A machine for drying laundry, having a cabinet within which a rotatable laundry drum is housed, the drum being accessible by a user through a door of the machine, the machine comprising: - ventilation means, adapted for generating a forced flow of air, the ventilation means including one fan, - heating means, adapted for heating air of the forced flow, - a control system (5, 6, 25a, 25b, 26) including a control unit, prearranged for controlling execution of a plurality of operating programs of the machine, a user interface, having selection means for selecting a desired operating program among the said plurality of operating programs, and sensor means for detecting a condition of the door of the machine, wherein the plurality of operating programs comprises operating programs which end upon achievement of a condition detectable by the control system (5, 6, 25a, 25b, 26), characterized in that - the plurality of operating programs comprises at least one first operating program for which said condition is a condition of opening of the door of the machine, the at least one first operating program being selectable through the selection means, - the control system (5, 6, 25a, 25b, 26) is prearranged for controlling, during the at least one first operating program, the ventilation means and the heating means for bringing air of the forced flow to a substantially predetermined temperature, and then maintaining the air of the forced flow at such a temperature until ending of the at least one first operating program, and - the control system (5, 6, 25a, 25b, 26) is prearranged for causing ending of the at least one first operating program as a result of the detection of the said condition of opening of the door, carried out through corresponding sensor means, after said substantially predetermined temperature has been reached. - ventilation means, adapted for generating a forced flow of air, the ventilation means including one fan, - heating means, adapted for heating air of the forced flow, - a control system (5, 6, 25a, 25b, 26) including a control unit, prearranged for controlling execution of a plurality of operating programs of the machine, a user interface, having selection means for selecting a desired operating program among the said plurality of operating programs, and sensor means for detecting a condition of the door of the machine, - the plurality of operating programs comprises at least one first operating program for which said condition is a condition of opening of the door of the machine, the at least one first operating program being selectable through the selection means, - the control system (5, 6, 25a, 25b, 26) is prearranged for controlling, during the at least one first operating program, the ventilation means and the heating means for bringing air of the forced flow to a substantially predetermined temperature, and then maintaining the air of the forced flow at such a temperature until ending of the at least one first operating program, and - the control system (5, 6, 25a, 25b, 26) is prearranged for causing ending of the at least one first operating program as a result of the detection of the said condition of opening of the door, carried out through corresponding sensor means, after said substantially predetermined temperature has been reached.