Will these shrink in the dryer?

[WDWAurora]

Ok, I was talking to my grandmother last night and asking her about washing some of the baby's things. I have a hand-knit and a hand-crocheted blanket, and then 2 hand made quilts. I was going to put them in the washer on delicate, but my grandmother said I could just throw them in the dryer for 5-10 minutes on high and kill the germs. I mean, she's right that they're not dirty, I'm just so afraid of ruining them!! Will they shrink? She said they only would if they were wet first, which seems right, but I need more reassurance!!

 

[Imzadi]

If they are all dry, she is probably right, they won't shrink. It's usually the combo of wetness & heat that shrinks stuff.

 

[WDWAurora]

Interesting! I am so domestically challenged!! I'll throw them in the dryer later this afternoon after I finish some of the other laundry, then. Then I'll have most of the linens taken care of-it will primarily just be clothes left to do. I've got about 7 weeks, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and get the linens and things that I KNOW we'll need and use done while I'm still feeling good!

 

[golfgal]

What germs are on there? If that is all you are doing, don't bother. Germs are delicate things and unless you are providing a food source, like using these blankets as napkins or something, they aren't any more or less germy then the rest of your house.

 

[Imzadi]

What germs are on there? If that is all you are doing, don't bother. Germs are delicate things and unless you are providing a food source, like using these blankets as napkins or something, they aren't any more or less germy then the rest of your house.

I think her grandma means the residual accumulated dust & dust mites. When stuff had been sitting in the closet for a while, my mom used to tell us to put it in the dryer on the "fluff" cycle for 15 minutes to get rid of the excess dust, so we wouldn't be breathing it in, while wearing it.

 

[golfgal]

I think her grandma means the residual accumulated dust & dust mites. When stuff had been sitting in the closet for a while, my mom used to tell us to put it in the dryer on the "fluff" cycle for 15 minutes to get rid of the excess dust, so we wouldn't be breathing it in, while wearing it.

If that is the reason then, I agree with you, put it on the air fluff cycle, not the HIGH HEAT cycle. You won't have to worry about shrinkage then.

 

[Nette]

The quilts will probably pucker. I personally love the puckered look on handmade quilts so always wash the ones I make before I give them as gifts. You can just wash them in the machine on regular (probably alone and on cold in case they bleed any) and dry them on tumble dry low.

The crochet/knit things it's going to depend on the fiber. If they're wool you don't want to machine wash/dry them ever (dryer only for fluff would be ok). If they're synthetic they're probably fine for wash and dry like any thing. I'd ask the makers of these items what they are made from and how they would recommend you care for them.

Good luck! Handmades are such great baby gifts!