How to make clothes dry faster—and use less energy

Get fully-dried clothes in 5 steps.

Key Takeaways

• Clean the dryer lint trap and vents regularly to boost airflow and prevent fire risks.
• Add a dry towel to your dryer load to absorb moisture and speed up drying time.
• Wring out excess water and use direct sunlight to air dry clothes faster outdoors.

We’ve all been there before: you want to either speed up the weekly house chores (so you can actually put away your laundry the same day you wash it for once), or you have a favorite top you want to wear tonight... but it’s still damp. Whatever the reason, there’s a lot of value in fast-drying clothes, like preventing mold or mildew from the wash cycle, enjoying soft and wrinkle-free pieces, or simply savoring the smell of fresh, warm clothes.

If you’re already wondering how you can enjoy your next load of clothes quickly, we’ve got you covered. The secret to making your clothes dry faster is by increasing the airflow. Luckily, there are several ways to do this in your trusty appliance and outside.

Follow these tips for a fast-drying load you won’t have to put through another cycle. Here are five ways to make your clothes dry faster in the dryer or from hanging outside.

Clean Dryer Vents & Lint Trap

First and foremost, you should always clean out the dryer vents or lint trap before each drying cycle. This not only helps your clothes to dry faster by increasing the airflow, but it also keeps your home safe. The more the lint trap builds, the more susceptible your appliance is to starting a fire as the lint is flammable and creates more friction when not cleaned out regularly.

Cleaning your dryer vent is a good practice to follow regularly too to prevent blockages from occurring that restrict airflow. To do this, you will need to clean out the interior and exterior vents by following these tips:

Interior Vent

• Unplug the cord in the back from the wall.
• Remove the vent hose (located on the back of the dryer).
• Vacuum out dust or lint.
• Reattach the vent hose and plug the dryer back into the wall.

Exterior Vent

• Find the exhaust vent on the outside of your home.
• Remove the vent cover.
• Vacuum dust or lint.
• Reattach the vent cover.

The Dry Towel Method

For a simple hack that helps dry clothes faster, toss a dry towel into your next load. The towel absorbs excess moisture from your clothes and into its own fibers to speed up your load.

Give Laundry Enough Room To Tumble

One reason why you might be experiencing damp clothes after drying is because you’re overcrowding your dryer. Gauge the size of your load and note whether you need to divide it into multiple loads, or if it’s small enough for one cycle. While increasing the airflow is important to speed up the drying process, you also need to give your clothes enough room to tumble in the heat, which you can only do by not overcrowding.

Remove Excess Water for Hanging

If you’re hanging your clothes out to air dry, you might need to wring them out to remove excess water. The more water that’s hanging around in the fibers of your clothes after the wash, the more time your clothes are going to take to air dry. And since this method already takes several hours, the only way to help speed the process is to remove excess water in the first place.

Place a Drying Rack Outside

Another hack for making clothes dry faster outside depends largely on the weather. Take advantage of the scorching, sunny days in late spring or summer by wringing out excess water and placing your drying rack outside in direct sunlight. The sun will act as the “dryer” and the high temperatures will help your clothes dry quickly.

Related: Do You Really Need To Separate Your Laundry? Here’s What The Experts Say

Frequently asked Questions

How long does it usually take for clothes to dry?

A normal drying load for clothes takes around 45 minutes on a standard cycle while delicate settings decrease to around 15 minutes. If you’re air-drying your clothes, you can expect the process to take 4-12 hours depending on the humidity and outdoor weather.

Can I use high heat settings to make clothes dry faster?

High heat settings are another way to make clothes dry faster since it speeds up the evaporation. However, this setting can cause clothes to shrink.

Is it safe to use a blow dryer to dry clothes?

You should not use a blow dryer to dry clothes since the heat from this tool is prone to shrinking pieces and causing color to fade.

What should I do if my clothes are still damp after following these tips?

If your clothes are still damp from these tips, an inspection of your dryer is a good idea. Start by unplugging the dryer before cleaning out the exhaust duct, or consider hiring a professional to do the inspection and troubleshooting.

Can I use dryer sheets to speed up the drying process?

While dryer sheets don’t make clothes dry faster, they do keep your pieces lint, static, and wrinkle-free while tumbling.

Read the original article on Southern Living