Make sure clothes are effectively wrung out before putting them in the dryer. (Front-loading washers are the best at squeezing the water out!)
Separate loads into heavy, medium and lightweight items -
lighter loads will take less drying time than a mixture of items.
Dry consecutive loads to utilize otherwise wasted heat from the
dryer.
Clean the lint filter after every load. (A clogged lint filter
can increase energy use up to 30%, and may be a fire hazard!)
Consider using a clothesline to dry your laundry.
Always vent your dryer to the outside of the house. Some people
believe the venting into the house saves heat, but it also leads
to a buildup of moisture, odours and lint. For safety reasons -
and by law - natural gas dryers must never be vented inside the
home.
Looking to buy a new dryer?
Many dryers now come with sensors that automatically shut off the dryer when your clothes are dry. This saves energy and reduces the wear and tear on your clothes.
Consider investing in an ENERGY STAR® - qualified model, which
is at least 25% more efficient than the least efficient dryer.
