For a shoe that gives comfort, is very durable, and has good shock absorption against complex grounds, it is not surprising that you’re seeking the best way to maintain it.
After washing your Crocs, you may ask the question above out of consideration for the heat that your dryer emits.
Consequently, you will discover how to dry crocs and whether we can do it with a dryer. We will also consider the pros and cons of using a dryer for this.
Yes, you can put Crocs in the dryer but not at very high temperatures because Crocs are of stretchable polymer material. So, when you apply heat in excess, it can change the shape of your Crocs either by expanding or contracting. So, if you intend to use a dryer, you should give it full attention.
Can You Put Your Crocs in the Dryer?
You can put your Crocs in the dryer at an appropriate temperature (low), but it is not advisable to put all Crocs in the dryer.
For instance, there are two types of crocs: classic and fuzzy. Although the classic crocs can go into the dryer without any issue, the fuzzy crocs cannot.
Your fuzzy Crocs cannot go into the dryer because the soft, delicate lining below provides comfort for your legs, making movement easy.
Besides comfort, fuzzy Crocs are easy to wear and light to move around with on your legs.
Nevertheless, after wearing your crocs for the day, there comes a time to wash and dry them.
Does that mean using a dryer for your fuzzy Crocs is out of the question? No, there seems to be a loophole that will allow you to use a dryer for your fuzzy Crocs.
And this loophole is that the soft liners are removable, and all you need to do is lift the liners until they become unattached to the Crocs.
As soon as you succeed in removing liners from Crocs, put the crocs into the dryer at a low temperature.
And also, do not let it stay there for too long but remove it after a few minutes because high temperatures will do nothing but shrink your Crocs.
You should not take the temperature control lightly; it will be best to air dry the liners.
Therefore, if you must put your Crocs in the dryer, put them at a low temperature and provide a high observation.
And this is because crocs are resistant to many things like odor and bacterial growth but fail in resisting heat because they are of Croslite.
And this is the very reason why you should be careful while it is in the dryer. Ten minutes is perfect for the time you should leave your Crocs in the dryer.
And when you put the Crocs in there, throw in two wet towels to protect the Crocs from any damage.
After starting up the dryer, it will be best to remain with it to regulate the heat and at least check on it every three minutes.
Do Crocs Shrink in the Dryer?
Yes, Crocs shrink in the dryer because of their sensitivity to heat. And so to help you prevent this, after washing your Crocs with soap and water and then a little dryer cycle, you should air dry.
Nevertheless, the dryer can also be helpful; for instance, if your crocs are too big and want to shrink them, you will need the dryer.
And if this is your goal, before putting them into the dryer and starting the cycle, you should first wrap them in a wet towel.
The towels will supply moisture which the crocs need to become soft and flexible. To avoid permanently damaging your crocs, avoid using very high temperatures.
But to attain the best result when trying to shrink your crocs, the required temperature for most dryers falls within the range of 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
And then endeavor to remove your Crocs after ten minutes with a towel to avoid getting burnt. Apart from the drying machine, another way to shrink your Crocs is using your hair dryer.
You would first wrap your Crocs around with two wet towels, set the hair dryer to medium, and start heating the Crocs.
Then, when all is ready, you need to check the Crocs and wear them to retain their shape. As soon as your Crocs cool down, you can start walking around with it, and it will regain shape.
But failure on your part to monitor the Crocs while it’s in the dryer will cause it to lose shape completely. And this will make you spend money on replacing the Crocs.
Although many people say Crocs will melt if you put them in the dryer, I say their point is not valid.
I say this because Crocs will only melt between 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and most dryers don’t go past 280 degrees Fahrenheit.
So if you intend to melt your Crocs, perhaps because you no longer have a use for them, do it directly with fire.
I know you need between 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit to melt it because Crocs are of Croslite.
Croslite is composed of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), which has a melting point between 220 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Do You Dry Out Crocs?
After washing your Crocs with soap and water, the next step requires drying it out.
And there are three ways you can dry out your Crocs: (1) use of a towel, (2) air drying, and (3) by the use of a dryer cycle.
#1. Using Towel
After washing your Crocs and rinsing in cool water, you should dry the water off with your towel.
It would be best if you used the towel to clean up all the water on the body of the Crocs and inside the Crocs.
Although it may not be as effective as air drying or machine drying, it is a suitable drying method.
#2. Air Drying
In this method of drying out your Crocs, you will keep it open on the outside after washing and rinsing it.
And just as the name implies, you will let the air dry it out, and if the sun appears, do not let it remain there for more than a few hours. Letting it stay long in the dryer will only shrink and distort the shape.
#3. Machine Drying
You can use a method to dry out your croc by putting the crocs into your dryer cycle with a damp towel and letting it dry in a few minutes. Ensure that you do this at a low temperature.
Can You Put Crocs in a Washing Machine?
Yes, you can wash your Crocs with a washing machine. But let me begin first by saying that the best way to wash your Crocs is to wash the way the manufacturer says you should.
Doing so will help you attain maximum benefit and make your Crocs last even longer.
The manufacturer recommends that for classic clogs and other Croslite foam designs, hand washing them with soap and cold water is the best way.
And this way will ensure that your Crocs are clean and safe from any form of damage. So, as much as you can wash with a washing machine, it is still not the best course of action to take.
In the table below, we will see the different types of Crocs and the way you should wash or clean them:
| Type | Method of Cleaning |
|---|---|
| Leather Crocs | You should use a damp cloth or a brush to remove dirt and dust. Using soaps and detergents will take away the shine of the patent leather. |
| Wedges and Heels | Do not use solvent cleaner to avoid destroying the adhesive. But clean with a damp cloth and no soap. |
| Canvas | Only use a damp cloth and a mild amount of soap. |
| Fuzzy Crocs | Because of the non-removable linings, you should wash fuzzy Crocs with warm water and mild soap. |
| Wool and Suede | Since it has a fleece lining, you should clean it with mild soap and a damp cloth. |
Pros and Cons of Putting Crocs in Dryer?
Using a dryer to dry out Crocs carries with it a lot of advantages, and some of these advantages are here below:
#1. Saves Time
Rather than waiting hours for it to air dry, the dryer cycle will dry it up within ten minutes.
Then, after some seconds, when it has cooled off, you can begin to wear your Crocs and also feel comfortable in it going wherever you want.
#2. Help Shrink Crocs
If you have crocs that seem too big, you can shrink them down to your size using the dryer. And all of this you can achieve within a short period.
#3. Kills Microorganisms
While your Crocs may not support the growth and development of bacteria and mold, it does not mean that you do not carry them about as it moves from place to place.
However, when exposed to the dryer’s heat, they tend to die and fall off your Crocs, thereby preventing further spread of the population.
Like it is commonly said, where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. Below are the disadvantages of drying croc with a dryer:
#4. Demands Full Attention
If you are using a dryer to dry your Crocs, you must always give it full attention during the drying cycle.
It is this way so that you can keep regulating the temperature. But unfortunately, it does not allow you to multitask until you finish the process.
#5. Burn/ Damage
If your Crocs stay longer than they are supposed to or stay at a higher than expected temperature, there will be severe damage. Your Crocs may burn up or even come out with a distorted shape.
Conclusion
You can put Crocs in a dryer but at a low temperature, and not all Crocs can go into the dryer, especially those with soft lining like the fuzzy Crocs.
At high temperatures, your Crocs will shrink, and you can dry out Crocs by air drying, machine drying, and using towels. But the best will be to hand wash and air dry.