If you’re the type of person who finds herself constantly on the go, then laundry is probably one of those chores that you tend to put off for as long as you can, and understandably so. After all, laundry can be time-consuming: From separating your belongings into various color groups to sorting your stuff as it runs through the dryer, the act of doing laundry can easily eat up multiple precious hours of any given weekend – and that doesn’t even include the folding part.
If you’re tired of dedicating far too much time to the painstakingly dull act of doing laundry, then listen up: There might be a way for you to minimize the time it takes to get your laundry done. By employing some smart drying tactics, you can significantly reduce the drying time on any given load of laundry, thereby freeing more of your weekend for the leisurely activities in which you deserve to indulge.
Nick Sidon is the proud owner of Nick’s Dryer Vent Cleaning, a family owned and operated business that has been serving the San Diego area since 2007, and according to him, drying one’s clothing and linens does not have to take hours. He therefore offers the following tips for efficient clothes drying practices:
Clean out the lint trap beforehand
If you’re tired of sitting around just waiting for your laundry to get done, then the next time you approach the process, start by thoroughly cleaning out the lint trap. This will speed the drying process and keep your dryer better maintained on a whole.
Resist the urge to overstuff
Some people have a habit of cramming clothing and linens into their dryers until they become truly jam packed. When it comes to efficient drying, remember that your belongings need room to tumble their way into the damp-free zone. To save yourself time and aggravation on the drying front, make sure not to overstuff your dryer before letting it run.
Strike a nice balance
When most people transfer their clothing and linens from their washers to their dryers, they tend to do so erratically. If you’re looking to have your dryer function efficiently, then you’ll need to make sure that your load is properly balanced the next time you use it. Instead of shoving things into your dryer haphazardly, try alternating between the left side and the right side of your dryer when placing your items inside it. This methodology will help keep your dryer balanced, which, in turn, will help it run more efficiently on a whole.
Detangle
When most clothing items and linens come out of the wash, they tend to be bunched and tangled. Unfortunately, many people tend to make the mistake of then placing such items into their dryers without taking the time to unravel them. The more tangled your belongings are, the more time it will take to get them dry. To save yourself some aggravation (and money on your utility bills), take a few minutes to detangle your clothing and linens before setting your dryer to run.
Keep things separated
After the average spin cycle, your clothing is likely to come out of the washer stuck together. To maximize the efficiency of the drying process, separate your belongings before putting them into the dryer. When dealing with larger and smaller items in a single load (such as bath towels and socks, respectively), take the time to locate and segregate your smaller items so that they don’t get lost in the drying process. If a random sock happens to get stuck inside a larger sheet or sweatshirt sleeve, then it’s likely to come out of the dryer feeling as wet as it was when it first came out of the washing machine.
Have your dryer vent cleaned
One of the best ways to practice the art of efficient drying is to have your dryer vent cleaned professionally as needed. A clogged or dirty vent can slow down the drying process significantly, thereby zapping away those valuable weekend hours and lowering your spirits in the process. To avoid this problem, bring in a professional to keep your dryer vent clean and clear of lint, dust, and anything else that might work to slow it down.
An inefficient drying session can make the act of doing laundry seem like insurmountable. By following these tips for efficient drying, you can do your part to move the process along and get on with your busy life.
