How Long Does It Take to Do Laundry: A Repeatable Care Routine

You want to know how long laundry takes so you can plan your day. Maybe you’re fitting laundry between work and errands, or you need to know when your clothes will be ready. The answer depends on the load size, fabric type, and drying method. But a typical load takes 2 to 3 hours from start to finish. Here’s a repeatable care routine with timing for each step.

Doing laundry is the process of sorting, washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothes. A typical laundry load takes 2 to 3 hours from start to finish: 30 to 45 minutes for washing, 30 to 60 minutes for drying, and 15 to 30 minutes for folding and putting away. Air drying takes 2 to 24 hours depending on conditions.

To do laundry efficiently, sort clothes (5 minutes), pre-treat stains (5 minutes), wash (30 to 45 minutes), dry (30 to 60 minutes or air dry 2 to 24 hours), fold (15 minutes), and put away (10 minutes). Total time: 2 to 3 hours for machine drying, 4 to 27 hours for air drying.

Timing for Each Step

Step	Time	Notes
Sorting	5 minutes	Sort by color, fabric, and soil level
Pre-treating stains	5 minutes	Apply stain remover before washing
Loading the washer	2 minutes	Don’t overstuff the machine
Washing	30 to 45 minutes	Normal cycle, 40 minutes average
Transferring to dryer	2 minutes	Check for stains before drying
Drying (machine)	30 to 60 minutes	40 minutes average
Drying (air)	2 to 24 hours	Depends on humidity and airflow
Folding	15 minutes	Fold while warm for fewer wrinkles
Putting away	10 minutes	Hang or store immediately
Total (machine dry)	2 to 3 hours
Total (air dry)	4 to 27 hours

Wash Cycle Times

Cycle	Time	Best For
Normal	40 to 50 minutes	Everyday clothes
Heavy duty	60 to 90 minutes	Towels, bedding, heavily soiled
Permanent press	30 to 40 minutes	Synthetics, work clothes
Delicate	20 to 30 minutes	Silk, lace, sheer fabrics
Quick wash	15 to 25 minutes	Small loads, lightly soiled
Hand wash	20 to 30 minutes	Wool, silk, delicates
Sanitize	60 to 90 minutes	Towels, bedding, baby clothes

Dryer Times

Setting	Time	Best For
High heat	30 to 40 minutes	Towels, bedding, cotton
Medium heat	40 to 50 minutes	Synthetics, permanent press
Low heat	50 to 60 minutes	Delicates, thin fabrics
Air fluff	15 to 20 minutes	Refreshing clothes, removing pet hair
Air dry	2 to 24 hours	Delicates, energy saving

Repeatable Care Routine

Step 1: Sort (5 Minutes)

Sort clothes into 3 piles: darks, lights, and delicates. Check pockets. Remove items that shouldn’t be washed.

Step 2: Pre-Treat Stains (5 Minutes)

Apply stain remover to any stains:

• Oil: Dawn Ultra Dish Soap
• Food: OxiClean Max Force Spray
• Grease: Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam
• Ink: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

Step 3: Load the Washer (2 Minutes)

Load sorted clothes into the washer. Don’t overstuff. Add Tide Free and Gentle (2 tablespoons) and Arm and Hammer Baking Soda (half a cup).

Step 4: Wash (30 to 45 Minutes)

Select the right cycle and water temperature. Start the washer.

Step 5: Transfer to Dryer (2 Minutes)

Check for stains before transferring. If stains remain, treat again and re-wash. Don’t put stained clothes in the dryer.

Step 6: Dry (30 to 60 Minutes)

Select the right dryer setting. Or hang to air dry.

Step 7: Fold (15 Minutes)

Fold clothes while they’re warm from the dryer to prevent wrinkles. Hang shirts and dresses immediately.

Step 8: Put Away (10 Minutes)

Put clothes away immediately. Don’t leave them in the basket.

Monthly: Clean the Machine

Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner once a month to keep the machine clean.

For Heavily Soiled Loads: Add Sanitizer

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for towels, bedding, and gym clothes.

Tips to Save Time

Do laundry on a schedule. Set specific days for laundry so it becomes a habit.

Wash full loads. Full loads are more efficient than partial loads. But don’t overstuff.

Use quick wash for lightly soiled clothes. Quick wash takes 15 to 25 minutes instead of 40.

Fold while warm. Folding while clothes are warm from the dryer prevents wrinkles and saves ironing time.

Put away immediately. Don’t leave clothes in the basket. Put them away right after folding.

Pre-treat stains as they happen. Don’t wait until laundry day. Pre-treat stains as soon as they happen for easier removal.

Keep supplies in the laundry room. Keep detergent, stain removers, and other supplies in the laundry room so you don’t have to go looking for them.

FAQ

How long does it take to do a load of laundry? A typical load takes 2 to 3 hours from start to finish: 30 to 45 minutes for washing, 30 to 60 minutes for drying, and 15 to 30 minutes for folding and putting away. Air drying takes 2 to 24 hours depending on conditions.

How long does a washing machine cycle take? Normal cycle: 40 to 50 minutes. Heavy duty: 60 to 90 minutes. Permanent press: 30 to 40 minutes. Delicate: 20 to 30 minutes. Quick wash: 15 to 25 minutes. Sanitize: 60 to 90 minutes.

How long does a dryer take? High heat: 30 to 40 minutes. Medium heat: 40 to 50 minutes. Low heat: 50 to 60 minutes. Air fluff: 15 to 20 minutes. Air drying: 2 to 24 hours depending on humidity and airflow.

How can you do laundry faster? Wash full loads, use quick wash for lightly soiled clothes, fold while warm from the dryer, put away immediately, pre-treat stains as they happen, and keep supplies in the laundry room.

How often should you do laundry? Most people do laundry 1 to 3 times a week. Wash towels and bedding weekly. Wash gym clothes after each use. Wash everyday clothes when they’re dirty or after 1 to 2 wears.

References

1. Tide. “Laundry Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How Long Does Laundry Take.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Laundry Tips.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Energy Star. “Clothes Washer Guide.” energystar.gov.