Can your washing machine actually help dry laundry? Learn about the spin cycle, extra-spin settings, air-dry functions, and the important difference between a washer and a washer-dryer.
Every Washing Machine Can Dry Laundry? Here’s What This Function Really Does
Have you ever taken clothes out of the washing machine and noticed that they were surprisingly dry after the final cycle?
There is a useful function hidden in almost every washing machine that can remove a large amount of water from freshly washed clothes: the spin cycle.
But there is an important distinction—most washing machines cannot completely dry laundry like a tumble dryer.
The Secret Is the Spin Cycle
During the spin cycle, the washing-machine drum rotates rapidly.
This creates centrifugal force that pushes water out of the clothes and through the machine’s drainage system.
The faster the drum spins, the more water can generally be removed from the fabric.
That’s why clothes coming out after a high-speed spin can feel much less wet than they did after washing.
How to Get Clothes Drier
If your machine has an Extra Spin, High Spin, or similar setting, you may be able to run an additional spin cycle after washing.
A simple approach is:
- Finish the normal wash cycle.
- Check that the clothes are distributed reasonably evenly.
- Select the appropriate spin-only or extra-spin program.
- Start the cycle.
- Remove the laundry promptly afterward.
- Hang the clothes in a well-ventilated area.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the care labels on your clothes.
What About “Air Dry”?
Some washing machines have additional programs that use airflow or other drying methods.
However, these functions aren’t universal.
If your machine has a setting such as Air Dry, Fresh Air, Dry, or Drying, check the owner’s manual to determine exactly what the program does.
Washer-Dryer Machines Are Different
A washer-dryer combo is designed to wash and dry clothes in the same appliance.
A standard washing machine usually isn’t.
So if someone says that every washing machine can completely dry laundry, that’s misleading.
What most washing machines can do is remove much of the water through spinning, which can significantly shorten the time clothes need to air-dry.
Don’t Overlook the Spin Speed
Your machine may offer several spin-speed options.
Higher speeds can remove more water, but they aren’t appropriate for every fabric. Delicate clothing may require a lower spin speed to reduce stretching, wrinkling, or damage.
Always consider the garment’s care label.
A Simple Way to Speed Up Air-Drying
After the final spin:
- Shake each garment out before hanging.
- Leave space between clothes.
- Use good ventilation.
- Avoid piling wet clothes together.
- Turn thicker garments as needed so both sides can dry.
- Clean the washing-machine filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
The Bottom Line
The “hidden drying function” in a regular washing machine is usually the spin cycle. It doesn’t actually dry clothes completely, but it removes a substantial amount of water and can make air-drying considerably faster.
So before buying a separate dryer, check your washing machine’s settings—you may already have an extra-spin or spin-only function that you’ve never used.