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If you own a clothes dryer (or a washer with a drying feature), here are some tips to ensure optimal drying and energy conservation.
1. Tips for Efficient Clothes Dryer Use
Clothes dryers aren't common household appliances due to their cost and high operational expenses. In Vietnam, they're mostly used during the rainy season. However, if you have a dryer
1. Only put clean, wrung-dry clothes into the dryer. If using a washer, select the highest spin setting. The wetter the clothes, the longer the drying time, and dryers consume a lot of electricity.
2. Shake out each garment before transferring it from the washer to the dryer to reduce wrinkles and shorten drying time.
3. Load the dryer with the appropriate amount of clothes according to its capacity, usually about 2/3 of the drum's volume. Avoid drying too few clothes, as it wastes energy.
4. However, do not overload the dryer by cramming the drum full. Too much laundry compared to the dryer's capacity will also waste energy. Additionally, clothes need space to dry quickly and reduce wrinkles.
5. Use dryer sheets to soften and freshen clothes. Place one sheet for every 10-12 garments in the dryer. These sheets not only soften and scent clothes but also reduce static electricity. If you don't use them, you might experience mild electric shocks when folding clothes.
6. Select the appropriate drying cycle for your clothes. Dryers have different cycles with timed drying options of 30, 60, 120, or 180 minutes, suitable for various fabric types and loads. Generally, you should sort your laundry before drying, as different fabrics require different drying settings. Use high heat for jeans, towels, and heavy fabrics; medium heat for synthetics like polyester; and low heat for delicate items like lingerie and soft fabrics.
7. Avoid adding wet clothes to partially dried laundry in the dryer, as this can affect the humidity sensor's accuracy, resulting in either damp or overly dry clothes.
8. Always keep the dryer door closed during the drying cycle. Opening the door releases hot air, prolonging the drying time.
9. Avoid overdrying clothes (excessive heat and duration), as it damages fabrics, wastes electricity, and increases wrinkles. Prolonged drying at high temperatures reduces moisture in the clothes, causing them to shrink, especially cotton fabrics. The longer you dry, the more wrinkles, so if unnecessary, opt for low heat.
6. Choose the appropriate drying setting for your clothes. Dryers offer various cycles with timed drying options ranging from 30 to 180 minutes, catering to different fabric types and loads. Generally, sort your laundry before drying to ensure optimal results. For instance, use high heat for denim, towels, and heavier fabrics; medium heat for synthetics like polyester; and low heat for delicate items such as lingerie and soft fabrics.
7. Avoid adding wet clothes to a partially dried load in the dryer, as this can affect the humidity sensor's accuracy, leading to either damp or overly dry clothes.
8. Keep the dryer door closed throughout the drying cycle to retain heat and expedite the process. Opening the door releases hot air, prolonging drying time.
9. Avoid over-drying clothes (using excessive heat and duration), as it can damage fabrics, waste electricity, and exacerbate wrinkles. Overly high temperatures during prolonged drying can reduce moisture content in clothes, causing shrinkage, especially with cotton fabrics. Additionally, prolonged drying increases the likelihood of wrinkles, so opt for lower heat settings when possible.
10. Remove clothes from the dryer immediately after they're dry, shake them out, then fold or hang them to prevent wrinkles.
11. If possible, plan to iron clothes right after drying. Opt for a shorter drying time so clothes are still slightly damp, making them easier to iron and saving electricity.
12. Clothes that have been left for a while and smell musty can be put in the dryer with a scented sheet to eliminate the odor.
13. Be cautious about putting clothes with metal details in the dryer as they may fall off and damage the dryer. Avoid drying delicate, thin fabrics like curtains, wool, silk, or non-waterproof nylon, as well as large items like hooded jackets, blankets, etc. Before putting clothes in the dryer, check and remove any items from pockets, such as clips, pens, nails, and needles, as these can damage the dryer and clothes. Especially, cotton fabrics are very sensitive to heat, so only dry them on the air setting, not on high heat. Note that if clothes with oil stains are put in the dryer, it can cause a fire.
14. Regularly cleaning the lint filter is also a way to avoid wasting drying time and save energy consumption.
