Laundry
Can a Higher Washer Spin Reduce Dryer Costs?
Check whether a suitable higher washer spin lowers total laundry electricity. Include the washer's added energy and compare the same load and final dryness.
A suitable higher spin can leave less water for the dryer to remove. Compare total washer and dryer energy, follow fabric limits, and avoid treating extra spin as free.
On this page
Water left in clothing after washing affects the work needed during drying. A suitable higher or extended spin can remove more of that water before the clothes enter a dryer.
ENERGY STAR washer guidance recommends considering such settings. The useful question is whether the complete laundry routine uses less energy for your load.
Start with fabric and machine limits
Follow clothing care labels and the washer's manual. Some items need a lower spin or a special program. Do not apply the highest available speed to every load.
Stop using the machine if it develops abnormal movement, damage, or a fault. A cost comparison is not a reason to ignore a balance problem or override a program's limits.
Write down the actual selected setting. A higher maximum speed on a specification sheet does not prove the machine used that speed throughout your cycle.
Compare the full washing and drying routine
The washer uses energy during an additional or more intensive spin. The dryer may then use less. The difference that matters is their combined electricity, rather than the dryer alone.
Use similar loads, the same wash conditions, and the same final drying target. Keep fabric type and load mass comparable. Wet starting weight alone does not measure the amount of dry clothing.
The ENERGY STAR dryer page discusses moisture-sensing programs. With those programs, runtime can change as the starting moisture changes. Complete-load kWh remains the clearer comparison.
Work through an example
Imagine these hypothetical results for comparable loads:
| Routine | Washer electricity | Dryer electricity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower spin | 0.30 kWh | 2.00 kWh | 2.30 kWh |
| Higher suitable spin | 0.35 kWh | 1.70 kWh | 2.05 kWh |
The example saving is 0.25 kWh per completed load. At an illustrative $0.20/kWh, that is $0.05. Four comparable loads a week for 52 weeks would save $10.40.
Apply the example calculation to your own complete routines. Subtract the combined washer and dryer totals to include the extra spin energy in the comparison.
Choose a safe measurement route
Use compatible meters only within their electrical limits. Many dryer installations require a different measurement method from an ordinary plug-in device. Do not improvise a connection.
If you cannot measure both appliances safely, use suitable model data. Record the source for each input and leave unknown energy amounts clearly identified.
The DOE Energy Saver guide includes laundry guidance. Combine that guidance with your appliance instructions and measurements for the fabrics you wash.
Decide from the measured outcome
- Choose two approved spin settings for the same kind of load.
- Keep wash temperature and dryer target unchanged.
- Record energy for both complete routines where possible.
- Check the fabric result and any added handling needs.
- Multiply the net energy difference by your tariff.
If you air-dry, the benefit may be shorter drying time rather than avoided dryer electricity. Do not assign a dryer saving when no dryer would have been used. The cycle calculator can price the energy difference you actually establish.