When the cleaning instruction tag on clothing says turn inside out to wash....

[a kennedy]

does that include keeping it turned inside out for drying too?? I never know if I should turn the item back to right side, or leave it turned inside out when putting it in the dryer?

[drm604]

1. What's the reason for turning it inside out for washing?

I wonder why it would matter.

[sarge43]

2. Normally most of the funk is on the inside

Also if there's any printing, less wear and tear on it from the beaters and slapping around in the dryer.

/on edit/ Further protects buttons and other bits.

[drm604]

3. I think that's the answer to the OP's question then.

If the outside is delicate and needs protection in the washer, then the same would be true for the dryer.

In any case, I'd keep it turned inside out for the dryer regardless. Either it matters or it doesn't. If it doesn't then there's no harm done in turning it inside out. Better safe than sorry.

[Leme]

5. hey.... we had same thought mostly

I guess you type and compose faster : )

[Leme]

4. just guessing

to prevent less damage to the fabric construction of the outer/ visible fabric
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The outer/visible fabric can maybe more assuredly retain its looks and strength if it rubs against itself, rather than say denim or some rough fabric
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just guessing

[Chan790]

8. A few reasons.

Actually none of which have to do with cleanliness. It would get just as clean inside as out.

1.)Pulls. Things like sweaters should be laundered inside-out so that if they pull, the pulls are on the inside and not visible while worn.

2.) Dyes/fading. Clothes laundered inside out are less prone to fading or irregular wear...this is most obvious on denim but is equally true of satin and silks as well. It has to do with surface abrasion. You want the surface that is going to be seen, the outside, to have less abrasion with the agitator, dryer barrel and things like buttons or snaps in the wash that will wear the fabric unevenly. This is a bigger problem with natural fabrics because they are not color-fast and typically do not have great dye-penetration. It's less of an issue with synthetic fabrics (lycra, nylon, sateen, etc.) or those that are plasticized because the color is either impregnated into the material, is the material itself, or bonded to be colorfast.

[frogmarch]

6. My mom told me (in the 1950s) that

turning garments inside out while washing them helped keep dyes, which are darker on the outside of the garment, on the garment, instead of spreading to other garments and discoloring them. I don't know if it's true, but if it is, drying garments inside out would help prevent dye transfer too. (I dry everything right side out to get rid of lint.)

[surrealAmerican]

7. This may have been true then, but not now ...

... and would only have been true about printed on patterns. Dyes have come a long way since the '50s, and if the color is "in the weave", inside and outside would be equally likely to transfer.

[bluesbassman]

9. For silk screened garments, specifically ones that use plastisol type inks...

You'll get a lot more mileage out of the design washing inside out. The ink used in these garments is cured using heat so coming into contact with the hot dryer surfaces will cause premature cracking and fading.

The water based inks (feels more like dye than the harder/shiny plastisol inks) aren't as susceptible to the the heat degradation, but will still wear longer if washed inside out.

[Orrex]

10. Turning it inside out puts almost the entire universe inside the garment

No pressure, mind you.