9 Surprising Things Your Clothes Dryer Can (and Can’t) Do
Your clothes dryer can do much more than simply turn wet laundry into dry laundry. From relaxing wrinkles and loosening pet hair to fluffing bulky bedding, a few smart techniques can make laundry day noticeably easier.
But there’s an important catch: not every viral dryer hack is safe. Some tricks can damage fabrics, overheat the appliance, or even create a fire risk.
Here are 9 useful things your dryer can do, plus the hacks you should skip.
1. Remove Wrinkles Without an Iron
Need to wear a shirt that’s slightly wrinkled but don’t have time to iron it?
Place the garment in the dryer with a slightly damp washcloth and run a short, medium-heat cycle for about 10–15 minutes, if the care label permits.
The moisture creates a small amount of steam that can help relax wrinkles.
For best results: remove the garment immediately when the cycle ends and hang it up rather than leaving it sitting in the drum.
2. Dry Sneakers More Quietly
Shoes tumbling around inside a dryer can create a lot of noise—and repeated tumbling may damage some footwear.
If the shoe manufacturer allows machine drying, tie the shoelaces together and position the shoes so they don’t freely bounce around the drum. Some dryers also have a dedicated shoe-drying rack.
Use low heat or an air-only setting when recommended.
Avoid putting leather, suede, or heat-sensitive shoes in the dryer unless the manufacturer specifically says it’s safe.
3. Refresh Washable Pillows and Stuffed Animals
A dryer can help fluff and refresh certain washable pillows and stuffed toys after cleaning.
Use the temperature recommended on the item’s care label. For heat-sensitive materials, an air-only cycle may be safer.
For stuffed animals, check for glued decorations, plastic parts, or delicate materials that could be damaged by heat.
4. Speed Up Drying Time
Have a particularly wet load that seems to be taking forever?
Adding one clean, dry towel for the first 10–15 minutes can help absorb some moisture from the load.
Remove the towel once it becomes damp and allow the rest of the clothes to continue drying.
Don’t overload the dryer, though. Clothes need enough room to tumble so warm air can circulate properly.
5. Remove Pet Hair From Clothing
Your dryer can be surprisingly useful for loosening pet hair before washing.
Before washing, place dry pet-hair-covered clothing in the dryer and run an air-fluff or low-heat cycle for around 10 minutes, if the garment allows it.
The tumbling action and airflow can loosen hair so it gets collected by the lint filter.
Important: clean the lint filter afterward.
6. Freshen Musty Clothing
Clothes that have been sitting in a closet or storage box can sometimes develop a stale smell.
If the clothing is already clean and the care label permits drying, a short low-heat or air-only cycle may help freshen it.
For strong or persistent odors, however, washing the garment is the better solution. A dryer may temporarily mask an odor without removing its source.
