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How-To Guide

How to Dry PLA Filament to Reduce Stringing

Wet filament causes stringing, weak layers, and popping sounds. Here’s how to fix it — and keep it dry for good.

Wet filament is one of the most commonly missed causes of bad prints. PLA absorbs moisture from the air — and once it does, that moisture turns to steam the moment it hits a hot nozzle. The result: popping sounds, excessive stringing, weak layer bonds, and bubbly surfaces. The fix is simple: dry it out.

How to Tell If Your Filament Is Wet

⚠️ Signs of Wet Filament

Popping or crackling sounds from the nozzle while printing
Excessive stringing even with correct retraction settings
Bubbles or foam-like texture on print surfaces
Weak layer adhesion — prints snap apart easily
Inconsistent extrusion — thin and thick sections alternating

Method 1: Dedicated Filament Dryer (Best Option)

🌟 Recommended

Filament Dryer Box

A dedicated filament dryer is purpose-built for this job. Units like the Sunlu S2 or Creality Space Pi maintain precise temperature, display current temp and humidity, and — crucially — let you feed filament directly to your printer while drying. No need to stop printing to dry first.

Drying times: PLA: 4–6 hrs at 45°C | PETG: 4–6 hrs at 65°C | Nylon: 8–12 hrs at 75°C

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✅ Verdict: Best overall method — set it and forget it, and you can print-while-drying.

Method 2: Food Dehydrator

🧁 Great Alternative

Food Dehydrator Method

A food dehydrator with adjustable temperature settings works excellently. Most standard 1kg spools fit on the trays. Set it to the correct temp for your material, place the spool inside, and run for 4–8 hours.

💡 Tip: Use an oven thermometer inside the dehydrator to verify actual temp — many units run a few degrees off their dial setting.

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✅ Verdict: Excellent option if you already own one — works just as well as a dedicated dryer for most materials.

Method 3: Kitchen Oven

⚠️ Use With Caution

Oven Method

Works in a pinch for PLA and PETG. Set your oven to its lowest temperature (usually 50–60°C) and use an oven thermometer to verify — most ovens run hotter than indicated. Leave the door slightly ajar to let moisture escape.

⚠️ Warning: Never exceed 60°C for PLA — the spool itself can warp or deform. Always verify temp with a separate thermometer, not just the oven dial.

✅ Verdict: Emergency option only. Get a real dryer if you print moisture-sensitive materials regularly.

Temperature Reference by Material

Material	Drying Temp	Drying Time	Moisture Sensitivity
PLA	45–50°C	4–6 hours	Low–Medium
PETG	55–65°C	4–6 hours	Medium
TPU	45–50°C	4–8 hours	High
ABS / ASA	65–75°C	4–6 hours	Medium
Nylon	70–80°C	8–12 hours	Very High

Keeping Filament Dry: Storage Tips

💡 Prevention Is Easier Than Drying

Store open spools in airtight containers or vacuum bags with silica gel desiccant
Replace or recharge desiccant when the color indicator changes
Label containers with the open date so you know what to dry first
For moisture-sensitive materials like Nylon and TPU, print directly from a sealed dry box

🏆 Bottom Line

A dedicated filament dryer is the best investment if you print regularly — especially with PETG, TPU, or Nylon. For occasional PLA printing, a food dehydrator does the job. Either way, storing your filament properly means you’ll rarely need to dry it in the first place.