Energy-saving clothes dryer

There are several no-cost things you can do to save energy and money when drying your clothes.

• One of the biggest ways to save energy with your clothes dryer is to use a clothesline instead of the dryer to dry your clothes whenever possible.
• Clean the lint filter after every load. Your dryer has to work harder and longer to push air through a full lint screen.
• If you use dryer softening sheets, they can cause a waxy build-up that isn’t always easily seen, but it’s there. Simply wash the lint filter with warm, soapy water occasionally to keep your dryer working optimally. A toothbrush or other soft-bristle brush also can be used to clean the filter. These cleanings can extend the life of your dryer by not forcing it to work so hard.
• Dry full loads.
• Dry multiple loads one right after the other to make use of the heat existing from the previous load.
• Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
• Don’t over-dry your clothes. Make use of the moisture sensor if your machine has one.
• If your clothes have been over-dried and become wrinkled, you can throw a wet towel in and re-run them instead of re-washing and re-drying.
• If your machine has a moisture sensor, clean it occasionally to keep the waxy build-up from dryer softening sheets from impeding the sensor’s ability to detect moisture.
• Close your laundry room door when drying clothes during the summer and open it during the winter. This keeps the dryer from heating the whole home during the summer which would cause the air-conditioner to run more, and during the winter allows the heat from the dryer to help heat your home.

See energy saving tips for your washing machine.