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How Long Does Laundry Take? Wash, Dry & Fold Times Explained

Matthew O'ConnorJan 10, 2026
The image shows a woman in front of a washing machine doing laundry.

The mean time of a washing machine loaded with laundry is normally 1-2 hours to wash and dry the clothes and several hours to iron the clothes. The laundry is possible in a shorter period in the laundromat where the machines are bigger, but you must spend a bigger part of that time waiting and changing the loads by yourself.

Introduction: Why Laundry Takes Longer Than You Expect

The time taken in laundry is very long and not all people estimate the time correctly. This is because it is easy to be absorbed in the washing process, drying and folding processes which are intertwined in a number of time periods. The fact that you will know the average time per step will enable you to make decisions and plan better and you will know when it is reasonable to outsource the task.

How Long Does It Take to Do Laundry From Start to Finish?

The average time taken in sorting clothes or stashing a load of laundry will take 90 minutes or above. The time taken on the laundry question is realistic because it consumes 1-3 hours, depending on the type of the cycle you are currently using, how you are drying the clothes and how quick you can fold and put away the clothes.

How Long Does a Washing Machine Take?

A typical washing machine cycle of a typical home washer takes an average of 45 to 60 minutes. The exact response to the question of how long a machine will take is based on the size of the load, the level of soiliness and the characteristics that your machine offers.

How Long Does a Normal Wash Cycle Take?

Most machines have a normal or cotton cycle that takes between 50 and 70 minutes. Thus, when you tell me how many minutes it will take to wash clothes in a normal setting, you can be sure that you will have about an hour before you can hand over the laundry to the dry cleaner.

How Long Does a Quick Wash Take?

In case you are in a hurry, the time of quick wash is normally 15 to 40 minutes of lightly soiled items. The fast cycles reduce the time of the wash. In case you are asking how long it takes to ‘quick wash’ dirty clothes, the answer is that it is not the best with heavily stained clothes.

How Long Does a Heavy or Bulky Cycle Take?

In the case of towels, bedding or very dirty clothes, heavy or bulky cycles may take 70-120 minutes. The amount of time a washing machine will require for these loads can easily be 2 hours or more so because the machine takes time to balance the loads and additional rinses.

How Long Does a Spin Cycle Take?

In a standard spin cycle, the cycle takes approximately 5 to 15 minutes, depending on speed and size of the load. The length of the spin cycle is therefore short relative to the wash phase but high-speed spinning is important since it removes water and reduces the time of drying.

How Long Does It Take to Wash and Dry Clothes?

Combining the time spent in the washer and dryer, the average time spent washing and drying clothes is 1.5 to 2 hours per load. It is that amount that makes it seem like the time spent doing the laundry is longer than you thought, particularly when you do several loads in a row.

Average Washer and Dryer Time for One Load

Putting it together:

  • Wash (normal cycle): 45–60 minutes
  • Dry (standard heat): 40–60 minutes

So how long does a load of laundry take from start of wash to end of dry is usually around 85–120 minutes. If you then spend 10–20 minutes folding, how long does it take to wash and dry clothes and put them away can easily cross the 2‑hour mark.​

How Long Does a Load of Laundry Take With Multiple Cycles?

If you run two or three loads in a row, how long does it take to do laundry for a whole week of clothes can reach 3 to 5 hours of clock time, even if you are not actively working the whole time. That is why many people feel like how long laundry takes “all afternoon” when they are catching up on several baskets.​

How Long Can Clothes Sit in the Washer?

One of the questions that is frequently asked is the duration of time that clothes can be left in the washer before they begin to smell. The majority of professionals recommend that wet garments should not be left in the washer for more than 8 to 12 hours, since after this time, they may become mildewed and musty.

In case you leave a load overnight, repeat a quick run or even a rinse to ensure that the clothes do not smell or get dirty.

What Affects How Long Laundry Takes?

Washer Type and Cycle Selection

Front‑loaders often have longer washing machine cycles but use less water, while top‑loaders tend to be shorter but rougher on clothes. Choosing heavy‑duty cycles every time will make how long does a washer take noticeably longer than using a quick or normal setting when appropriate.​

Load Size and Fabric Type

Big, tightly packed loads slow down both washing and drying. Thick fabrics like towels and jeans also increase how long it takes to wash and dry clothes, because they hold more water and take longer to spin and dry.​

Water Temperature and Spin Speed

Hot water can clean faster but sometimes extends the cycle if the machine heats water internally. Higher spin speeds reduce how long does laundry take overall by extracting more water, while low spin speeds may leave clothes very damp and lengthen how long does it take to do laundry once you include drying.

How Long Does Drying Clothes Take?

Different types of washing cycles take different time limits to dry. Here is a quick overview of how long clothes take to dry after essential washing cycles. 

Standard Dryer Cycle Times

For most home dryers, a regular cycle takes 40 to 60 minutes. So when asking how long it takes to wash and dry clothes, the dryer portion alone often equals or slightly exceeds the wash time.​

Quick Dry vs Heavy Dry Cycles

Quick‑dry settings might finish in 20 to 30 minutes for small loads, while heavy or bulky cycles can run 60 to 90 minutes. These differences change how long laundry takes for each basket, especially if everything is thick, like towels and hoodies.​

Air Drying vs Machine Drying Time

If you hang clothes to dry, expect several hours instead of one. In many climates, air drying can add 2 to 6 extra hours to how long it takes to wash and dry clothes, but it is gentler on fabrics and uses no energy.​

Ways to Get Laundry Done Faster

Choosing the Right Cycle

Correlate the cycle with the soil level. In lightly used clothes, a quick wash is used, so the time taken to wash clothes remains within 20-30 minutes rather than an hour. Wash heavy-duty cycles with dirty things.

Avoiding Overloaded Machines

Overloading is a drag to everything and even causes the machine to re-run some parts of the cycle. Smaller, balanced loads reduce the length of time spent in the wash and the length of time spent in spin cycle, which in turn reduces the length of time spent in drying.

Timing Loads Efficiently

It is always important to put a load in the dryer immediately after it is finished. This habit will make sure that the time it takes to complete a load of laundry is closer to the real machine time as opposed to being distributed throughout the day.

How No Scrubs Saves You Hours on Laundry

NoScrubs can do the whole job of monitoring how long a washing machine or quick wash takes, how long the spin cycle takes per load, etc. Place an order, and our crew does the laundry, drying, and folding, and you can do whatever you want instead of laundry. 

You bag your clothes, we pick them up, and you receive them back clean and neatly folded, and in many cases, the same day, instead of spending several hours wondering how long it takes you this time to do your laundry. 

Final Thoughts: Is Laundry Really Worth the Time?

To most households, the total number of hours spent washing up, dry cleaning and storing clothes and laundry may be five or more hours per week. The exact time spent on laundry can also be used to make a decision on which loads are potentially worthwhile to do yourself, and when it can be far more acceptable to leave that time to a pickup and delivery service.

NoScrubs is an excellent pick-up and drop-off laundry delivery service that makes sure that your laundry is done at a reasonable price. Now, you do not have to spend several hours on it every week!


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