Saving Energy when using a clothes dryer

There are some simple things you can do to save energy when using a clothes dryer:

Use the sun whenever you can; it's the most environmentally friendly dryer of all!
Partly drying the load in the sun or wind (even on a cloudy day) will save energy - the dryer can then be used to finish off the drying as required.
If the weather is poor, try to avoid washing large loads if you have to use a dryer.
Don't overload the dryer; it means a longer drying time (using more electricity), can cause wrinkles and drying unevenness.
Don't put soaking wet clothes in a dryer. They should have as much moisture removed as possible beforehand - usually by putting them through the spin cycle in the clothes washer. The faster the spin speed the better, so set the spin speed at the fastest level if there is an option. Most clothes washers can separately spin items that have been hand washed prior to drying.
Externally venting may save energy, as moist air isn't recirculated and drying time may be shorter. This also means any airborne lint is expelled from the house. External venting also means there is less moisture in the house and this can reduce the possibility of mould forming.
Don't mix heavyweight (eg jeans) and lightweight articles in the same load.
Don't overdry. It causes creases and makes fabrics feel harsh, as well as wasting electricity. Use autosensing programs if you have them - test them to see which suits your needs best.
Always clean the lint filter after use. A clogged filter consumes more energy and may become a fire hazard if unattended.

Using your clothes dryer overnight will only save money if you have a residential time-of-use tariff. See your local electricity supplier for details.

This page last modified 27 June 2007