When you use an iron to dry laundry, you essentially use the heat that comes out of the soleplate to evaporate the moisture out of the damp clothes. It's not exactly a very fast drying method.
No. If your item's label says not to tumble dry, it's best not to, even with zero heat. The tumbling movement could create wrinkles which will be hard to remove without heat. Tumbling without heat could also cause shrinkage after washing.
If you have a few items you need to dry fast, toss them into the dryer with a large, dry towel to absorb some of the moisture. After 15 minutes, remove the towel and hang it up to dry; otherwise it will continue to contribute to the moisture level in the dryer and extend the drying time, thus defeating the purpose.
The iron and towel trick
To use the iron and towel trick, lay your article of clothing on an ironing board as if you are going to iron it. Place a clean towel on top of your garment and iron the towel firmly on both sides using high heat. This trick helps channel warmth into the fabric which absorbs excess moisture.
What does “do not tumble dry” mean? Certain garments shouldn't go in the dryer at all. Subjected to high temperatures, silk may shrink, wool and knitwear may pill and undergarments may shrink or lose their shape.
Tumble dry low is the low heat setting on a tumble dryer. It's usually around 125ºF (52ºC), according to Maytag. In terms of the laundry symbol on the tag, that's the one with just one dot in the circle.
CAUTION: Drying clothing, especially large items like shirts, jeans, and bed sheets in the microwave can cause electrical fires. It is NOT recommended.
If you line-dry your clothes, bring them inside to iron when they are not quite dry. You can even iron wet or damp clothes that have recently come from the washer. This works particularly well with dress shirts and other garments made with thin fabric.
Throw a dry bath towel in with the garments you need dried quickly. The towel will absorb some of the moisture, making your items dry faster. Remember to take out the towel after around 5 minutes, if you are drying just a few items, or 15 minutes for a full load.
Adding a dry towel to wet clothes in the dryer can help to absorb excess moisture and speed up the drying time. This is because the dry towel acts as a wick, pulling moisture out of the wet clothes and into the dry towel. Furthermore, adding a dry towel can also help to fluff up and soften clothes!
Warmer air holds more water, so higher temperatures reduce the relative humidity, which help clothes dry faster.
Most dryers get rid of moisture by venting it to the outside. The best dryers are capable of drying your clothes quickly at a temperature that is hot, but not so hot that it scorches or damages them. Temperatures under 150°F are gentle enough to get the clothes dry without causing harm.
Unlike other dryer cycles, which produce warm air around the drum to remove moisture and dry the clothes fast, the air fluff cycle does not require heat. The cycle automatically turns off the heating element or and uses room temperature air to gently dry the clothes.
Cold/low heat
A dryer symbol with a dot inside the circle means that you should only dry your item at low temperatures up to 60°C.
If the circle has a cross through it, the item should not be dry-cleaned.
In most scenarios, all you need is a container full of warm water with a capful of liquid detergent. Next, make sure to add in your clothes and stir them into the solution until they are completely soaked. Gently wring out the clothing to expel excess liquid and gently stretch the clothing back to its original size.
The Do Not Bleach Symbol appears as a solid triangle crossed out with an “x” mark. This indicates you should never attempt to use any type of bleach on that item as it can damage or destroy the fabric.
Most quick-dry fabrics are made from nylon, polyester, merino wool, or a blend of these fabrics. I judge something to be quick-dry if it goes from wet to damp in under thirty minutes and if it completely dries within a few hours. Quick-dry clothes should always dry completely when hung overnight.
You just shouldn't. Clothes that are actively dripping water are the most dangerous to try to dry, since when the drum spins, that extra water will fly around the dryer. Some water might make its way into the internal components of the dryer, which would immediately break it. Not ideal.