You wake up early to do a load of laundry. You’re getting the kids ready for school, packing lunches, making breakfast, and mentally preparing yourself for a long day of work meetings. When it comes time to put on your work clothes, you realize they aren’t even dry yet. The dryer had enough time to complete a full cycle, so what’s the deal? You can’t wear damp jeans to work and don’t want to send your kids to school in damp socks. Why does the dryer take more than one cycle to fully dry all of the clothes??
Having to run your dryer twice wastes time and energy. The problem can be simple, but can also point to a dryer component that isn’t working correctly. Let’s look at some reasons your dryer may not fully dry your clothes in one cycle, what you can do about it, and when calling for a repair makes sense.
Common Reasons Your Dryer Needs Two Cycles
If your dryer suddenly needs two cycles to dry a normal load, poor airflow is one of the first things to check. An overloaded dryer, clogged lint screen or vent, incorrect settings, or even a malfunctioning washing machine can all increase drying time.
The Dryer is Overloaded
One of the first, and most common, reasons that your clothes take more than one cycle to dry is an overloaded dryer. You should only be filling your dryer to about three-quarters of its capacity rather than stuffing it completely full. If your clothes don’t have enough room to tumble and allow air to circulate, they won’t dry as effectively.
The Lint Screen is Clogged
Another quick fix: check your dryer’s lint screen. It’s best to empty your lint screen or filter with each cycle. However, if you forget or fall behind, lint, dust, and hair can build up and potentially become a fire hazard.
The Dryer Vent is Clogged or Restricted
If you haven’t had your dryer vent cleaned in a while, this could very well be the culprit, too.
Take a trip outside and find where your dryer vent exits your home. First, make sure no bushes, trees, or anything else is blocking the vent. Then, take a peek inside the vent to make sure there isn’t a buildup of lint, dust, hair, or other debris. When hot, moist air can’t escape properly, clothes stay damp longer.
You’re Using the Wrong Dryer Setting
If you aren’t overloading your dryer and lint buildup doesn’t seem to be an issue, you can check the dryer setting you’ve been using.
Dryers come with different settings, such as “air fluff” for fabrics that cannot tolerate too much heat. Make sure that you aren’t using the air fluff setting for things like heavy cotton or jeans, which may require higher heat or a regular dryer setting.
It’s Actually Your Washer’s Fault
The problem may not even be with your dryer at all. If everything seems normal, you’re using the right dryer settings, and you aren’t overstuffing your dryer, your washing machine may actually be the culprit.
Sometimes, your washer leaves your clothes soaking wet after the spin cycle. In this instance, you need to investigate your washing machine’s drainage hose, filter, and pump. These components may be clogged, need cleaning, or require repair or replacement. Just like with your dryer, you should not overfill your washing machine with too many clothes or heavy linens. Not only can this leave your clothes soaking wet, but it can also create an unbalanced load and put unnecessary strain on your washing machine.
Is It Normal for a Dryer to Take Two Cycles?
It is not normal for your dryer to consistently take two cycles to dry your laundry. For normal, day-to-day washes, one dry cycle should suffice.
Particularly heavy wash loads with sheets, blankets, or thick winter clothes may occasionally take a longer time to dry. Blankets and sheets can ball up in the dryer, preventing some areas from drying completely. So, no, it is not normal for a dryer to routinely take two cycles to completely dry your clothes.
Should You Keep Using Your Dryer If It Takes Too Long to Dry?
Whether it’s safe to keep using your dryer depends on what’s causing the longer drying time. If it’s simply an oversized load or you’ve had it on the incorrect setting, then that’s an easy fix. However, if you notice excessive heat, a burning smell, persistent unusual noises, repeated breaker trips, or anything else unusual, you should stop using your dryer and have things checked out by a professional.
Help Your Dryer Get Back to Drying in One Cycle
Doing part of your laundry twice does not have to be the norm. Catching the cause early can help you save energy costs, reduce wear on your dryer and clothing, and uncover potential problems before they get worse.
At Premier Appliance of Augusta, our goal is to not only get you back on track with your appliances, but also to help you understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how to prevent it in the future. If your dryer still needs two cycles after you’ve checked the basics, book a repair service with Premier Appliance today. We proudly serve homeowners throughout Augusta, Evans, Martinez, and the surrounding CSRA.
