A trick to decrease drying time and save energy! (Ten Second Tips)

January 7, 2015 by Courtenay 15 Comments

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Remember this one for the next time you catch yourself having to restart the dryer yet again to get it fully dry during these cold Winter months. Don’t you miss being able to hang stuff up outside to dry? I know I do, but this is the next best thing: Before you start your next load in the dryer, add in one fully dry towel to the load to help everything dry a bit faster! You’ll of course save on energy costs in the process as well. It really works! Bonus tip: If you’re having this problem consistently, make sure you check that your dryer vent hoses have been cleaned out recently. This should help the problem too. Happy Laundry!

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Cassie says

January 7, 2015 at 2:02 pm

So smart! I throw a damp washcloth in with dry, wrinkled clothes to get the wrinkles out, but I never would have thought of this! Great tip.

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- Courtenay says
  
  January 7, 2015 at 7:37 pm
  
  Thanks, Cassie! And right back at ya: Thanks for the damp washcloth tip too! 🙂
  
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Joanj says

January 7, 2015 at 4:25 pm

Good reminder.
I love hanging things outside and do it as often as possible. Even in winter I put my pillows and comforter out just to air them. It is wonderful.
In the winter I do laundry in the evening. Then fluff somethings (like towels) in the dryer for just a bit and while they are still quite damp hang them in various places throughout the house. I know it may sound ‘old timey’, but they are dry by morning and the added moisture is good for the air in the house when things are so dry. Plus it cuts the cost for power to the dryer. I love folding and putting away the dry things while my morning tea is brewing.

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- Courtenay says
  
  January 7, 2015 at 7:34 pm
  
  Some times the old timey things are the best! I do like the sounds of adding extra moisture to the air inside right now. It’s so dry in here sometimes!
  
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Margaret Brown says

January 7, 2015 at 4:26 pm

Towels will leave lint on clothes. I find that about fifteen minutes in the dryer, hang on hangers and hang on a shower rod placed long ways over the center of a bath tub is the best way to dry clothes and use less electricity! For delicate clothes bypass the dryer time.

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- Courtenay says
  
  January 7, 2015 at 7:32 pm
  
  Thanks for sharing your tips, Margaret! Those sound like great ideas for those who have a little extra time to spend really perfecting their laundry routine. That’s not me quite yet, unfortunately, but hopefully one day soon! These days, we don’t wear too many precious clothing items that need fancy care, so just taking 2 extra seconds to toss in a dry towel works for us!
  
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Shar says

January 7, 2015 at 10:23 pm

Along with checking the dryer vent hose, check the lint filter screen. If water will not run through it, it needs to be washed to remove fabric softener residues which don’t show but create a film that keeps air and moisture from passing through.
Thank you, Courtenay, for making homemaking less daunting!

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- Courtenay says
  
  January 7, 2015 at 10:33 pm
  
  Ooo! Good reminder, Shar! I’ve done that test with the water on the vent screen too, but not for a few years. I’d better remember to check mine again soon! It really is true that the residue builds up a lot!
  
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anita says

January 8, 2015 at 9:30 pm

After my laundry is done, I set it to another spin cycle. It takes as much of the water out of the clothes and towels and only cost pennies for another spin and things dry faster.

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Kay says

January 15, 2015 at 4:54 pm

In the winter months I use Microfiber Brushed Ultra Soft king sized sheets with 4 pillow cases. They are very large sheets. I dry the sheets separately with 2 pillow cases and a large bath towel. The towel keeps the sheets from rolling up into a big ball and not drying. In a conversation with my Mother many years ago, I was telling her of the problem and she was the one who suggested using the towel in the dryer. I use the same towel for each sheet drying.

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- Courtenay says
  
  January 15, 2015 at 7:02 pm
  
  Thanks for the tip, Kay! Those microfiber sheets do bunch up easily! It’s a great idea to use a towel with those even though they do dry pretty quickly. Thanks for sharing with us!
  
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Lee says

March 6, 2015 at 5:40 pm

I thought about towels depositing lint but if you use an old neutral colored towel it seems fine. Also, the best result of using one is that I have found that wrinkle free clothes stay pretty much wrinkle free!

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- Courtenay says
  
  March 6, 2015 at 7:18 pm
  
  That’s a great tip, Lee! Who doesn’t want less wrinkles? 🙂
  
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C Anderdon says

February 25, 2018 at 8:51 pm

I have done this for many years ( adding the dry towel) and it really cuts down dryer time

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Dorothy says

June 7, 2019 at 12:50 pm

A towel won’t leave lint if you turn dark clothes inside out. I do this before I wash them. Works for me.

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