simple tips for laundry dryer lint

How to Dry Clothes Without Damaging Them: Expert Tips & Tricks

/179 Comments/in , , /by Mary Hunt

If you’re pulling out giant wads of lint after every dryer cycle, here’s a hard truth: that’s your clothes, slowly disintegrating. Yikes! Overdrying weakens fabric, causes shrinkage, and shortens the lifespan of your favorite jeans, towels, and T-shirts. But don’t worry—you don’t have to give up your dryer! A few simple changes to your laundry routine can help you dry smarter, keep clothes looking new, and even cut your energy bill. Let’s get into it!

simple tips for laundry dryer lint

If you’re routinely pulling out massive wads of lint from your dryer trap, you have to wonder—where is all of this coming from? You checked the pockets, and last time you looked, you weren’t washing a shredded teddy bear or a bag of pillow stuffing.

Well, here’s the unfortunate truth (and trust me, I’m not thrilled about it either): that lint is your clothes—slowly being worn down and sent off to lint heaven. Just 30 minutes ago, those fibers were happily woven into your favorite T-shirt or fluffy towel. While dryers are wonderfully convenient, they can also be sneaky culprits in making your wardrobe and linens wear out way too soon.

But don’t worry—you don’t have to swear off your dryer entirely to keep your jeans comfy and your towels soft. The real issue? Overdrying. It doesn’t just cause shrinkage the first time; it keeps on going, making pant legs and sleeves mysteriously shorter with every cycle. The good news is, a few simple tweaks can help you avoid the worst of dryer damage—without turning your backyard into a laundry line graveyard.

1. Get the Soap Out

Leftover detergent doesn’t just make clothes feel rough—it can also leave your whites looking more “vintage gray” than crisp and clean. The fix? Use less detergent (seriously, most of us overdo it) and add ½ cup of white vinegar to the final rinse. This helps break down any lingering soap residue, leaving your fabrics softer—even if you air-dry them.

Distilled white vinegar whitens, brightens, softens, and tackles odors, all without harsh chemicals. With only 5% acetic acid, it’s mild enough not to damage fabrics or your washing machine, whether it’s a standard or high-efficiency model (check your owner’s manual to be sure). Bonus: It’s septic-safe and eco-friendly.

2. Avoid High Heat

Blasting your clothes with high heat every time you dry them is like sending them through a slow-motion shredder. The intense heat weakens fibers, speeds up wear and tear, and eventually causes fabric to fail.

A smarter approach? Use the Medium or Warm setting instead. Even better, pull clothes out while they’re still slightly damp and let them air dry the rest of the way.

3. Semi-Dry for the Win

Overdrying is hazardous to clothing. The trick? Stop the drying process about 10 minutes early while clothes are still slightly damp. This helps prevent fabric damage, reduces wrinkles, and makes ironing (if you must) a whole lot easier.

Denim deserves extra care. Never dry jeans completely in the machine—10 to 15 minutes is enough to knock out the worst wrinkles. After that, hang them up to finish drying naturally. Not only will they last longer, but they’ll also keep their shape better (so you’re not doing squats just to stretch them back out). If you’ve got a clothesline, use it! If not, an indoor drying rack works just as well.

4. Hang Pants from the Ankles

If your jeans seem to be mysteriously shrinking over time, it’s not your imagination—it’s the dryer’s fault. Instead of letting heat rob you of another inch in length, try this: Remove pants while they’re still slightly damp and hang them upside down by the hems using pant hangers with clothespins or clamps.

Why? Gravity is your friend! The weight of the fabric helps pull the fibers back into place, preventing that frustrating inch-by-inch shrinkage. Plus, this method keeps pant legs smooth, reducing the need for ironing. This trick works wonders for jeans, dress pants, and even linen trousers that tend to wrinkle if left crumpled in the dryer.

5. The Emergency Speed-Dry Trick

Need dry clothes now? Whether it’s your favorite pajamas or the only pair of jeans that fit just right, here’s a simple hack: Toss a clean, dry bath towel into the dryer with your wet item.

The towel acts like a moisture magnet, soaking up excess water and cutting drying time in half. Just be sure to remove the towel after about 15 minutes, so it doesn’t start adding moisture back into the mix. This trick works best for small loads or single items—so maybe don’t try it with an entire week’s worth of laundry.

6. Keep These Out of the Dryer

Some things just aren’t meant for the dryer—like anything with a rubber backing. Bath rugs, non-slip mats, and other rubber-lined items will break down fast under high heat. One or two trips through the dryer, and you’ll start seeing cracks, flakes, and eventually, a crumbly mess that ends up all over your laundry (and inside your machine—yikes!).

The better option? Lay them flat to air dry. This keeps the rubber backing intact, meaning your rugs last longer, stay grippy, and don’t shed mystery flakes all over your floors.

7. Save the Stretch!

If you want your favorite yoga pants, sports bras, and stretchy jeans to last, keep them far, far away from high heat. Spandex, elastic, latex, and anything with a painted or silkscreened logo can’t handle the dryer’s intense temperatures. The heat weakens elastic fibers, causing them to lose their stretch, become brittle, and eventually fall apart—turning that comfy waistband into a sad, saggy mess.

The fix? Always check the labels before tossing clothes in the dryer. For stretchy or delicate fabrics, air drying is the way to go. A portable drying rack works wonders, but if space is tight, a few extra towel bars or a retractable clothesline can do the trick.

8. Close Zippers (Save Your Shirts!)

If you’ve ever wondered how those mysterious tiny holes appear in your T-shirts, here’s a culprit you might not have suspected: zippers—especially the metal kind on jeans. When left unzipped, zippers act like little chainsaws, agitating and tumbling through the wash and dry cycles, creating friction that can easily snag or tear fabric. Those open teeth can be a lot more destructive than you think!

The easy fix? Zip it up before your clothes hit the washer or dryer.

9. Turn Clothes Inside Out

If you’ve ever found those little fuzzy balls on your favorite shirt or jeans, you’ve encountered the dreaded pilling. It’s when fabric fibers rub together during washing and drying, causing those unsightly bumps that make clothes feel rough and look a bit… well, not so cute. While hand-washing and air-drying is the best way to prevent it (if you’re really dedicated), there’s a much simpler trick you can use to discourage pilling: turn your clothes inside out.

By doing this, you’re giving the wrong side of your clothes the rough treatment, sparing the right side from all that wear and tear.

10. Wool Dryer Balls: The Ultimate Laundry Hack

Picture this: a huge load of wet bath towels tumbling into the dryer. You hit “start,” and that soggy mass of fabric flops around, sticking together like a clump of mud, holding onto each other for dear life. It takes forever for the layers to dry enough to separate and let the warm air do its job. Not only does that waste time, but it’s also burning through energy.

Now, picture six wool dryer balls bouncing around in there (I always toss the whole set in—why not?). They’re magic, working their way between the layers of fabric and gently separating them so the warm air can get to work right from the start.

I’ve done my fair share of testing, and the difference is pretty remarkable. Wool dryer balls can cut drying time by up to 25%, which means you’re saving both time and energy. And they don’t just speed things up—they’re also fantastic at getting into tight spots. I’ve found them wedged in sleeves and even in pockets.

Plus, because they agitate the fibers in your clothes, they help make everything feel softer without using any chemicals. They even reduce static cling!

Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls, 6-Pack
Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls, 6-Pack
    $19.95
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    Question: What’s your biggest laundry fail? Shrunk a sweater? Lost socks to the void? Let’s hear your funniest (or most frustrating) laundry disasters in the comments below.

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    179 replies
    1. DonnaMarie says:

      I use the white vinegar in my bleach “cup” to brighten whites. Do I put it in the softener cup for final rinse? I never use softeners as they leave a residue much like those softener dryer towels. Thanks for your posts and I always enjoy the section in the newspaper. DonnaMarie
      Brentwood CA (suburb in Los Angeles) NOT Northern California

      Reply
    2. Samara says:

      This is a very informative article that can assist us in our lives and make things a little easier. Thanks for sharing information. I enjoyed reading the blog. Keep on sharing!

      Reply
    3. Kitty from KC says:

      New to website. Tried dry towel in dryer with sheets and another with towels. AMAZING!!! Thank you. I know I am going to love my daily emails!!!

      Reply
    4. Nancy says:

      I look forward to your weekly collection of Make-Life-Better Ideas. I don’t see that dryer balls and white vinegar do a thing for static electrity, what really helped was cutting down the dryer time. I used to dry everything on high for 60 minutes whether it needed or or not. I know, awful. Now, mostly medium for 20-40 minutes.

      Reply
    7. Sandra Golightly says:

      I have been adding vinegar when rinsing towels and drying them with dryer balls. But after reading another one of your articles about laundry, I’ve started rinsing every load in vinegar. I can’t belief the difference in how nice the fabric feels on some of my clothes. Some of my pants feel like new. Thanks for the wonderful suggestions.

      Reply
    9. Marsha Stanton says:

      Central Illinois
      Hi, Mary! Love your hints and research results. You have no idea how many times you have helped me. 🙂

      Reply
    14. Susan says:

      Several years ago a young woman at church loaned copies of your paper newsletter to some of the ladies to introduce us to your work before we went to McCall, Idaho for our women’s fall retreat where you were the guest speaker. Later I attended a women’s financial conference in Boise at which you spoke. Since then I have gotten your newsletters and often printed them to read and refer back to. Over the years your books have made great gifts for young women I know as they reached adulthood and the challenges of wisely handling money. Thank you for all the work you do to present informative tips and purchasing recommendations.
      Susan in Boise, Idaho

      Reply
    16. Vicky says:

      I’m from Battle Creek, MI. I’ve been reading Everyday Cheapskate for many years and have learned so much from you. For example, I have an Eufy vacuum, A Shark Navigator and the Hoover Steam Vac and love them all.

      Reply
    19. Olga Clarke-Jackson says:

      Hey I just love your blog! Don’t always get to them the same day but they are always useful!
      Reading you here in Owings Mills, MD

      Reply
    20. KAREN says:

      I think the washing machine also effects how much lint there is in the dryer. I’ve noticed more lint in the dryer since we purchased a new washing machine.

      Reply
    24. Liz says:

      Astoria, NY

      I have been reading Everyday Cheapskate since I used to get your Monthly Newsletter in the mail! Such great advice and tips on a wide range of topics! My quarantine pedicures are coming out great lol. And I really appreciate your product testing and recommendations – I own a Shark vacuum (great for getting up pet hair!) among other things and have given much appreciated gifts from your suggestions. Thanks Mary and take care!

      Reply
    25. Cyndy says:

      Surprising that you used that picture of the clothes drying outside on the line. The jeans are hung by the waist bands opposed to your suggestion of hanging by the ankles to lengthen them and their ZIPPERS ARE OPEN!

      Keep up your helpful suggestions and have yourself a wonderful week!

      Reply
    27. Michelle says:

      Yours is one of the e-mails that gets read religiously because it’s like getting a letter from a friend. Love your tips, tricks, recipes, etc.
      San Antonio, TX

      Reply
    29. Kimberly says:

      I wanted to add that, thanks to your encouraging emails over the years regarding getting out of debt, as of this month, I can proudly say that I am now DEBT-FREE!! YAY!!! =) =)
      ~Pensacola, FL

      Reply
    30. cheryl says:

      Greetings from the State for Lovers!!! Cheryl from Roanoke, VA the Star City of the South! Love all the hard work you do!!!

      Reply
    36. Priscilla Khirfan says:

      Swartz Creek, Mi.
      Love that you tell us to hang pants from the bottom but the picture shows them hanging from the waist. Just teasing. Read your column every day. Love it.

      Reply
    37. Pamela Springer-Johnson says:

      Grand Haven, MI

      I love your posts and have tried and continue to use your Everyday Cheapskate tips. Thank you so much for all your helpful hints to save money in many, many ways!!

      Reply
    38. Barbara J Pirie says:

      Mary! Again thank you for your wisdom on so many things! Because of you I have been using wool dryer balls since I read your article. I also use vinegar in my last rinse too. I am from Ocean County NJ (just above Atlantic City). Keep your wonderful tips coming! xxoo

      Reply
    41. Mark Shoenfelt says:

      If you turn your clothes inside out to slow pilling on the outside, you are creating a rough surface on the side that touches your skin. I’d rather have a soft surface against me than on the outside.

      Reply
    48. Carolin Meadors says:

      I just bought 6 dryer balls that you can put essential oils on to make your clothes smell good. Love them. I always use vinegar too. Love your hints.

      Reply
    49. Petra says:

      Been a reader since before our first computer in ’03 (Is that possible?) Found your books, first, in the library.
      Orange, Ca transplant, now in
      Kalamazoo, MI

      Reply
    55. Jenny says:

      My husband always says, “Ask Everyday Cheapskate” when we have a question on anything.
      Beautiful coast…North Bend, Oregon

      Reply
    56. Jenny Sonsalla says:

      My husband always says, “Ask Everyday Cheapskate” when we have a question on anything.
      Beautiful coast…North Bend, Oregon

      Reply
    61. Becke Anderson says:

      Northeast Texas. Using vinegar to rinse a wash load also reduces static cling. There’s no vinegar odor either, so you don’t smell like a salad! Always use vinegar as a rinse agent the first time you wash jeans to set the color, but only wash new jeans with new jeans.

      Reply
    71. Linda Hopkins says:

      Harrison Ohio, not nearly as picturesque as Colorado but very beautiful and it’s home.
      Your EC column is one that is never deleted without reading as many others are. Also, where can I find Lestoil? I have been looking in stores all over this state and have not found it.

      Reply
    73. Jenni says:

      I miss my clothesline. We’ve been outside Raleigh, NC for a year in a neighborhood with an HOA. I still have my deluxe folding wooden clothes dryer though!
      Most importantly, I have my wool dryer balls. They work great. I’ve been using them for years and I have a back up set!
      Thanks for your column! Sometimes you surprise me…

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Hi Lija … I still have a couple of those myself! They’re collector items, now. And would you believe I still get royalty checks from the very first book? It got me on Oprah and, bless her heart, she held it up to the camera’s and said, “America, you need to read this book!” That’ll do it … as we know all these years later.

        Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        I hope to make it to Jerusalem, soon! It’s so good to know you’re there and that EC binds us together every single day!

        Reply
    86. Blanche says:

      I feel like you’re a part of my family … been reading and enjoying your advice since the old days of your mailed printed newsletters! Yorktown, Virginia — where “freedom was won!” I’m right smack dab in the middle of the historic triangle of Jamestown – Williamsburg – Yorktown!

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Some of my favorite places in the U.S. My hubs is a Civil War aficionado, so we’ve walked many battlefields, grateful for the sacrifices of so many mean so much to us. Let freedom ring! God bless America.

        Reply
    87. Lisa M Vira says:

      Love reading your articles from here in New Jersey. Your suggestions have never steered me wrong. Getting ready to soon buy a mattress per your advice.

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Janet … we just got back from a quick “fall foiliage” trip to PA! Spent time in Susquehanna, Lancaster area … and Lititz. The old chocolate factory is now a gorgeous Hilton Hotel—which has preserved and protected that venerable building. It even smells like chocolate in here 😉

        Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        That’s amazing! And so is Gettysburg. First visited before the new Visitor’s Center, and several times since. Never ceases to bring me to tears… tears of gratitude, that’s for sure!

        Reply
    101. Lisa Murr says:

      LOVE all your information!I’ve worked@a public utility for 28 years.I never use my dryer! It is at the top of the list besides the furnace for kilowatt consumption. Snohomish Washington

      Reply
    104. SuzieQutes says:

      I’m in beautiful Glendora, CA, enjoying a quiet day with my lovely dog. Am planning to do a pedicure this afternoon and relax until dinner!

      Reply
    109. Lee says:

      Hello from Murfreesboro, TN which is the geographical center of the state! Have loved learning and using your laundry tips: wool dryer balls, hanging jeans upside down, using vinegar in final rinse. Now I’m going to remember to close zippers and turn clothing inside out! Your posts have made me a much better home keeper!

      Reply
    113. Colleen says:

      Another tip I read previously from one of your posts, Mary, is to use aluminum foil balls. Free to make yourself with your own aluminum foil, the balls compact down when they bounce around in the dryer and become completely smooth. Although a little noisier than wool dryer balls, the heat retained in the balls dries the clothes significantly faster AND separates/fluffs them at the same time. Tip: make the aluminum foil balls pretty large, at least 6-8′ in diameter, as they reduce down to become much smaller within a few loads. I use mine with every load, and love them! Colleen, Sigel, Pennsylvania

      Reply
    116. Barbara says:

      Fremont, California USA

      I look forward to reading your posts each day. So very many great posts and to try them out myself if fun. Thanks, Mary!

      Reply
    119. Angela says:

      It’s a beautiful October day here in Birmingham, AL. Your laundry tips and many others have always been helpful to me. Thank you

      Reply
    122. Susan says:

      I’m in the piedmont of beautiful North Carolina. Leaf color is in its peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Love your tips and love you Mary!

      Reply
    131. Elizabeth says:

      Thanks for your tips–checking in from Womelsdorf/PA Dutch Country, PA!
      btw: Any Silver Sneaker members out there? Silver Sneaker live stream classes are AWESOME–check ’em out on the Silver Sneaker website!

      Reply
    134. Jeri says:

      The picture of clothes on a clothes line shows everything hanging from the waist. This is how I do it. I use the dryer from time to time but not often. Mostly I use the clothesline.

      Reply
    141. Imogene says:

      Near Kansas City, KS in Basehor, KS.
      Just finished church service online and doing laundry.
      My grown kids know “Mary of Cheapskate” very well, thanks to me!

      Reply
    144. Lisa says:

      Corydon,Indiana, I love the dryer balls and have been using them for years. I have an indoor gull wing drying rack that I use for air drying that I also love. It folds up flat when not in use and it really does help the clothes with elastic and spandex to last longer!

      Reply
    150. Karyl says:

      Been following you since I heard you speak in Great Falls, MT. It is now common for family members to say, “I suppose you learned that from Mary!” Often, the answer is “Yes”. Thanks for your wonderful posts.

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Karyl! How nice to see you here. I remember that event—it was awesome! And as I was leaving, I was gifted with a large bag of wool yarn—from naturally black sheep. It is so beautiful; I still have a lot of it (made a couple of the beanies and boy are they warm!). xo m

        Reply
    153. N3 says:

      DFW- thanks Mary. You have been a wealth of information for years and years. So just want you to know how much you have blessed me. Especially during the pandemic which is a call to get back to basics. Thanks

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        N3 … Isn’t that the truth! Back to basics … and so happy to know I have such a big, awesome EC Family here with whom to make this journey. We need to stick together, that’s for sure.

        Reply
    156. Judy S. says:

      Loooong time reader and tester of Cheapskate Tips. I try them and pass them on to everyone I know! Haven’t found even one that doesn’t work as described. Thanks Mary. You’re the best!
      Judy S. In Tucson, AZ

      Reply

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