A method of drying a load of articles in a wash basket of a washing machine appliance includes rotating the wash basket within the washing machine appliance. The method may also include monitoring a humidity within the washing machine appliance while rotating the wash basket and comparing the monitored humidity within the washing machine appliance to a humidity threshold. The method may also include estimating a remaining moisture content of the load of articles. The method further includes terminating the drying in response to at least one of the monitored humidity and the estimated remaining moisture content.

A method of treating a load of articles in a wash basket of a washing machine appliance includes determining a load size of the load of articles in the wash basket based on an image. The method further includes estimating a drying time for drying the load of articles in a one-step wash and dry cycle and predicting a demand for the washing machine appliance during the drying time. The one-step wash and dry cycle is recommended based on the determined load size less than a load size maximum and the predicted demand for the washing machine appliance during the drying time less than a maximum demand. The method further includes drying the load of articles in the wash basket during a dry portion of the one-step wash and dry cycle by rotating the wash basket within the washing machine appliance for the drying time.