Yes—many modern washing machines can perform some level of drying, but not every washing machine can dry clothes. It depends on the type of machine.
Types of washing machines and drying functions
- Standard Washing Machine (Wash Only)
- Washes and spins clothes.
- Does not use heat to dry.
- Clothes come out damp and need to be air-dried or put in a separate dryer.
- Washer-Dryer Combo
- Washes and dries in the same machine.
- Uses hot air or condensation drying.
- Convenient because you don’t need to move clothes between machines.
- Drying usually takes longer than a dedicated dryer.
- Washing Machine with High-Speed Spin
- Many people mistake this for drying.
- The machine spins at high speeds (e.g., 1,200–1,600 RPM) to remove most of the water.
- Clothes are less wet but not completely dry.
Why many people don’t know about the drying function
- Some washer-dryer models have a hidden or less obvious Dry, Wash & Dry, or Auto Dry program.
- Many owners use only the washing cycles and never explore all the settings.
- The drying feature may be disabled unless a specific program is selected.
How to check if your machine can dry clothes
Look at the control panel for buttons or programs such as:
- Dry
- Wash & Dry
- Auto Dry
- Cupboard Dry
- Iron Dry
- Time Dry
If none of these are available, your machine is likely a wash-only model.
Important note
A high-speed spin cycle is not the same as drying. It removes water by spinning, while true drying uses heat or another drying system to make clothes ready to wear.
If you tell me the brand and model of your washing machine (for example, Samsung, LG, Bosch, Haier, etc.), I can explain exactly how its drying function works and how to use it.