How Long To Tumble Dry Towels?

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How Long To Tumble Dry Towels? The length of time it takes to tumble dry towels largely depends on the brand and model of the tumble dryer and what the heat settings are. For tumble dryers, the conventional dryers have been proven to dry the fastest, even faster than the heat pump dryers.

Other factors that determine how long it takes to tumble dry towels are the amount, size and texture of towels in the load and how wet or dry they were prior to being put in the dryer.

We really cannot categorically say how long it will take to tumble dry towels due to the aforementioned factors but, on a general note, it takes about 40 – 1hr on the average for normal clothes to dry in a good quality tumble dryer with emphasis on a good quality dryer but, the same cannot be said of towels as they are expected to use longer hours.

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Why towels take longer hours to dry in a tumble dryer

The logic is pretty much simple. Most towels are extremely thick and heavy and as a result, would naturally take longer hours to wring out the water completely. If a towels absorbs water so well, it is just about right that they would take so long to get rid of water too.

How to dry towels faster

It’s a given that towels in particular, take longer hours to dry because of their make-up and innate properties but, is there a way we can accelerate the drying process? Are there things we should be doing that we are not? Read on let’s find out ways in which towels can actually dry faster.

1) Put towels to wash on the standard cycle and have it set to the fastest possible spin on the machine.

No matter how soaked up with water the towels are, a fast spin would squeeze out as much water as possible. The aim is to see that the towels are already fairly dry before being put in the dryer.

2) Get those dryer balls: Ever heard of dryer balls? They are tightly pressed balls that stop the clodding of laundry in the dryer. They do this by systematically segregating fabrics and tumbling between different layers. Dryer balls are made differently. Some are made with rubber, plastic, and the most popular one – wool.

This is in no way, a tactless exercise, it is a calculated attempt to get enough warm air to flow round thus, decreasing the rate of drying time.

As the dryer balls roll and bump vigorously on the fabrics, it helps straighten the towels at the same time, making them soft.

Dryer balls vs dryer sheets

The debate about which is more suitable for use in a tumble dryer has been going on for a while. It is quite obvious that dryer balls have an edge over dryers sheets and I will further elucidate how in the paragraphs below:

Dryer balls are likely to cause less reaction in people prone to different allergies or with sensitive skin. This is because the dryer balls do not possess any kind of toxic chemical.

The unwanted chemical in this case can be softeners and fragrance unlike the dryer sheets. Dryer balls are absolutely additive-free and safe to use by all.

Dryer balls can be used multiple times. As a matter of fact, they can last for as up to 8 months – 1year and so, That aside, they are considered to be more economical than the dryer sheets which provide just a one time use.

On the flip side though, one advantage the dryer sheets have over the dryer balls is that they pass on a beautiful fragrance to the towels and help in making them extra soft. The typical amount of the dryer balls needed for most laundry loads is 3 and luckily, they can usually be found in packs of 3.

How to get the best out of Dryer balls

Its usage is pretty simple. Place dryer balls before you start the cycle, not midway nor at the end. Remember to put the right load amount, anything more than that would impact negatively on your machine over time, affect the proper drying of the towels and prolong the drying process.

Tumble Drying vs Natural Air drying

Tumble drying definitely has the best effect on your towels if we are to be honest. With tumble drying, your towels come out looking fluffy than ever and still maintains their soft texture too but, there abounds a few concerns pertaining to cost and the environment about tumble drying.

These concerns are now making people see just how they can reduce how often they use the tumble dryer, fall back on natural air drying and still achieve the same results.

The tips to achieving same fluffy towels after line drying is exceptionally important for sooner or later, you might feel the need to tumble dry lesser times so as to save electrical cost at the same time, save the environment too.

To get your towels still feeling soft after washing and drying, be sure not to use any form of additives on them like fabric softeners or bleach.

Detergent alone can get the work done beautifully well. You want to know why we advise against the use of fabric softeners? It is because contrary to what you might think, they clog the pores and harden the towel’s fibers over time making them go from soft to rigid.

Now, once you are done with washing and line drying, just before you fold up the towels and store them, do well to shake them a few times.

FAQs

Can too much laundry ruin your towel?

This can be quite confusing to understand but I’ll try as much as possible to simplify it. I personally advocate for towels to be washed at least once every week. Regular washing help dispels unpleasant odor and that damp smell that most towels are prone to have.

However, too much washing of the towels can have an adverse effect on its fibers. Constant washing can weaken it and cause it to be ineffective in absorbing liquid in the long run.

What you can do to keep being able to use fresh clean towels in top form and with well working fibers, free from bacteria’s and germs; is to have substitute towels that you can use interchangeably. Using this rotation method, each towel gets a break from frequent washing and is given the chance to maintain its top shape.

Drying towels: Low heat or high heat?

On very few occasions when towels are extremely dirty, you can set to wash on high heat so as to get it totally disinfected. You must however note that, constant washing on high temperature can ruin your towel’s fibers.

Cotton, which most towels are made of, gets rigid at the feel of high heat. This is because they are naturally very soft cellulose fabrics aversive to extreme heat.

So, for preservation of your towels, wash on a medium heat. Have your machine set to 35 or 40 degrees Celsius. This would help you prolong the life span of your towels, wash them clean and keep them fresh from offensive odours and bacteria.

How to keep my towels fluffy

A quality towel is a fluffy towel. However, our towels might lose its fluffy nature due to some of the things we do. Take note of them below and get to know the exact habits to stop.

* Stop using fabric softeners as you wash your towels. They are no good for the fibers and impede their efficiency.

*Stop ironing your towels! I know you think the heat from the iron helps in killing germs but that has already been taken care of during its wash. Ironing only destroys the fiber and reduces its fluffy feel.

*Stop using towels for a long while without washing them. What you are simply doing is coating and re-coating on your body a fine paste of germs and bacteria’s. You are impairing your health and giving bacteria the chance to make you vulnerable to skin diseases and the likes. Wash at least once a week to keep them free from germs and bacteria.