryer drum, air can circulate more freely and efficiently around each article of clothing. This significantly speeds up drying time and reduces the amount of heat exposure.
Less friction - When jeans tumble individually or in pairs, there is less abrasion between different items. This helps minimize pilling, flaking and abrasion of high-friction areas like hem strips and belt loops.
More targeted heat - Since there are fewer items to heat, the portable dryer can concentrate its warming element on just one or two pairs of jeans. This limits hotspots that cause excess fading and damage in localized areas.
Gentle tumbling - With adequate space in the drum, the jeans have room to move freely without excess rubbing or tangling with other pairs. This gentle tumbling motion is kinder on stitching and fabric.
Improved results - All of the above factors combined result in jeans that dry more quickly, evenly and thoroughly while maintaining their original shape, color and stitching integrity. You'll extend the lifespan of your denim significantly by limiting load sizes in your portable dryer.

Heat Settings

It is recommended to start with low to medium heat settings when drying denim in a portable dryer. You should check the progress of the drying jeans frequently and adjust the heat up slightly if needed. However, dark denim jeans tend to heat up more quickly than lighter colored denim so they are more susceptible to heat damage at higher temperatures. Therefore, using lower heat settings initially is recommended, especially for drying dark denim jeans in a portable dryer.

Inverted Drying

For optimal results when drying jeans in a portable dryer, it is best to turn them inside out before placing them in the dryer drum. Drying jeans in this inverted position helps protect the high friction areas like knees, seat and belt loops from excessive wear that happens during the tumbling motion inside the dryer. Inverted drying is especially useful for portable dryers that have less airflow compared to standard dryers since the tumbling motion causes more abrasion between parts of the jeans.

Shorter Cycles

Consider drying your denim in multiple shorter drying cycles with breaks in between rather than one long continuous dry. This gentle tumbling and heat over shorter periods can help adequately dry your jeans while still maintaining their unique faded appearance that accumulates over time. Shorter drying cycles are especially beneficial for drying dark wash denim since exposing them to high heat for extended periods can damage the coloration.

Final Hang Drying

Once the portable dryer cycle is complete, it is recommended to hang dry your jeans to allow any residual heat and airflow to gradually finish drying them thoroughly. Hang drying after the initial dryer cycle helps minimize additional wear that can occur from the tumbling drum if you were to place them back in the dryer. For the best results, hang drying your jeans is suggested as the final step after using a portable dryer to dry denim.

Conclusion

In summary, there are a few simple yet effective techniques for optimally drying your denim in a portable dryer. Drying jeans in small loads, using lower heat settings initially, inverting jeans before drying, completing multiple shorter dryer cycles, and final hang drying after the dryer can all help extend the lifespan of your denim while achieving adequately dried results.

For the most delicate drying results, consider tumbling each pair of jeans individually rather than in pairs. This allows for even more airflow through the drum, reducing drying time and risk of heat damage. It also eliminates friction between pairs of jeans rubbing against each other, further minimizing wear. When tumbling a single pair of jeans, shake them out well before placing in the dryer drum to separate any wrinkles that may have formed. Stretch the jeans at the waist and legs periodically during drying cycles to help them retain their shape and prevent overly-creased denim.