# Why can you dry clothes in a microwave? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 25, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801 "2001-02-25T05:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/1 "2001-02-25T05:47:27Z")
Try it all you get is hot damp clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/2 "2001-02-25T06:11:04Z")
Real quick WAG: Microwaves don’t evaporate water particles – they excite them to the point of cooking heat. Therefore, your dryer (which evaporates to water vapour) works on clothes, while your microwave is terrific for lasagna. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/3 "2001-02-25T06:18:33Z")
You probably could dry your clothes in a Microwave, but you’d probably end up with roasted undies. Clothes dryers work by heating up the clothes with fire (or electricity) causing the water to evaporate. Microwaves cause proteins, sugars and such to wiggle around, adding energy to them and causing them to heat up. They also cause the same thing to happen to water. Most of your clothes are probably made of cotton and synthetic materials, so all that’s happening is that you’re heating the water, not the clothes. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/4 "2001-02-25T06:20:50Z")
…And one more thing; the microwave oven does not have a vent for the steam to come out of. Since the air inside the microwave is not hot at all, the water that does evaporate probably condenses immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/5 "2001-02-25T09:05:02Z")
I don’t know about your microwave, but mine Has a vent for the steam (and fan-forced air) to come out. Although, the timer doesn’t work anymore, and you have to unplug it to turn it off. ---
**Author:** ![starfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@starfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starfish)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/6 "2001-02-25T09:07:37Z")
A dryer blows air so as the water evaporates, the moist air exits and more dry air enters. This continues until all of the water has evaporated. A microwave is sealed. Water does evaporate from the wet clothes, but the air in the microwave becomes saturated with moisture and evaporation stops. If you could blow air though the microwave, it could be used to dry clothes. It still won’t work as good as a clothes dryer since the clothes are not tumbled. The surface of the pile of clothes would dry fast, the inside of the pile would stay wet for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/7 "2001-02-25T09:29:41Z")
What, the Fan in my microwave is a rare feature? ---
**Author:** ![Nimue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Nimue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimue)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/8 "2001-02-25T10:22:21Z")
I was recently one of the recipients of an e-mail exchange between two family members regarding microwaves. (I know – they talk about the strangest things). My father seems to know a lot about them. While he doesn’t specifically mention clothes, he does warn not to try to “dry” ignitable substances in the microwave. This is an except from his e-mail. > [@](#): > > However, there is one other thing to understand about microwave heating. It is superheating, becuase what you are doing is heating water (doesn’t really matter what system, it’s all heating of moisture, i.e., water) at the molecular level. Microwave does this by getting water molecules to flip their orientation (molecular alignment) very rapidly and the friction of molecule against molecule causes the heat. > > I warn against drying potentially ignitable substances (like paper that is wet) in a microwave because depending on the system in which the moisture is contained these water molecules can cause heating way beyond 212°F. So, if you were drying a filter for instance (I know because I did this in a study that I was working on at work years ago) in a microwave, you can ignite it when the material reaches a heat level high enough to ignite the hydrocarbons. With plenty of oxygen available, it’s very flammable. It melted down a plastic measuring tray when the paper filter ignited. Glad I was in the lab to catch it, but that’s another story. And this was in a system where moisture could freely escape and reduce the heat potential. In a system where moisture is not able to break the surface tension as easily, they get even hotter. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/9 "2001-02-25T11:42:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mikahw \* > \*\*What, the Fan in my microwave is a rare feature? \*\* The fan is probably for the turntable motor and/or the magnatron tube (which makes microwave radiation). ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/10 "2001-02-25T11:48:17Z")
Why can you dry clothes in a microwave? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Markxxx \* > \*\*Try it all you get is hot damp clothes. \*\* I’m confused, Mark. You ask why you _can_, but then say you can’t. I _have_ dried clothing items and wet money in a microwave, but it’s a multi-step process. Usually, it’s just a small item like socks. I wring it of most of the moisture, then nuke it for 1 minute. After that, I pull it out (with tongs) and swing it around the room. It cools down as those water molecules that had just enough energy leave my socks. I feel the socks, and if they’re still wet I do it again. But I’d never try this with a large garment. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/11 "2001-02-25T16:26:06Z")
Microwave ovens are frequently used to warm towels for the hands. Also, if your feet are cold, putting dry socks into it for just a little bit can make the socks warm & feel nice when you put them on. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/12 "2001-02-25T17:48:28Z")
The fan is a combo fan and stirrer. The main purpose is to ‘mix’ the microwave energy evenly. the air is also circulated by it but since their is only 1 vent, you don’t get that much air exchange. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/13 "2001-02-25T18:11:29Z")
I dropped a book I was reading into a puddle, and attempted to dry it using a microwave oven. Things seemed to be going very well until the book caught fire. I don’t think the books subject matter “The Gnostic Gospels” had anything to do with the catastrophe. -Dryers force a LOT of dry air past the clothes. A microwave oven, even with a fan doesn’t get rid of the heated water/steam quickly enough to dry things efficiently. ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/14 "2001-02-25T22:18:16Z")
I donno, I read the manual a while ago (old Emerson btw) and it said something about having a fan for air circulation. It has 2 vents on either side of the microwave chamber. When I stick my hand near the back of the microwave, I can feel a lot of air coming out. I can also smell the food from a mile away. Then again, I remember my Grandpa’s Microwave, and I don’t remember seeing any vents. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/15 "2001-02-25T22:52:38Z")
Both of my microwaves (8 years and 3 years old) vent steam to the outside - you can watch it come out the back as they work. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2001, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/16 "2001-02-25T22:55:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nimue \* > \*\*However, there is one other thing to understand about microwave heating. It is superheating, becuase what you are doing is heating water (doesn’t really matter what system, it’s all heating of moisture, i.e., water) at the molecular level. Microwave does this by getting water molecules to flip their orientation (molecular alignment) very rapidly and the friction of molecule against molecule causes the heat. > > I warn against drying potentially ignitable substances (like paper that is wet) in a microwave because depending on the system in which the moisture is contained these water molecules can cause heating way beyond 212°F.\*\* Your father is correct; not many people know this. ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2001, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/17 "2001-02-26T14:45:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AWB \* > **Usually, it’s just a small item like socks. I wring it of most of the moisture, then nuke it for 1 minute. After that, I pull it out (with tongs) and swing it around the room. It cools down as those water molecules that had just enough energy leave my socks. I feel the socks, and if they’re still wet I do it again** The mental image of this has had me laughing for the past 24 hours, I am at a loss for a smart ass comment. ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/18 "2001-02-26T17:06:21Z")
> [@](#): > > “Microwave ovens are frequently used to warm towels for the hands. Also, if your feet are cold, putting dry socks into it for just a little bit can make the socks warm & feel nice when you put them on.” My feet are always cold, so I also started heating my shoes in the microwave. In my usual manner I figured if 50 seconds was good a couple of minutes would be even better - melted my damn shoes! ---
**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2001, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-you-dry-clothes-in-a-microwave/55801/19 "2001-02-26T19:27:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ring \* > \*\*My feet are always cold, so I also started heating my shoes in the microwave. \*\* Remind me never to eat anything prepared in your microwave! 😉