We’ve all been there. The shirt you were going to wear is still wet on the line — and after sitting damp for 24-48 hours, especially in winter, it’s developed that musty smell that means you’re back to square one.
That’s where Kmart’s drying product comes in handy. The $19 shirt dryer dries your shirts quickly and efficiently. And the best part is it keeps your clothes wrinkle-free – no ironing required. At least, that’s what it claims…
But that’s not all. According to the product manual, it’s also suitable for shorts, vests, light outerwear, baby and children’s singlets, women’s underclothes, and other light or small items.
Of course, we had to put it to the test to see if it’s actually worth the hype. And honestly, the results left us surprised.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Dries shirts in as little as an hour — no waiting 24-48 hours for clothes to air dry
- No ironing needed — shirts dry on a shaped form, so wrinkles don’t set in
- Folds to just 0.7cm deep — slim enough for a drawer at home or a suitcase for travel
- 12-hour auto shutoff — safe to set overnight and forget
- Gentle 125W heat — safe for delicates, blouses and business shirts
- Only $19 — a dryer alternative that won’t break the budget
How the Kmart shirt dryer works
Hang your shirt on the dryer, plug it in, and walk away.
The slim heated frame sits inside your shirt like a flat hanger, gently pushing warm air through the fabric. As it heats, the shirt dries evenly from the inside out. Because the shirt dries on a shaped form, it comes out smooth and ready to wear.
The drying time will vary depending on how damp the shirt is, its size, and the room’s temperature and humidity. For best results, treat it as an overnight task rather than a quick fix. When you’re finished, unclip the rack, fold the hook flat and pop it away.
One important thing to know before you use it: the shirt needs to have been through a spin cycle in the washing machine first. Kmart’s instruction manual says this isn’t designed for a shirt dripping straight from the wash. Damp or slightly wet is ideal; soaking wet is not. It’s not suitable for heavy items like overcoats, large jackets, or bulky home textiles.
Our verdict on the Kmart shirt dryer
Is it really all it claims to be? The short answer: yes. The Kmart coat hanger is sturdy, well-built, and blows hot air directly onto the shirt from the centre, making drying faster and more efficient.
Senior Content Producer Jade Coull decided to put the viral shirt dryer to the test at home. Initially sceptical, she quickly found it lived up to the hype.
“I grabbed a fresh load of washing and took two identical t-shirts straight out of the wash,” Jade explained. “I hung one on the electrical coat hanger and the other on a normal hanger. I left them for an hour, because that’s what it claims it can do—but honestly, I didn’t think it would work.”
She was pleasantly surprised. “After an hour, the shirt on the normal hanger was still damp, but the one on the shirt dryer was almost completely dry. There were just a few cold, barely damp spots under the arms and along the side seams at the bottom of the shirt, but another 10 minutes and it was fully dry.”
The shirts she tried first were cotton, so slightly thick, but next, she tested it on a thinner sports top.
“My sports top didn’t even take the full hour to dry,” she said. “After 15 minutes, it was almost dry, and another 15 minutes later, it was completely done.”
She then put the shirt dryer to the ultimate test: a business shirt that always comes out of the wash creased and normally needs a good ironing.
“I wanted to see if it would actually reduce wrinkles on a business shirt, as it claims,” she explained.
While it didn’t completely eliminate them, the difference was clear.
“I can confidently say there were noticeably fewer wrinkles using the shirt dryer, but it still would need a proper iron. Still, I think I’m going to buy a few for myself.”
Who would benefit from the Kmart shirt dryer?
A range of people could find this nifty Kmart product surprisingly useful. Travellers, for example, often struggle to find a dryer on the road, and this solves that problem.
“A common issue I have with laundry is that most of my tops can’t go in the dryer,” says Jade. “This is a perfect solution, especially if you don’t have a dryer at home and need a shirt ready in an hour or two.”
At just 125W, the heat is gentle enough for delicate fabrics that might be ruined by a dryer or iron.
The shirt dryer is also impressively compact. Measuring 42.5cm tall, 21.1cm wide, and just 0.7cm deep, it’s thinner than most kitchen tools, making it easy to pack for travel without taking up much space.
It even has a 12-hour auto shutoff, so you can hang a shirt before bed and wake up to a dry, wrinkle-free top in the morning.
Shirt dryer reviews from customers
On Facebook, people who have tried this shirt dryer say they were impressed.
“Works surprisingly well and quickly,” said one person.
“Fantastic for holidays in hotels,” another added.
Another offered another benefit for this product. “I’d totally use that for my jumpers to get them warmed up real quick for these upcoming cold asf mornings. Good for travelling too.”
Kmart shirt dryer FAQs
It depends on how damp the shirt is, its weight, and the room’s conditions. A lightweight cotton shirt that’s been through a spin cycle could be dry in around an hour. Thicker fabrics or damper shirts will take longer. On a cold or humid day, the process will be slower.
No, the shirt dryer is designed for damp or slightly wet garments that have already been through a washing machine spin cycle. It should not be used on a shirt that is dripping with water. If your shirt is very wet, run an extra spin cycle first.
The frame is 21.1cm wide, designed around a standard adult shirt shape. It’ll work best on regular adult sizing. Very oversized garments may not sit as snugly on the frame, which could affect how evenly the item dries.
As with all heating appliances, always read the instruction manual carefully before use. For full safety information, refer to the product manual included with your purchase.
