Mary Hunt is the founder of the lifestyle blog EverydayCheapskate.com and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living".

You should have seen a large pile of lint that I just picked from the trap of the dryer. confirm! Where did all this come from? I know I emptied all my pockets, and I am sure I did not wash a bag of pillow stuffing.

I will tell you what it is, and I am not satisfied with it: this is visual evidence that the dryer is wearing my clothes. Only 30 minutes ago, these fibers were neatly woven into these clothes. Although the clothes dryer can provide all the conveniences, the price may be that the family’s clothes and household linens have to be changed too frequently.

Drying clothes will shrink them, not just the first time they are washed. If the machine does not dry properly, sleeves and trouser legs will become shorter and shorter.

There are strategies to counteract the abuse suffered by the dryer, and you don’t have to go back to the days when the sheets were stiff and stiff on the clothesline. (Does anyone else remember?) You don't have to use a machine to dry your clothes to death, you can get comfortable jeans and fluffy soft towels.

Detergent residues in the fabric can make them feel rough. Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar during the last rinse. This will help remove the detergent residue on the fabric. Even if they air dry, they will be softer.

Never completely dry clothes, especially jeans. For most items, 10 to 15 minutes is sufficient to remove major wrinkles.

A good foldable drying rack can greatly extend the service life of clothes while reducing energy. Use it indoors or outdoors when the weather permits to finish drying items that have entered the dryer, such as 10 minutes to fluff and soften them, or for delicate items (underwear, spandex, painted or silk-printed T-shirts) . If the drying rack is convenient, you may find that you use it more frequently than you think.

Take out the partially dried jeans and all other pants from the dryer, and hang them on the hanger, on the hanger on the hanger, the hanger is equipped with clothespins or clips. The weight of the trousers will pull the fibers in place and prevent the trousers from getting short with each wash.

Or use a trouser stretcher

Pants stretchers appear in pairs like trouser legs. An adjustable metal frame, these things can slide into the trouser legs of washed pants. Once in place, you can adjust to tighten, straighten, and stretch to dryness so they don’t wrinkle and maintain the correct shape and size. Check Amazon or go to lehmans.com to check.

When you need to dry something in a hurry, here is a good tip: put wet items and a dry bath towel in the dryer. Set to the highest temperature safety for that particular item. In less than half the time, you will have dried jam (or anything else). Towels will absorb a lot of water.

Keep away from the dryer

Anything with a rubber backing, such as bath towels, should not come into contact with the inside of the dryer. Lay it flat and air dry.

Fabrics containing spandex, latex, elastic or with painted or silk-screened logos should not withstand the heat of the dryer. Even the elastic bands of pajamas and underwear will quickly decompose if they are dried "high". Make sure you always read the label to determine the fabric composition and washing instructions. Prepare a portable drying rack or install some extra towel rails so you can air dry these more delicate fabrics.

Mary invites you to visit EverydayCheapskate.com, where all the links and resources of recommended products and services are archived. Mary invites questions and comments on https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary". Tips can be submitted at tips.everydaycheapskate.com/. This column will answer questions of general interest, but cannot answer letters alone. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a thrifty lifestyle blog and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living".