Dryer loading mistakes, such as packing the drum, drying heavy towels with light shirts and dropping in a tangled wad from the washer, make drying take longer and leave clothes wrinkled or damp in spots. Clothes need room to tumble, so a load that stops at about three-quarters full, with each item shaken loose on the way in, dries faster and more evenly.
Mistakes at a glance
| Habit | What it leads to | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Packing the drum full | Clothes can't tumble through the warm air, so drying slows | Stop at about three-quarters full for a large load |
| Drying towels and blankets with light shirts | Light items overdry while heavy ones stay damp | Dry heavier items in their own load |
| Moving a twisted, tangled load straight from the washer | Longer drying and more wrinkles | Shake items out and separate them as you load |
| Drying one or two small items on a sensor cycle | The sensor misreads the load, and clothes come out damp | Dry at least three to five items, or use a timed cycle |
| Using a dryer sheet with every load and never washing the lint screen | A film on the screen that slows airflow | Wash the lint screen periodically to remove residue |
| Adding wet items to a load that is half dry | Uneven results and a longer cycle | Start wet loads together |
The ones that matter most
Overloading the dryer
Dryers work by tumbling clothes through heated air. Whirlpool's loading guide says not to overload or tightly pack the dryer, because clothing needs to move freely, and it describes a large load as filling the drum to about three-quarters. Samsung says the same: the dryer should never be more than three-quarters full, and overloading reduces its performance. A packed drum also holds clothes against each other so they wrinkle.
Mixing heavy and light fabrics
Towels and blankets hold far more water than T-shirts. Whirlpool recommends grouping heavier items like towels and blankets separately from lighter fabrics so each load dries evenly. A mixed load forces a choice: stop when the shirts are dry and the towels are damp, or keep going and overdry the shirts.
Loading clothes in a tangled wad
Sheets and long sleeves twist together in the washer's final spin. Whirlpool notes that twisted or tangled items take longer to dry and are likely to come out wrinkled. Shaking each item out as you move it across takes seconds and lets the load tumble freely.
Drying very small loads on a sensor cycle
Moisture sensors need clothes to tumble across them. Samsung says clothes won't dry properly if there are too few items in the dryer, and recommends at least three to five items, especially on a Sensor Dry cycle. For one item, a timed cycle or adding a couple of dry towels works better.
Dryer sheets play a part as well. Whirlpool notes that they can leave an oily residue that clogs the lint screen, and suggests washing the screen about once a month. Cleaning lint off the screen itself is covered in dryer lint and vent habits that raise fire risk.
Signs it's already caused a problem
- Loads routinely need a second cycle, even when the dryer isn't packed
- Clothes come out hot but still damp
- The lint screen has a waxy film that water beads on
- The dryer or laundry room feels much hotter than usual during a cycle
- A burning smell, or the dryer shuts off partway through
If loads still take too long after you change how you load, the problem may be airflow, a heating part or a sensor. Book a dryer repair visit so a technician can check it.
Sources
- Whirlpool: Properly Loading a Dryer
- Samsung: The Best Laundry Load Size for Your Samsung Washing Machine and Dryer
- Whirlpool: What Do Dryer Sheets Do?
Habit to keep: Fill the dryer no more than three-quarters full, and shake every load loose as it goes in.
Sensible loads that still need two cycles mean it's time for a dryer check. ProFix San Antonio: (210) 761-6006.