Ultimate Guide to Energy-Efficient Clothes Drying

Clothes dryers are among the highest energy consumers in Australian homes, typically accounting for 5-10% of household electricity use. With energy prices continuing to rise, finding ways to dry clothes efficiently isn't just good for the environment—it's essential for managing household costs. This guide covers practical strategies to minimise your dryer's energy consumption without sacrificing convenience.

The good news is that significant savings are achievable through a combination of smart habits, proper maintenance, and understanding how to get the most from your specific dryer type. Whether you're using a basic vented model or a premium heat pump dryer, these tips will help you dry smarter.

Understanding Dryer Energy Consumption

Before optimising efficiency, it helps to understand what affects energy use. Your dryer's consumption depends on several factors:

• Dryer type: Heat pump dryers use 40-60% less energy than vented or standard condenser models
• Load moisture level: Wetter clothes require more energy to dry
• Load size: Both overloading and underloading reduce efficiency
• Heat setting: Higher heat uses more energy
• Cycle length: Longer cycles consume more electricity
• Maintenance status: Blocked filters and vents force the dryer to work harder

Before the Dryer: Maximise Spin Drying

The most energy-efficient drying happens in your washing machine. Every drop of water your washer's spin cycle removes is water your dryer doesn't need to evaporate.

Use the Highest Spin Speed

When fabric care labels allow, use the highest spin speed available on your washing machine. The difference between 800 RPM and 1400 RPM can reduce clothes' moisture content by 10-15%, translating to shorter dryer cycles and meaningful energy savings.

Run an Extra Spin Cycle

For heavy items like towels and jeans, consider running an additional spin-only cycle before transferring to the dryer. This two-minute extra spin uses far less energy than the additional dryer time wet items would require.

Optimising Each Dryer Load

Right-Size Your Loads

Load size significantly impacts efficiency. Overloaded dryers restrict airflow, preventing hot air from circulating properly and dramatically increasing drying time. Underloaded dryers waste energy heating and tumbling more air than necessary.

The sweet spot is filling the drum about two-thirds full. Clothes should have room to tumble freely, allowing air to circulate through and around each item.

Sort by Fabric Weight

Drying heavy towels with lightweight synthetics is inefficient. The synthetics dry quickly while the towels remain damp, forcing you to either over-dry the light items or run extended cycles. Sort loads by fabric weight:

• Light loads: Synthetics, athletic wear, underwear
• Medium loads: Cotton shirts, sheets, light pants
• Heavy loads: Towels, jeans, sweatshirts

Use Appropriate Heat Settings

Many people default to high heat, but this isn't always necessary or efficient. High heat can actually set wrinkles in synthetic fabrics, requiring ironing (more energy) or re-washing.

• High heat: Reserve for heavy cotton items like towels and sheets
• Medium heat: Suitable for most everyday items
• Low heat: Use for delicates and synthetics—these dry quickly anyway

Don't Over-Dry

Over-drying wastes energy and damages fabrics. If your dryer has sensor drying, use it—it stops the cycle when clothes reach the target dryness level. If not, learn how long different loads actually need and avoid running maximum-time cycles "just in case."

Maintenance for Maximum Efficiency

A poorly maintained dryer can use 30% more energy than necessary. Regular maintenance isn't just about safety and longevity—it directly impacts your power bills.

Clean the Lint Filter Every Load

A clogged lint filter restricts airflow, making your dryer work harder and longer. This simple 30-second task after every load can reduce energy consumption by 5-10%.

Monthly Deep Cleaning

Vacuum the lint trap housing and check for buildup behind the filter. For heat pump dryers, clean the heat exchanger filter monthly—a dirty exchanger dramatically reduces efficiency.

Annual Exhaust Cleaning

For vented dryers, have the exhaust duct professionally cleaned annually. Lint accumulation in the duct restricts airflow and forces the dryer to run longer cycles. Signs of a clogged duct include extended drying times and the dryer feeling excessively hot.

Smart Timing Strategies

Use Off-Peak Electricity

Many Australian electricity plans offer lower rates during off-peak hours, typically overnight (10pm-7am) and sometimes during weekend afternoons. Using your dryer's delay start feature to run cycles during these periods can reduce costs by 20-50%.

Check your electricity plan details—off-peak rates are usually 15-20 cents per kWh compared to 30-40 cents during peak times.

Consecutive Loads

If you have multiple loads to dry, run them back-to-back. The dryer retains heat between cycles, so subsequent loads start with a warm drum and reach operating temperature faster, saving energy.

Consider Solar Hours

If you have solar panels, running your dryer during peak generation hours (typically 10am-3pm) lets you use free electricity from your roof. Even without battery storage, daytime drying can mean zero grid consumption for your laundry.

Alternatives and Hybrid Approaches

Air Drying When Possible

The most energy-efficient dryer is one you don't run. On suitable days, outdoor or indoor line drying costs nothing. Even partial air drying—hanging clothes until slightly damp, then finishing in the dryer—reduces energy use significantly.

Indoor Drying Racks

For apartments without outdoor space, indoor drying racks near windows or in well-ventilated areas work well for light items. Reserve the dryer for heavy items like towels that take too long to air dry.

The Hybrid Method

Use your dryer for 15-20 minutes to start—this gets clothes warm and separates them, accelerating evaporation. Then transfer to a drying rack or line to finish. You get wrinkle-free results with a fraction of the energy use.

Choosing an Efficient Dryer

If you're in the market for a new dryer, efficiency should be a primary consideration.

Prioritise Energy Rating

The difference between a 2-star and 8-star dryer can exceed $200 annually in running costs. For frequent users, investing in a high-efficiency heat pump model often pays for itself within 3-5 years through energy savings.

Look for Sensor Drying

Automatic sensor drying prevents over-drying, saving energy on every load. This feature alone can reduce consumption by 10-15% compared to timed drying.

Consider Capacity Carefully

A dryer that's too large for your needs wastes energy on every cycle. Choose a capacity that matches your typical load size rather than buying the biggest model available.

Calculating Your Savings

To understand the impact of these strategies, consider a household running four dryer loads weekly:

Before optimisation: 4 loads × $1.20 average = $4.80/week = $250/year

After implementing efficiency measures (20% reduction): $200/year

After upgrading to heat pump dryer (50% reduction from baseline): $125/year

Combined with off-peak timing (additional 25% on electricity rate): Under $100/year

These aren't hypothetical numbers—they're achievable savings for typical Australian households willing to adopt smarter drying habits.

Start with the easy wins: clean your lint filter religiously, right-size your loads, and use appropriate heat settings. These cost nothing to implement and deliver immediate results. From there, consider timing strategies and, when it's time to replace your dryer, prioritise energy efficiency.