Updated October 2, 2026
Typical drying times
These are typical ranges, not promises; every load and machine is different.
- Light clothes (T-shirts, synthetics, thin fabrics): often 25–35 minutes.
- Mixed everyday load: about 30–45 minutes.
- Towels, jeans and sweatshirts: often 40 minutes to an hour.
- Comforters and heavy blankets: frequently an hour or more, sometimes longer, with checks along the way.
What makes drying faster
- A high-speed spin in the washer. Commercial washers typically remove more water than home machines, which shortens drying.
- Room to tumble. Hot air needs to move through the laundry; a dryer about half to two thirds full dries more efficiently than a packed one.
- Similar fabrics together. Light items finish early, while towels hold moisture; drying them separately avoids over-drying one to finish the other.
- A clean lint screen.
What slows it down
- Overloading one dryer instead of splitting between two.
- Laundry that went in as a tangled ball; shake items out as you move them.
- Very low heat settings for heavy fabrics.
- Thick bedding that clumps, which leaves damp pockets inside.
Drying comforters and blankets
Bulky bedding dries from the outside in, so the surface can feel dry long before the middle is. Use the largest dryer that suits it, a moderate heat setting unless the label says otherwise, and two or three dryer balls to keep the filling moving. Every so often, pull the comforter out, shake it and turn it around. It typically takes noticeably longer than a load of clothes, so budget extra time.
Avoiding shrinkage and over-drying
Most shrinkage happens in the dryer, from too much heat for too long. Take cotton clothes out while they are just dry, use lower heat for anything you are worried about, and hang wool, delicate knits and items labeled do not tumble dry. Over-drying also makes clothes wrinkle more and wears fabric faster.
Heat settings
Higher heat dries faster but is harder on fabric. Use high heat for towels and sturdy cottons, medium for everyday clothes, and low for synthetics, activewear and anything with elastic. Follow care labels for delicate items, and air dry anything that says not to tumble dry.
Making sure it is really dry
Check the thickest parts: waistbands, pockets, hoods, and the middle of comforters. If anything feels cool, it is still damp. Putting away damp laundry, especially bedding, can lead to musty smells and mildew.
Clothes feel slightly damp while hot and can seem drier than they are, so let a test item cool for a minute before deciding. Adding a short extra cycle is quicker than rewashing something that went musty.
Dryers at our stores
Dryer sizes on record include 30 and 50 lb at Glassboro and Pine Hill. At every store the last wash starts one hour before closing so every load has time to dry, and each location page can show how many dryers are free right now.