DRYING CLOTHES QUICKLY IN YOUR DRYER
You rely on your dryer to help you power through laundry and keep your day moving. On busy days, though, you may be thinking about fast ways to dry your clothes that will help speed household chores along. Learn about helpful tips for drying clothes quickly with this step-by-step guide on how to dry clothes faster in your dryer.
HOW TO MAKE CLOTHES DRY FASTER: 4 STEPS
Increasing airflow, routine dryer cleaning and other helpful shortcuts can help you on your busiest laundry days. Learning about fast ways to dry clothes is especially important as you continue to use your dryer over time, or if you have an older appliance. Always refer to your owner’s manual for specific use and care information on your dryer and its settings as well as specific dryer cycle recommendations.
WHAT YOU’LL NEEd
SUPPLIES
Hot water
Detergent
Dry towel (optional)
Dryer balls (optional)
TOOLS
Nylon brush
Dry cleaning cloth
Vacuum (optional)
STEP 1: CLEAN THE LINT SCREEN
Regular cleaning of your dryer’s lint screen can help you ensure proper airflow to the appliance and may also help improve dryer speed. Clean the lint screen after every load by rolling the trapped lint off with your fingers. To help save you time and effort in the future, it’s recommended to thoroughly clean your dryer’s lint trap every six months. To deep clean the lint screen, follow these steps:
Clear the lint with your fingers and remove the lint trap from the dryer
Place the lint trap under hot water and wash with detergent
Scrub the lint trap with a nylon brush
Dry the lint screen with a soft clean cloth and place it back into the dryer
STEP 2: CLEAN THE DRYER VENTS
Regularly inspecting the dryer ventilation system and clearing blockages from the interior and exterior vents of your appliance may help with drying your clothes more quickly. Follow the steps below for tips on how to clean each type of dryer vent. And, learn more about how to install a dryer vent.
INTERIOR VENT
To clean the interior vent of your dryer, unplug the power cord before following these steps:
Detach the vent hose located on the back of the dryer
Clean the interior vent by removing any lint or dust with a brush or vacuum
Reattach the vent hose to the back of the dryer
EXTERIOR VENT
Before you can clean your dryer’s exterior ventilation component, you’ll have to locate the exhaust vent. You can typically find it outside of your home, roof or attic. Once you’ve found the exhaust vent, follow these steps for cleaning:
- Remove the vent cover
- Use a dryer cleaning brush or vacuum hose to clear any dust and lint inside the vent
- Replace the vent cover
Once you’ve cleaned the interior and exterior vents of your dryer, plug the power chord back in before running an empty cycle, which will help the dryer clear any lingering dust or debris.
STEP 3: AVOID OVERLOADING THE DRYER
Giving your laundry enough room inside the dryer to tumble is a great way to help your clothes dry more quickly. By avoiding oversized loads when you can, you can increase the airflow between clothing items and help ensure a timely drying cycle.
STEP 4: SELECT THE RIGHT DRYER CYCLES
Choosing the wrong dryer cycles may leave you with garments that are still slightly damp, slowing down laundry day in the process. To select the right dryer settings for each load, refer to the care tags of each item before starting the cycle. Use Automatic cycles when appropriate, as these cycles usually offer the shortest drying times. While it may seem like a good idea to use a High Heat setting to speed up the drying team, only use cycles with high levels of heat if recommended by the care label.
To try out even more ways of drying clothes more quickly, consider adding a dry towel to the dryer for about five minutes, or try using dryer balls with your next load. Tossing a towel in with your laundry may help absorb moisture and can possibly help speed up drying times. Adding dryer balls before the cycle may also help because they keep laundry from clumping together, increasing the airflow between items.
SHOP MAYTAG® DRYERS
Maytag® dryers with Extra Power boost drying power on any cycle by extending time, heat and tumbling to help you get the most out of your appliance. Explore the full collection of Maytag® dryers to find yours.
HOW DO YOU DRY CLOTHES QUICKLY WITHOUT A DRYER?
If your household dryer is occupied or being repaired, there are several ways that can help you dry your clothes quickly. One method is air-drying your clothes on a drying rack or the back of a chair in an area with good airflow. You can also try hanging your laundry outside on a clothesline under the sun.
If you don’t have access to a clothesline and are still wondering about how to dry clothes fast on a hectic day, running a few damp items at a time through a high-spin cycle in your washing machine may help speed up drying times.
DOES OPENING A WINDOW MAKE CLOTHES DRY FASTER?
Air-drying your clothes is a convenient way to finish up your laundry when you don't have access to a dryer or washing machine with a spin-dry cycle. If air-drying items inside on a drying rack or chair, opening nearby windows may help improve airflow in the room to speed up the drying process.
