Can drying clothes in the microwave be done? Know the risks

Clothes do dry when you put them in the microwave, but this does not generate any benefit; rather, it’s a riskboth for the pieces of clothing and for the safety of the person who makes it.

Currently, during the manufacture of clothing, different materials are usually used, that is, a cotton flannel, for example, will not be 100%, but may contain a percentage of polyester, just as socks may also contain nylon, or some stretch pants may be made with Spandex Although natural materials are not suitable for microwave use, introducing these other materials involves high risks.

In the case of polyester, which is very common to find in cotton garments, you can melt with heat. Nylon is a thermoplastic material that also melts when subjected to moderate or high temperatures. As for Spandex, this material is simply flammable.

If you decide to dry clothes in the microwave, you must take certain precautions, such as using medium or low power, and ensure that the time intervals are short. Start with 30 seconds or 1 minute, this way, you will be preventing the clothes from being damaged. You could add more time until the clothes are dry.

But first, you must see the clothing item label, both in terms of care and materials, since you already know that certain materials are dangerous. On the other hand, clothes must be completely clean and dishes that are suitable for the microwave must be used.

Clothes should be stretched, and then a time limit and low power are established, avoiding high temperatures. Likewise, you should avoid dangerous chemicals, such as fabric softeners or others, when placing clothes in the microwave. Some products produce flammable vapors and are capable of starting a fire.

When handling hot clothing, care should also be taken, so it is suggested to use heat tongs or gloves to protect yourself from burns. Before you start touching or trying to remove the clothes, they need to have cooled down, so you should leave to rest for a few minutes before taking it out.

Drying clothes in the microwave can be dangerous, since this appliance is designed to heat food and not dry clothes. Moisture from clothing can cause sparks and, in addition to causing damage to the microwave, it can also cause fires.

Many materials, including polyester and cotton itself, can catch fire if they are at too high a temperature in the microwave. That is why this practice may damage the appliance, clothing, and home—in the case of fires—and affect the person themselves, if they suffer burns. Apart from the above, metal buttons and zippers can produce sparks and cause fires, since they are not suitable materials for placing in microwaves.

For these reasons, we do not recommend using the microwave to dry clothes, but it is better to place them on the clothes rack or use the dryer that was designed for these purposes. It is not worth taking risks by drying clothes in the microwave, since, as can be seen, it can melt the garment, damage the appliance or cause fires and burns.

Avoid drying clothes in the microwave, as well as using other appliances, including a hair dryer or fan, since the damage you could cause could be serious, since this was not the purpose when they were manufactured. The best is to opt for conventional methodssuch as drying naturally or using the dryer.

Now that you know why you should not dry clothes in the microwave, you may also be interested in these articles on How to Whiten Yellowish Clothes and How to Iron Without an Iron.

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