What are the different methods of drying?

There are many different methods of drying used in homes and industry, each suited to different materials and purposes. The most common household methods include air drying, where clothes or dishes are left to dry naturally with ambient air, sun drying where solar heat and ultraviolet light dry clothes or food outdoors, tumble drying where a machine dryer uses hot air and tumbling to evaporate moisture quickly, and line drying where clothes are hung on a line or rack. Other home methods include towel drying, blow drying with a hair dryer, and iron drying where heat from an iron evaporates remaining dampness. In industrial and food preservation contexts, methods include convection drying using hot air ovens, conduction drying where material contacts a hot surface, radiation drying using infrared or microwave energy, freeze drying where water is frozen and then sublimated under vacuum to preserve flavor and nutrients, spray drying where liquid is sprayed into hot air to create powder like milk powder, vacuum drying where reduced pressure lowers the boiling point of water, and desiccant drying where chemicals or materials like silica gel absorb moisture. In construction after water damage, professional drying methods include dehumidification drying using refrigerant or desiccant dehumidifiers and air mover assisted drying. Each method balances speed, energy use, and preservation of the material's quality.