Thick, looped construction and trapped damp air — not bad luck — are what keep towels wet for hours, and shaking each one out before a warm, uncrowded dry cuts the time most.
For the full breakdown, see our best Quick Dry Towel for Swimming guide.
A towel that is still damp the next morning usually came out of the wash holding more water than it should, or it sat folded against another towel so air could not reach both sides. Fix those two things and drying time drops noticeably without buying anything.
Why Do Some Towels Dry So Much Slower Than Others?
A thick bath sheet can easily hold several times the water of a thin towel, and all that water has to leave before the fabric feels dry. Structure is the main variable; a low-spin wash and a stuffed machine are the other two.
- Thick, densely looped fabric: bath sheets and heavy towels often take 6 hours or more to air-dry, while thin towels finish far sooner.
- Low spin speed: a gentle final spin leaves more water behind, and the dryer has to remove it all.
- Overloaded washer or dryer: towels cannot tumble or catch airflow, so moisture sits where it landed.
- High indoor humidity: humid air cannot absorb much more water, so air-drying stalls.
- A clogged lint filter or blocked vent: restricted airflow is one of the most common reasons a dryer underperforms.
How to Dry Towels Fast in the Dryer
Shake every towel out before it goes in, load loosely, and run the warmest heat the care tag allows. Roughly three towels at a time is a good working limit for most home dryers.
- Read the care tag first. Whirlpool’s guidance is to follow the tag before anything else, including its safe water and heat limits.
- Shake each towel open.
- Load loosely. Fill the drum no more than about halfway; overcrowding is what slows moisture removal the most.
- Choose the warmest safe heat. Use a Towels or Normal cycle and a medium-high setting when the tag permits it. High heat speeds drying but breaks fibers down over time, and low heat is gentler but slow.
- Pull them the moment they are dry. Over-drying does the same fiber damage as high heat, and towels left damp in the drum grow musty.
If the load is still wet after one full cycle, split it and run again rather than extending the timer — the extra minutes bake the outside while the middle stays damp.
How to Air-Dry Towels Faster
Hang each towel fully open so air reaches both faces, and leave gaps between them. A breezy, ventilated spot beats a still bathroom every time.
Drape towels over a bar or rack rather than folding them over themselves — a fold traps moisture in the crease and dries last. Outdoors, a line in moving air is ideal, but keep towels spread rather than bunched so drying happens evenly. If you use an indoor rack, set it near an open window or a fan.
What Mistakes Keep Towels Wet?
The most common culprit is putting a damp towel straight into the closet or hamper, where trapped moisture turns into a musty smell. Two smaller ones matter too.
Long, cool, gentle wash cycles leave towels soaked. Choose the highest spin the fabric allows so the washer wrings out as much water as it can. And clean the dryer’s lint filter after every load — a clogged screen cuts airflow and stretches every cycle. Every towel should be bone-dry to the touch before it goes on the shelf; touch the seams and edges, since those dry last.
Common Questions
Should I wash towels separately from other laundry?
Yes. Towels are heavy and hold a lot of water, so mixing them with lighter items crowds the drum and slows moisture removal for everything. Wash similar weights together, and keep the load loose enough that the fabrics can tumble freely.
Is it okay to add a dry towel to speed up the dryer?
A dry towel added to the load soaks up some loose moisture and can help slightly, but it also takes up space. It only works fully when the load is already uncluttered. Splitting an overloaded load into two smaller ones does more for drying time than adding anything.
Why do my towels still smell musty right after drying?
That odor usually means moisture was trapped before the towels were fully dry, either in the drum or in a hamper. Run them through a complete cycle again and pull them the moment they are bone-dry. Clean the lint filter so airflow stays strong.
Sources
- Whirlpool. “How to Wash Towels.” Covers care tag guidance, spin speed, and washing towels properly.
- Whirlpool. “How to Dry Clothes Faster.” Explains shaking, loading, heat, and airflow for faster drying.
- The Guardian. “How to Keep Bath Towels Soft.” Covers towel care, fabric structure, and avoiding musty smells.