Clothes Drying Tips

Consider the following when buying a new clothes dryer:

• Moisture sensors save money. A moisture sensor is an energy-saving feature that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Moisture sensors save energy and reduce wear and tear on clothes by preventing over-drying.
• Not all moisture sensors are alike; ask how the moisture sensor works. The best dryers have an actual moisture sensor in the drum. Others use temperature sensors to estimate dryness. You can save about 10% with a temperature sensing moisture control and 15% with a drum moisture sensor compared to a timed drying cycle alone.
• Dryers that have the Energy Star logo are rated as being more efficient; buying one of these models will save you electricity and money over the life of the appliance.

Tips for operating your clothes dryer efficiently:

• Don't overload the dryer; overloading makes the dryer work harder and may cause excessive lint and wrinkling.
• Clean the lint filter after every load. Lint on the filter reduces air flow and makes the dryer work harder.
• Dry like weight items together. Lightweight items take less time to dry than heavier items like towels.
• Dry loads consecutively; this will take advantage of heat build-up in your dryer.
• Save with the cool-down cycle. Many dryers have a cycle that includes a cool-down period. In the last few minutes of the cycle, cool air, rather than heated air, is blown through the tumbling clothes to complete the drying process.
• Remove clothes right away. Removing clothes as soon as the cycle is complete not only saves energy but also prevents wrinkling.
• Your dryer is most efficient when fully loaded. Combine smaller loads of wash into one dryer load, but be careful not to overload.
• Line dry clothes during periods of nice weather, and take advantage of the free, environmentally friendly energy from the sun.