Why are sundried clothes crusty?

[stratego]

Why is it that when you hang your clothes to dry in the sun they end up feeling stiff and crusty? But when you toss them in the dryer they come out ok.

 

[Turner]

Cuz when you put them in a dryer you put a fabric softener in as well.

 

[thestonesfan]

Uh...how "crusty" are we talking about here?

 

[Bobo the Ape]

Because the dryer has heat and motion so the clothes aren't stuck in a single position while they are drying.

 

[stratego]

Originally posted by Turner_727
Cuz when you put them in a dryer you put a fabric softener in as well.

I don't

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Because whatever dirt, minerals, chemicals etc that were left in the water after washing, remain on the clothes and form a crust after the water has evaporated. The same thing happens if you hang dry the clothes indoors, has nothing to do with sunlight. In the dryer, as the water evaporates, these elements that were in the water are blown and knocked off the clothes, and sucked out of the drying chamber, so they are no longer on the clothes when theyre fully dry.

 

[stormbind]

Could it also be that tiny (emphasis) fibres always stiffen, and when hanging they stiffen straight and parrallel... but when tumbled they are left twisted and pointing in all directions?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Thats a possibility. Do astronauts ever 'hang' dry clothes? If so, they already know the answer. I think it might be a combination of both our theories.

 

[boobah]

is it just me or is this sort of a spam thread?

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

Nope, not a spam thread.

But then you posted.

 

[SanPellegrino]

I think it is because of the hydrogen bonds (right word?)

 

[Double Barrel]

Maybe it has to do with the hardness of the water you are using to wash you clothes.

Or maybe it is the fabric of the clothes.

I've sun dried sheets and they come out nice, soft, and without crustiness.

But jeans, on the other hand, will end up crunchy drying under the sun.

Interesting question...and one that the government should spend hundreds of thousands of dollars towards research grants to provide us with an answer.

 

[EdwardTking]

(1) They may not be properly rinsed. The remaining washing powder sticks the clothes together.

(2) In a dryer, the clothes are being flexed as they dry.
This prevents the fibres clumping together.

 

[Perfection]

Originally posted by stormbind
Could it also be that tiny (emphasis) fibres always stiffen, and when hanging they stiffen straight and parrallel... but when tumbled they are left twisted and pointing in all directions?

I don't think so, from what I've noticed from the behavior of my washcloth is the following:

When it's hung on the shower head after use and there is residual soap it becomes hard and crusty, but when I squeeze out the soap and rinse it, it doesn't.

So I think we can conclude the culprit is residual soap/detergent.