Why You Shouldn't Dry Your Clothes On High Heat & How To Dry Best

We already know when it comes to washer temps, cooler is better for your clothes and the environment1; it's less damaging to materials and requires less energy. So, we wanted to know if the same was true for dryers. Here's what we found.

According to textile and sustainability expert and professor at the University of Leeds Richard Blackburn, Ph.D., "The most sustainable way to dry is to use the least amount of energy, which is a function of both temperature and time." But depending on what it is you're drying, time and temperature will be different.

Synthetic fibers, Blackburn notes, are very easy to dry because they are hydrophobic, or lose water easily (especially compared to cotton). "So," he says, "you can dry a garment made from polyester, nylon, or acrylic at room temperature; set your dryer to 86°F (30°C) and you should be able to dry quickly."

Natural fibers, on the other hand, don't wick water and moisture away as easily, thus they take longer to dry—especially cotton, Blackburn adds. "You either need to dry at high temperature quickly or lower temperature for longer, he says. "It's a difficult balancing act." And depending on the size of the load, those settings will vary, but ultimately, the dryer does damage your clothes2 (research has shown this), causing both synthetic and natural materials to break down over time. But to avoid too much heat in the dryer (and wasting energy), air drying is never a bad idea.

From saving energy to limiting microfibers in the environment, to preserving your clothes, drying optimally is an important consideration to make. When in doubt, air dry! But when you can't, know you've definitely got ways to dry effectively.