Can You Put Volleyball Knee Pads in the Dryer?

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Washing different types of clothing can be tricky sometimes. If you have to constantly wash a lot of volleyball clothes, you might wonder if you can put volleyball knee pads in the dryer and whether that could damage them or not.

Can You Put Volleyball Knee Pads in the Dryer?

No, you can’t put volleyball knee pads in the dryer. If you put your volleyball knee pads in the dryer, they might shrink and become unusable.

This is because the material they are made of is not compatible with the high temperatures that the dryer can produce.

The best way to dry your knee pads is to hang them in a well-aired place and let them naturally dry for over 12 hours. However, if you are in a rush and you need to use them quickly, there are a few tips that could accelerate this process.

Girl touching her volleyball kneepads

Can You Avoid Volleyball Knee Pads From Shrinking in the Dryer?

There is no certain method to keep your pads away from shrinking in the dryer. However, there is an emergency way to dry your volleyball clothes in the dryer without damaging them in the process.

To do this, be sure to put other items in the dryer before throwing your pads in. These items could be shirts, towels, and even pants. Then, the last step would be to set your dryer’s heat to a low temperature and put your volleyball clothes in. 

The shirts and towels will keep your sports clothes away from shrinking and will avoid them from being tossed around in your dryer. The low temperature will also avoid shrinking. Yet, remember to only use this method in an emergency, as it is not entirely effective.

How to Quickly Dry Your Volleyball Knee Pads

Waiting more than ten hours for your knee pads to air-dry could be annoying, especially if you need to use them right away. Fortunately, many factors can help you speed up this process. These elements influence how fast your volleyball clothes dry:

Sun

If you hang your clothes in a poorly-lit room, they will dry very slowly. Instead, you should try to hang them somewhere where the sun is shining. That could be on your patio, a room with big windows, or a backyard. This could reduce the waiting time from ten hours to four.

Volleyball player fixing her shoelaces

If you do this, be careful not to let them stay under the sun for too long. While it is great as a drying tool, the sun could take away the color of your clothes.

Air

A well-ventilated room can influence how fast your clothing can dry. When your clothes are wet, they are slowly dropping little molecules of water into the air, making the room humid. This is the main reason why most poorly-ventilated laundry rooms are humid.

To avoid this, you need to let the airflow by opening a window, or by installing vents. This could reduce the waiting time by two to three hours.

Tips to Safely Wash and Dry Your Knee Pads

Many tricks and practices can help you take care of your volleyball clothing. If you apply them, they will last longer and even smell nicer. Here are some tips that will help you clean and dry your pads:

  • If you just used your knee pads, dry the sweat off before putting them in the washing machine. This will eliminate any moisture or a bad smell that they could have.
  • When setting up the washing machine, be sure to choose a cold and slow cycle.
  • Add a little bit of white vinegar to the washing machine. This is a natural disinfectant that can kill some of the bacteria that produce bad smells.
  • Don’t over-wash them. They should only be washed every two weeks.
  • Do not let them dry on very hot surfaces such as a radiator. The concentrated heat can damage the material and it could remain useless.
Men playing volleyball in court

Related Questions

Does the Knee Pad Brand Matter When It Comes to Drying It?

It does not matter which brand you own, the care should remain the same for all kinds of clothing. However, be sure to always check the washing instructions, there could be some indications that you need to follow for that specific brand.

Is It Better to Wash the Knee Pads by Hand?

Even though the process is quite similar, there are some benefits of washing your sports clothing by hand. For example, this is the only way you can make sure to use warm water, gently brush your clothes, and softly drain the water out of them.

Conclusion

Putting your volleyball pads in the dryer might not be the best idea. Though, if you do it with the right precautions, it could be a good emergency solution.

Alfonso Andrade is an avid sportsman, growing up playing soccer and volleyball. He is a coach and sports analyst, studying the game to analyze performance and help create improvement.