While most washing machines offer a quick wash option, dryers typically lack this time-saving feature. It can take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour and a half to dry a standard-size load of laundry, but when you’re in a hurry or looking to save money on your energy bill, you need another solution. Fortunately,…
When a clean, dry towel is tossed into your wet laundry, it absorbs some of the moisture, speeding up the drying time. Since the towel will absorb water, however, the trick is to remove it after five to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the load. If the towel becomes too damp, it will have the opposite effect and slow down drying time. Think of it like a wet sponge sitting on top of drying dishes. The dishes won’t completely dry until the sponge is taken away or dries itself. After you remove the damp towel, hang it up and let it air dry while your clothes finish drying.
Adding a fresh towel to the dryer is also beneficial when laundering bulky items such as bedding, outerwear, and other towels. It helps keep items separated and allows for better air circulation. You know when a load is so heavy, it just clunks around in a big wad? A dry towel will help prevent that.
Quicker drying time also means less power used, ultimately saving you money. And saving money is always a good thing.
Throwing a damp towel in the dryer can remove wrinkles in your clothes by creating steam to release them, although it won’t speed up drying time. If you want to get the wrinkles out of a small load, a damp washcloth will do.
When you need a freshly laundered T-shirt dried in a hurry, try this low-effort hack to cut drying time in half — just don’t forget to remove the bath towel after 10 minutes or so.
