Clothes dryer
A machine that removes moisture from clothing, usually by tumbling garments in heated air or circulating unheated air.
Tumble dryer: A clothes dryer that dries garments by rotating them in a drum while air passes through. Its rotating drum and airflow are the standard arrangement for household dryers.
Clothes dryer energy consumption: The energy used by a clothes dryer to heat air, turn its drum, and remove moisture. Dryer design determines how much electricity or fuel each load requires.
Evaporation: The change of a liquid into gas at its surface, occurring below the boiling point. Heat and moving air encourage water in damp clothing to evaporate.
Clothes dryer fire: A fire originating in or near a clothes dryer, often involving lint or overheated materials. Lint accumulation and restricted airflow can create a fire hazard.
Vented clothes dryer: A dryer that expels moist air outdoors through a vent. It removes water by exhausting heated, humid air from the drum.
Laundry symbol: A standardized mark on clothing labels that gives instructions for washing, bleaching, drying, and ironing. Its drying symbols indicate whether garments can tolerate machine heat or require gentler care.
Relative humidity: The ratio of water vapor in air to the maximum amount the air can hold at the same temperature. Airflow becomes less effective at drying as it approaches saturation with moisture.
Lint trap: A removable screen or filter that catches fibers shed by clothing during drying. Regular cleaning supports airflow and reduces lint buildup in the dryer.
Condenser dryer: A dryer that cools moist exhaust air to condense water, collecting or draining the liquid. It removes moisture without sending the humid air outdoors.
Fabric softener: A laundry product that reduces static and makes washed fabrics feel softer. Dryer sheets and other softeners are used during tumble drying, though they can affect fabrics.