How to Dry Bed Sheets in the Dryer without them Tangling

Sick and tired of your bed sheets balling up in the tumble dryer? Sheets not drying properly even after hours in the machine? Then you’ll be pleased to hear there are several ways to prevent this. 

Read on to find out how to dry bed sheets in the dryer without them tangling. 

Why Do my Sheets Twist in the Dryer?

First things first, you may be wondering why sheet tangling happens at all. Due to their size and multiple layers, it’s pretty common for bed sheets to get twisted as they are tossed around in tumble dryers. 

Tangling is even more likely if the sheets don’t have enough room to move freely inside the machine. 

Small items may also get lost in the folds, leading to damp spots. So how do you stop this happening? Keep reading to learn more.

 

6 Ways to Keep Sheets from Rolling Up in the Dryer

1. Untangle your sheets before drying

One of the simplest ways to prevent tangling is to untangle the sheets before you put them in the dryer. 

While this sounds obvious, many of us are guilty of grabbing a ball of fresh sheets out of the washer and throwing them straight into the dryer as they are. 

Instead, you should uncouple the sheets as you empty the washer and shake them to ensure there are no twists or items tucked inside each other. Then, load them into the dryer one at a time to reduce the risk of tangling. 

2. Add dryer balls to the drum

One of the most popular ways to reduce tangling in the dryer is to use dryer balls. Adding just two or three dryer balls into the drum with your sheets can help improve air flow and keep each item separate. 

The reason this is so effective is because the tumbling motion of the machine moves the balls between the folds of the sheets as they rotate round. 

If you don’t have any dryer balls to hand, some clean tennis balls will work just as well!

3. Launder your sheets on their own

Ever found a damp sock lurking inside a pillowcase? You’re not alone. Such a tiny item can prevent whole sheets from drying even after a full cycle, which is extremely frustrating. 

Avoid issues like this by washing and drying your sheets on their own. It’s also a good idea to button up duvet covers to stop pillowcases getting lost inside them.

In addition, we’d advise against drying towels and bedding together for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they’re made of different materials so they will dry at different rates. 

Secondly, wet laundry is heavy and trying to dry both at once will put unnecessary strain on your machine. You can, however, add a dry towel to absorb some of the water and speed up the process.

4. Check that your machine is spinning correctly

If you suspect there may be an issue with the machine itself, check that it is spinning correctly before loading your bed sheets into the dryer. 

The best way to do this is to run a cycle and watch to see if the drum turns as expected. You should also listen out for any unusual sounds like grating or clunking that may indicate a problem. 

If something does seem amiss, switch the machine off and check for any small items that could be trapped in the mechanism, preventing movement. 

The dryer belt will also need to be checked. If it’s slack or worn out, it will need tightening or replacing. If in doubt, contact an engineer for help.

5. Don’t overload your machine

As we mentioned earlier, trying to dry bed sheets in the dryer without them tangling is much harder if there’s a lack of room for manoeuvre. 

For them to dry properly, you need to leave space for the air to circulate through the bed sheets as they tumble. This will also help to fluff your sheets up and prevent wrinkling. 

If you’re working with a small capacity machine, it’s usually more efficient to split big loads and dry large items separately. For instance, king size duvet covers. You can then put your fitted sheet and pillowcases in together on their own cycle. 

6. Dry your sheets in intervals

The final way to dry bed sheets in the dryer without them tangling, is to dry them in intervals. In fact, this is one of the most fool-proof methods on this list. Instead of selecting a long cycle and leaving your sheets to their own devices, you want to set the timer for 30 minutes and then check on them. 

Once time is up, take the sheets out of the machine and give them a shake. Unravel any twists and separate sheets that have got stuck together, then put them back in and set the timer for another 30 minutes. 

Repeat this process until the sheets are completely dry and you’ll stop them balling up and staying damp even after several hours of tumble drying.

If all else fails, wash each bed sheet separately to save time on drying and avoid tangles. 

Ready to discover more handy laundry tips? From everything you need to know about the different tumble dryer settings to how often you should wash your bedding and the best temperature to do so, we’ve got you covered.