Are You Overloading Your Dryer?

by Product Specialist

Tempted to shove just a few more clothes into the dryer? Don't! You'll waste energy and your clothes will take much longer to dry. And that's just the beginning.

Here is a look at why overloading your dryer is a very bad idea.

More Wrinkles
When you stuff too many clothes into your dryer, they can't tumble freely. The result is a longer drying time and more wrinkles in your shirts, pants, sheets, and other types of laundry.

More Lint
More clothes in the dryer means more lint, which builds up in the lint trap. This prevents the free flow of air, meaning your clothes take longer to dry.

And if you don't clean out the lint trap before every load, the build-up can cause a fire. It is always important to keep the filter and the outdoor vent clean and free of lint.

But when you double up on your dryer loads, the lint collects much faster. That means you need to inspect the filter and vent more often, something that many homeowners don't consider.

Longer Drying Time
When too many clothes are crammed into the dryer, there is no room for air to circulate. And that's what gets your clothes dry. When your dryer is overloaded, it can't work efficiently. Your load of laundry will take much longer to dry.

Harming the Dryer
When you pack in too many clothes, towels and sheets, your dryer has to work harder to get them dry. Trying to do its job, the motor of your expensive dryer can overheat and eventually burn out.

It's also hard on the belt, pulley assembly and spindle bearings. Though unseen, these are critical components. When they have to work too hard, load after load, it causes friction and breakdowns.

Getting a repairperson out to fix it costs money for labor and parts. If the dryer is too far gone, it might need replacement, which is very expensive.

Higher Energy Bills
It's simple math: the longer your dryer takes to get clothes dry, the more energy it uses. You pay for all that energy in your monthly utility bills.

The bottom line: lighter loads dry more efficiently, less expensively, more quickly, with less wear and tear on your machine. To save time, money and energy, don't overload your dryer.