My Dryer is Tearing My Clothes

I took some clothes out of the dryer the other day and noticed that one of my shirts was torn and my favorite t-shirt had a hole in it. Since the shirts were fine when they went in the dryer and ruined when they came out, I figured it must have something to do with the dryer. I called a service technician to find out why my dryer was damaging my clothes.

What I found out was surprising, and if I knew then what I know now, I could have diagnosed and repaired the problem myself. So here's the inside scoop if you have the same problem and would like to save your clothes and a few dollars.

If your dryer is tearing your clothes, you need to check three parts; the drum glides, the drum seals, and the drum support rollers. To check these parts, open the dryer's cabinet by removing the front or rear panel. Remember to disconnect the power to your dryer before beginning any repairs.

The glides support the drum and are located at the top or bottom of the bulkhead (the bulkhead is located at the front of the drum). When the glides wear, the drum tilts to the front of the dryer creating a pinch point between the top of the drum and the dryer wall. Your clothes can be torn if they get caught in this pinch point.

Glides are not difficult to replace. They are held in place by screws, rivets, or grooves. It's best to replace all of the glides - they can be worn out even though they look fine.

Having checked the glides, now check the drum seals. They are located around the circumference of the drum and keep clothes from getting trapped between the drum and the dryer wall. Your clothes can be torn if they get caught between the spinning drum and the dryer wall.

Not all dryers have two drum seals. Some dryers have one seal.

Examine the seal for signs of wear or damage. You don't need to remove the drum to check the entire seal, but you do need to remove the drum belt to relieve the tension on the drum. After removing the belt, turn the drum and examine the seal.

If the seal is worn it's not difficult to remove, but it takes some effort. The seal is secured to the drum with an adhesive. Before you replace the seal, make sure you have the adhesive you need