📖 GLOSSARY · PART
What is a moisture sensor?
Metal strips inside the drum that detect damp laundry; fabric softener film makes them end cycles early.
Automatic dry cycles work by measuring electrical conductivity between two metal bars inside the drum — wet clothes conduct, dry clothes do not. Fabric softener and dryer sheets leave an insulating residue on those bars, so the machine reads "dry" within minutes and shuts off with the laundry still damp. Cleaning the bars with rubbing alcohol restores accuracy and is free. It is one of the most satisfying no-parts repairs in the trade.
Where you’ll meet it
Repairs that involve moisture sensor
Related terms
DON’T WANT TO DIY IT?
Find a dryer repair pro near you.
Browse verified independent appliance repair companies by city — ratings, hours, and phone numbers, no middleman.