How to dry clothes in a washing machine

Not every household has a tumble dryer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dry your clothes quickly. Read on to find out all you need to know about how to dry clothes in your washing machine, whether it’s a fully automatic or a semi-automatic machine.

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Step-by-step guide on how to dry clothes in a washing machine

To dry your clothes in your washing machine, simply follow our steps below.

  • 1

    Check label

    Before putting your clothes in the washing machine, always check your garments’ fabric care labels to see if your item can be washed in the washer and what restriction it has with regards to drying.

  • 2

    Select cycle

    By selecting a program for your clothes, you also select a spin cycle that extracts moisture from your dripping wet clothes at the end. Different programs include different spin cycles, because delicate clothes, for example, need a low-speed spin cycle to avoid any damage to them. Keep this in mind when picking the best cycle for your wash.

  • 3

    Adjust spin cycle

    If you’re not satisfied with your selected program’s spin cycle, you can still make adjustments as you see fit.

  • 4

    Dry

    As soon as the whole cycle is over, take your clothes out of the washing machine immediately, and hang them out to dry.

How to only dry clothes in washing machine

As always, check your garments’ fabric care labels to see if they can be put in a washing machine. If yes, and they only need drying, look at the settings of your washing machine, and find the spin-only cycle. This completely omits the washing part and only does the spin cycle to dry your clothes as much as possible. As soon as the cycle is finished, take your clothes out, and hang them out to dry.

Can you dry clothes in fully and semi-automatic washing machines?

Yes, if you set your machine on a spin-only cycle, you can significantly reduce your clothes’ wetness. They won’t be completely dry, because you’d need a dryer for that, but they definitely won’t be dripping with water. To dry them completely, you’ll need to hang them out on a line.

Can you dry clothes in front-load and top-load washing machines?

Yes, if your machine has a spin-only cycle, you’ll be able to get your garments relatively dry. You’ll have to hang them out on a line to get them completely dry afterwards, but the spin-only cycle is definitely a great step towards dryness.

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FAQs on how to dry clothes in a washing machine

  • You’ll have to select a spin-only cycle to get your clothes as dry as possible in a washing machine.

  • If they have a spin cycle, they definitely can get clothes as dry as possible. However, you’ll have to hang them out to dry them completely afterwards.

  • The spin cycle is used to get your clothes as close to dry as possible. However, you’d need a dryer to get them completely dry.

  • Some washing machines have an air dry option that lets in air through tiny valves during the spin cycle. This helps get the last bits of moisture out of your garments, although depending on your fabrics, it can take up to 2 hours.

  • Tumble dry is the name of the setting you use when you want to dry your clothes in a dryer. As the name suggests, the machine tumbles your clothes around while drying them.

  • If your washer doesn’t have an air dry option, you can only use the spin-only cycle to get your clothes as close to dry as possible. If you have the air dry option, but your machine doesn’t dry your clothes, it’s best to ask a professional about repair options.

  • If it has an air dry option, it can remove all the moisture from your clothes. However, if you have a washer that only has a spin-only cycle, you’ll have to hang your clothes out to dry to dry them completely.

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