The Easiest Way to Dry Clothes Faster
You have better things to do than wait for the laundry to dry (e.g. fold the laundry , make the bed , and get on with your day). You are not destined to sit and wait for the dryer to complete a full cycle; you can speed it up. First things first: check and clean the lint trap and clean the vents. Then try one of these tips.
Throw a clean, dry towel in the dryer.
This advice has recently become circulating on TikTok, although it is one of those old but useful hacks that predated the video sharing app. Put a clean, dry towel in the dryer with your wet clothes and it will absorb the moisture, shortening the time it takes your clothes to dry.
CNET recommends taking the towel out after five minutes if you’re only drying a few items. Leave it at 15 if you have a full load. Your now damp towel can air dry while other items of clothing are sent to the machine.
Throw some tennis balls along with your wet clothes.
In the past, we have recommended tossing two tennis balls into the dryer to speed up the process, but with the caveat that neon paint can get on your clothes. If you decide to give it a try anyway, opt for white tennis balls – you can get six here for $12 – or buy special wool drying balls .
Wring clothes out before throwing them in the dryer
It will take a bit of effort, according to Bob Veal , but manually wringing out the clothes between wash and dry cycles will help reduce drying time as the machine dries less. But if you have a large load, you risk spending as much time spinning as you do drying, so run your clothes through the washer’s spin cycle a second time before drying them instead. It only takes a few minutes and will further reduce drying time, according to CNET .
Maintain your dryer
Give some attention to maintenance of the dryer at least once a month by cleaning the lint trap, vacuuming under and behind the dryer, and cleaning the outside vents as needed. Clean the inside of the dryer monthly to remove any dirt or other materials (like the nasty melted crayon) that can reduce its effectiveness. ( Here’s a monthly cleaning checklist for your washer and dryer.)