Welcome to our article on how to dry a hoodie. 

I don’t know bout you, but I cross my fingers and say a little prayer every time I put one of my hoodies into the dryer. And in the past, the dryer ended up crushing my prayers as it would spit out a two size smaller version of what I put in.

I am a 6’7 Tall guy (Tall Men niche: leaner/athletic/skinny body), and when the dryer wins, I end up with a hoodie that stops at my belly button and sleeves that end at the forearm. My tall guy hoodie purchase orders are frequent tbh.

Whether you are a giant like me or have a hoodie that fits you perfectly and any shrinkage will ruin it, this article is for you.

Table of Contents

how to dry a hoodie

Supplies & Tools

  • Drying rack (or large flat surface)
  • Two dry towels
this is a photo of a drying rack
this is a photo of two dry towels which you will need to dry a hoodie

How To Dry A Hoodie

Total Time: 8 hr

Cost: $0

Cotton is one of the comfiest fabrics brands use when creating pieces such as a hoodie, sweatpants or joggers. However, this fabric will shrink 1-2 sizes when washed improperly. Learn how to wash a hoodie with our related guide.

1. Lay the hoodie on a dry towel

Lay the hoodie on a dry towel that is on a flat surface. Try this on a kitchen table or large enough area to hold your flattened-out hoodie. Place the arms of the hoodie at its sides, so they’re straight.

this is a photo of a hoodie laying on a dry towel

2. Press down on the hoodie fabric

Press down on the fabric of the hoodie to push out as much excess water into the towel. Don’t twist or wring out the hoodie. This will stretch the fibres and cause them to dry with wrinkles.

this is a photo of tall paul pressing down on a hoodie to get water out of it

3. Lay down new dry towel and roll

Grab another clean, dry towel and lay it flat. Place the hoodie on the new towel in the exact positioning. Roll up the towel from the bottom so the hoodie is rolled inside. Squeeze the towel with your hands to press out even more water from the hoodie.

this is a photo of a hoodie wrapped into a dry towel
this is a photo of a hoodie being fully rolled into a dry towel

4. Unroll the hoodie from the towel

Unroll the hoodie from the towel and lay it flat on a drying rack or on top of another dry towel. Once again, the surface should be large enough to hold the hoodie and be flat. Make sure the arms are straight and there aren’t any wrinkles or folds in the hoodie.

this is a photo of a hoodie unrolled on a drying rack

5. Let the hoodie dry for 8-10hrs

Leave the hoodie for 8-10hrs to dry. The time of year (Winter to Summer) and the warmth of your house will affect this time frame. The most efficient way to do this for your time is to dry it overnight. Check the material by touching it with your hands to ensure it’s fully dry before you wear it.

this is a photo of tall paul checking the hoodie fabric after 8-10 hours of drying

How to dry a hoodie: quick tips

  • Dry your hoodie in a well-ventilated room. Open windows and fans will help speed up the drying process.
  • Connecting both sides of a zippered hoodie will help prevent the fabric from stretching or warping while it air-dries.
  • Even if you ran the hood through a spin cycle in your washing machine, there’s still some excess moisture you can remove by patting dry before you air-dry it.
  • Press on every part of the hoodie to help it dry evenly.
  • Don’t twist or fold the rolled towel to squeeze your hoodie, or you’ll stretch the hoodie out and create wrinkles in it.
  • Avoid damp rooms like a bathroom. The hoodie could develop mould and smell.
  • Don’t put the damp hoodie on a hanger, or the weight of it will stretch the fibres.

How To Dry A Hoodie In The Dryer

Total Time: 90 min

Cost: $0

1. Read the tag inside the hoodie

Read the tag inside the hoodie to see if there are specific instructions you need to follow when machine drying. Follow the instructions for the best results.

this is a photo of the tag inside a hoodie

2. If the hoodie has a zipper, zip it up

If the hoodie has a zipper, zip it up, so it dries evenly and doesn’t develop folds or creases in the fabric. If it is a pullover hoodie, skip this step.

this is a photo of a hoodie with no zipper

3. Dry the hoodie on low heat

Set your dryer to low heat and tumble dry low setting . Doing this will prevent the hoodie from shrinking or being damaged. If the dryer has a no-heat option, set it to that, so your hoodie is tumble-dried only.

this is a photo of a dryer on low heat to dry a hoodie

4. Put the hoodie in the dryer by itself

Put the hoodie in the dryer by itself. Open the dryer door, place the hoodie inside of it, and close the door securely. Avoid adding other items to the dryer so your hoodie dries evenly and doesn’t attract lint or dirt from different types of clothing or fabrics.

this is a photo of a hoodie going into a dryer by itself

5. Check the hoodie every 15-20 minutes

Start the dryer and leave the hoodie to tumble for at least 15-20 minutes. Check on the hoodie periodically and remove it from the dryer as soon as it’s dry to avoid any possible shrinkage.

this is a photo of tall paul checking the hoodie every 15-20 minutes in the dryer

How to dry a hoodie in the dryer: quick tips

  • Read the tag inside the hoodie and follow its instructions for the best results.
  • If you’re drying multiple hoodies, keep the load small, so your hoodies can tumble easily and freely.
  • Setting your dryer to a no-heat setting will lengthen the time it takes to dry your hoodie.

Take care of your hoodie once it has been dried. This will lead to long-term value for the money you invested into it.

Let these articles help you make sure you keep all your clothing garments in their desired size when you wash them.

FAQ

The quickest way to dry your hoodie is to place it in a high heat setting in the dryer. Doing this will increase the chances of shrinking the fabric.

Yes, you can put your hoodies in the tumble dry. This is one of the safest ways to dry your hoodies in the drying machine.

It will take between 8 and 10hrs to air dry your hoodie. For the fastest results, put your hoodie in a well-ventilated room.