Drying clothes on low heat takes more time, so your dryer will have to work harder to get in more tumbles. But to get fewer tumbles, you'll need a higher heat setting, which takes energy. So is it a wash? It's not – drying clothes for longer on a lower heat setting is more efficient.
There's no minimum temperature that clothes need to dry. The colder it is, the longer it takes. But if you have somewhere dry outside, your clothes will start to dry.
But as long as the air is dry enough, water will slowly evaporate (or ice will sublime) even if the temperature is below freezing. In fact, clothes will dry faster on a cold and dry day than on a warm and humid day, especially if they are in direct sunlight.
As a general rule, washing clothes in cold, gentle cycles with low-heat drying can help prevent your garments from shrinking.
5. Use the Lowest Heat Setting. Not all dryers have a tumble or air dry option, but that doesn't mean you don't have options. Simply turn your dryer's temperature knob to “low heat.” If you can't find that setting, select “delicate” or “gentle” instead.
Cotton typically starts to shrink at temperatures above 90°F (32°C) in the dryer. However, the shrinking process can begin at lower temperatures too. To play it safe, wash your cotton in cold to cool water (below 80°F or 27°C). And when it comes to drying, think "cool breeze" rather than "desert heat."
Yes, it is OK to dry clothes in cold weather! While it may take longer for clothes to completely dry than when the temperature is warmer and humid, many people find that winter days with dry air can actually speed up the drying process.
If you ask an older person what their parents and grandparents did before dryers were common in households, they'll likely tell you that they didn't do anything differently – they just hung their clothes outside to dry, even when it's cold outside. Even if it's below freezing outside, you get the same result.
Do not leave laundry outside at night as it risks humidity and bad odors. Better to spread it out during the day for good drying in the air fresh.
Position your airer in well-ventilated areas (i.e. next to an open window) as the airflow will speed up drying time. While this might sound counterproductive in winter when you're trying to heat your home, leaving your window ajar can help reduce the chances of moisture damage from indoor drying.
Dryers are a bit like romantic relationships: A lower temperature for a longer time is more efficient than a hotter temperature for a shorter time, according to a study done for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.
The damp down will be clumpy from the wash, and completely drying it is critical. Use a low heat setting and toss one or two clean tennis balls in the dryer to break up the clumps. Be patient—drying the jacket may take one to three hours. Keep resetting the timer until your beloveds are lump-free and fully dry.
After washing, choose a low heat setting on your dryer or opt for air drying to prevent damage and fading. Air drying is particularly effective in preserving the colour of black clothes.
Choose a warm cycle: If you're concerned about using cold water, opt for a warm cycle (around 30°C) to ensure better detergent activation. Dry indoors: Avoid air-drying clothes outside when it's freezing. The moisture can freeze, making clothes stiff and potentially damaging your dryer vent.
Ensure Adequate Ventilation
The key to successfully drying laundry indoors is to ensure good air circulation in the space. Open windows to allow fresh air to circulate and help moisture escape. If it's too cold or impractical to open windows, consider using fans to promote air movement.
Recent research shows that new dryers use significantly less energy to dry most typical loads on low heat than on high heat, even though the dryer runs longer. If you aren't in a rush, let the clothes run longer on low heat. This will save energy and is gentler on clothes.
Assuming that you use the fastest spin speed, an average load of washing can dry in as little as 4 hours on a hot and breezy day. The same load could take 6 hours on a cooler but breezy day. The worst weather for drying clothes is a cool and still day.
For a load of laundry that was spun in a washing machine, and hung indoors in average conditions, the "easy" items will be dry in about 5 hours, and the "difficult" items will finish in about 9 hours. Also see our Air Dry All Types of Clothing article for tips on each different clothing type.
Those made of 100% cotton may shrink in a dryer so it's better to air-dry them. Heavy items like beddings and towels can be tumble dried at medium to high heat to ease the process. For smaller items like cotton tees and dresses, best to dry them on low for a shorter amount of time.
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. Learn more about how to prevent pilling on your clothes.
How the Air Fluff Cycle Works. When activated, the dryer's drum rotates, and ambient air is circulated through the drum. Unlike traditional drying cycles, no heating element is engaged. Instead, the cool air gently moves through the fabrics, allowing them to relax and release wrinkles without applying heat.