Frustrated
 

Does anyone else have this problem? My washing machine takes any length of fabric (sheets too) and twists it into coil. I unwind before putting it into the dryer, but then the dryer does the same thing! Makes ironing those wrinkles out a real chore, even though I take it out slightly damp. Last night I pre-washed 5.5 yards for a quilt backing and spent a half hour ironing. I've tried in the past putting a heavy towel in the dryer with it but no luck. Grrrrrrrrrr

I've read here, about folding the fabric accordion style and safety pinning at the top of the folds. maybe that will help. I don't prewash, so I don't know from experience. Or maybe a mesh wash bag would work?

Frustrated
 

I solved this problem this way: putting my new yardage in a pillow case and tying a knot on the end so the material will stay in the pillow case. You are only washing the material to get out all of the sizing put into it during manufacturing so this works great

You can use this or a mesh laundry bag and it makes this problem go away. I've never had the problem in my dryer though but when I was alot of pants the legs all get wrapped around each other. I untangel them before the dryer and all is fine when they are dry.

I was just thinking to try putting it in a pillowcase.

Some washers may be worse than others. Mine doesn't twist things too much as long as I use gentle cycle. For the dryer, I try to remember to check periodically and straighten things out. Really big pieces sometimes get draped over the bannister for drying.

This is the method I use on large pieces. Just make sure you pin as close to the edges as possible.

the accordion fold method works great! fold in about 1-2 yard length and pin the selvedge edge every 6-8" or so.

I have pillow covers that zip. Thanks for the idea of the pillow case. Isn't it amazing what a washer and dryer can do to clothes, sheets, fabric?

My daughter has a washing machine that does NOT have the agitator in the middle. I use it when I'm washing new fabric and do it on gentle cycle. It works! Somehow the dryer doesn't twist it up that much.

I have the same problem. Even when I straighten everything out before putting it in the dryer, it comes out all twisted. You'd think the dryer would untwist the mess from the washer. Not
Sue

Hooray, my "new" 10 year old washer and dryer don't twist or knot anything. I'm having a lot more fun pre-washing and drying my fabrics.

I have this problem too, I'll have to try the pillowcase method!

I have come to the conclusion that this happens! Sheets, fabric, anything flat, table cloths....screwing up!!! I live with it! Then I iron the table cloths (ah, this is good for next year again), sheets, heck I just fold them and then fabric. It gives me time that I need to just look at the material, think about what I am going to do with it, feel how nice and easy the iron flows over it and then I fold it, gently, of course, and relish the time I had relaxing, figuring out what I am going to do with it and just enjoy ironing it! My time!!!!!!! Edie

The accordian fold method works for me. Fold so you pin the cut edges together every 6 inches or so.

I bought those litte balls with the prongs on them. I use them in all my drying since I rarely have enough to fill the dryer. It seems to work pretty well for most things.

Somewhere I saw a tutorial for just this problem. The lady was actually demonstrating something else and showed what to do for twisted raveled cloth just as an aside.

She took the new cloth and joined the ends together first. Some people use the machine to make a simple zig-zag seam which also helps the cut edges not to ravel. Then she folded the ends back on the main fold and started pleating the fabric in large pleats--probably at least 8 for the width of the cloth. Using large safety pins she pinned the pleats in place and tossed it into the washer. I have used that method for a while now and it really works.

I would say if your bedsheets get all twisted too, you probably want do the same thing with them or get a new washer. Most models today will not do that to sheets.

I have experience the same problem of twisting even with bed sheets until we began using dryer balls. The bounce around in the dryer and the sheet comes out fluffed. Can't over load with the same expectation.

I never had a problem with my agitator washer for the 33 years that I had it. Then I got a front loader. What a twisted mess. I found that if I just throw the item in, it gets twisted up. If I hold out one hand and lower the item into that hand, it will land sort of accordion pleated. Put the item carefully into the machine and things don't twist up nearly as badly. In the winter, all the long underwear and long sleeved turtle-neck T shirts used to be a mess. Now it is not so bad. I try to toss things into the machine in a "ball". With a few yards of fabric, I'm sure even that won't work. It needs to be pinned together or put into something.

I keep 4 tennis balls for the dryer only. Us e them for every cycle. Helps a lot!

I use a mesh bag

When I pre-wash, I don't dry the fabric in the dryer. I fold it to a reasonable length and clip it on a pants hanger. I can hang it up to dry and it'll be totally dry in a couple of hours. Saves on the ironing since the weight of the water will pull out some of the wrinkles. I do the same thing with fat quarters after they're washed.

I got in the habit when I lived in AZ - it only took about half an hour for everything to dry there and cut down on the utility bills.

Same as Maviskw, my old top loader never did this. My expensive LG front loader does it all the time. I can not stand my new washer. I've had it 2 years and want to get rid of it so bad but just can't afford to do that.

I hang mine on the garage clothes line, then just fluff in the dryer for 10 minutes.

Sounds like my washer and dryer. I think I'll try putting the fabric in a pillowcase or mesh bag. As far as the dryer goes, I try to remember to check it about half way thru the cycle and straighten things out and then finish drying.

Wow! What a lot of problems! I was never so happy as the day my top loader died! I have a wash sink in my laundry area and I put my fabric in a tub (use a lot of those pink hopital tubs) and fill it with totally hot water and leave it for a bit. If it runs, I know it, and in any case if it is going to shrink, it will. My new front loader has a "rinse and spin" 12 minute cycle and if the fabric doesn't need treatment for bleeding then it goes into that cycle and comes out in great shape and into the (old) dryer. I've never had problems; I do bring it out when "just" dry, or even needs to hang for a bit dry. I almost never iron new fabric, and when I do it's because it was stored wrong and got too crunched. I wonder what the difference is? My front loader was expensive, but I got California rebates that took off a lot of the extra cost because it is a water and energy saver.

my wsher twists, but the dryer doesn't. so I just untwist before moving between machines.
And I always prewash...smile.

That's a brilliant idea! Thank you! I find the twisting problem is more-so with my new front loaders than with my old top loader machines.

Yes! My washing machine -- a great and reliable Maytag that I've had for years -- does this with sheets or any long fabric. But this twisting into a coil seems fairly recent to me so I'm puzzled about why.

this is one of many reasons why I gave up prewashing 25 yrs ago-way too much time involved.

I also started using the accordian fold and pinning....it works great....I've done up to a 10 yard piece of fabric...so glad I saw the post on it, sure saves me a lot of headaches.....

My washer only usually does that if I am washing multiple pieces at a time. I have to trim up all the loose strings from the edges as I throw them in the washer otherwise they'll all wrap around one, and your right it's the worst to try and iron out! However if I am washing one large piece its not such a problem.

OMG yes!!!!!! Drives me to drink lol... I will be trying some of these suggestions!! Such wise women (and I am guessing a few men) on this board!

Wow! I am glad I found this thread....sounds like this problem is solveable!

I solve the thread wrapping problem by serging the raw edges of my fabric before I wash. I don't have much trouble with fabric twisting if the lengths are not too long. I seem to have more trouble if I only have one piece to wash. I have also found if I dry it right after its finished washing and remove as soon as its dry, I have less wrinkles.

Okay I might sound 'old school' as my daughter would say, but isn't it a shame so many municipalities don't allow clothesline anymore. So many of our ironing problems would be alleviated. Plus everything would smell so fresh. My washing machine twists as well.

I agree, I miss my top loader. It cleaned great and never had a problem. I am on my second front loader washer--the bearings went on the first one. Couldn't be repaired--Thank the Lord, we had an extended warranty! Bought a different manufacturer, but I still pine for my oldie.

The mesh bag works but only when its 4 yds per bag. For the longer pieces I throw them over the shower rod and refold selvedge to selvedge. This way I can get 4 or 5 done at the same time -they air dry quickly and this pulls most of the wrinkles out making ironing easier. And if they're real bad I'll turn on the shower for some steam.

I don't prewash much, but when I do i fold it accordian style, secure with safety pins' then put in a pillowcase which I pin. wash on gentle, put right in the dryer like that on timed setting. No strings, or knots & damp for ironing with starch(love starch)

Try putting a couple of tennis balls in the dryer. You still have to untwist the fabric, but the tennis balls help keep it that way.