How to Quiet a Tumble Dryer

Dryers are famous for being loud mechanical creatures.

But once you get used to drying your clothes really quickly, they become an integral part of every household.

Trust me, I’m no different. After 2 years of using it, I can’t imagine living without my tumble dryer.

But if the noise is annoying you to no ends, you may want to something about it. So here are the best practical tips for reducing the noise.

1. Remove rattling objects from clothes

Don’t you just hate when a coin gets stuck in your pocket and it starts to rattle inside a washer or a dryer?

It happens to everyone from time to time. In fact, one time I forget to remove the belt from my jeans. Absolutely terrible.

If you don’t have the habit of double-checking the pockets before placing the clothes in a dryer, it’s definitely a step worth implementing.

2. Make sure that the floor is even

An uneven floor or uneven dryer feet will cause a lot of the vibrations to resonate on the floor. If one leg is up in the air while others are firmly on the floor, you have a slight problem.

First tighten any screws on them you can find in order to make sure that all the feet are screwed equally well.

If one or two are still up in the air, place a wooden block underneath the shorter one(s) in order to match the others. Or you can use some soft material like a rag or a towel for the same purpose.

A different thing you can do is move the dryer to another location if an uneven floor is the main problem.

3. Place anti-vibration pads under the dryer

Rubber pads are very useful for absorbing vibrations and stopping the skidding of the vibrating machine on the floor.

I highly recommend using them both for the dryer and the washer. Simply attach one to each foot of the machine. The rubber pads that I’m using work really well at absorbing vibrations. So much so that I haven’t had to do much else to reduce the noise.

The only other thing I did was tack a moving blanket to my laundry room door. Anyway, these pads (link to Amazon) are the ones I’m currently using and they work great!

4. Replace the drum support rollers

Some components on a dryer will wear out over time. This results in squealing, squeaking and sometimes thumping noise. In case of these sounds that come from within a dryer, worn out drum support rollers are often to blame.

The purpose of drum rollers is to support the drum. This is a lot of work since the drum is where most of the action is happening. So first check out if the roller is worn out or not.

Unplug the dryer. Then refer to the user manual to learn the best way to remove the panels in order to access the drum. Once you’ve done that, you’ll get to the rollers, and now you can decide to remove them or not.

Usually a flat screwdriver is needed to remove the small C or V shaped clips from the front of the rollers. Then you can finally remove the rollers from the dryer as well.

If the rollers are worn out, replace them by finding ones that match the old ones. Either purchase them at an appliance repair shop, through the original dryer’s manufacturer or an online shop like Amazon if they’re available there.

When the new rollers arrive, wipe the shafts with alcohol and then slide in the new support rollers onto them. Next, secure them with the built-in clips you previously removed with a screwdriver. Attach the panels back to how they were and you’re done.

Here’s a step-by-step guide with photos you may find helpful for doing this.

5. Replace the belt idler pulley

A worn out or damaged belt idler pulley can also produce squealing noises. To access it, remove the panels from the dryer first. Then check out the pulley, and look for signs of wear and tear.

If no damage is visible, spin the pulley by hand and listen for any squeaks or squeals. If they’re present, it’s time to remove the pulley.

Appliance repair shops and the dryer manufacturer are again the best places to look at, as well as large online retailers.

When you’re ready to remove the belt idler pulley, slide it off the machine and place the new one instead.

If removing the rollers or the pulley is not something you’re comfortable with, consult a repair company for professional assistance. You may find this step-by-step guide with photos helpful as well.

6. Soundproof the wall behind the dryer

Nothing too fancy. But hanging a thick acoustic panel on the wall behind the dryer can help. It will absorb the echo and noise which would otherwise reverberate on the walls surface.

To install the soundproofing panel(s) on the wall, use either a spray adhesive, nails or screws. Or you can use hanging strips such as Command Strips to hang the panels without damaging the wall in any way.

You can also hang them on the laundry room door if the noise easily passes through it.

7. Move the dryer to a different location

Moving the dryer to a different room might be a good solution. Try plugging it in a room that is furthest away from your living room or bedroom, depending on where the noise bothers you the most.

8. Purchase a quiet dryer

Not all dryers are equally noisy. Some are actually pretty quiet. Their motor and surface insulation are both designed for quieter performance. Smaller dryers are typically quieter because they have a smaller motor.

Many users have noticed that this small Panda tumble dryer is extra quiet. So if you’re ready to switch to a new dryer, it’s worth checking it out.

Final Word: Dryer Noise Reduction

These are all simple and affordable ways to quiet a dryer.

I highly recommend making sure that the dryer has a stable base. And implementing anti-vibration pads will certainly help reduce the impact noise on the floor.

Hope this helps!