The most heavy duty and hot of setting, the regular/heavy mode on your dryer will get things dry the quickest, but should be used sparingly as it is rough on fabrics, will raise your utilities bill, and set in any stains not caught on the shift from washer to dryer.
Regular/Heavy: Fastest and hottest setting of your dryer. It's best to use this setting when you're drying white or light-colored clothing. Delicates: Low heat, so drying time will be longer. It is best to use this setting to use for delicate fabrics.
The “permanent press” or “wrinkle-resistant” setting is a great choice for many of your everyday clothing items — from slacks and dresses to outerwear and jackets. This setting generates a medium heat. It will dry your clothes without inflicting the damage high heat can cause.
HOW HOT DOES A CLOTHES DRYER GET? Your dryer temperature can vary depending on your dryer type and available settings, but the temperature typically falls somewhere between 120° and 160°F. Select commercial dryer temperatures may get as high as 176°F.
High temperature process drying units are used predominantly in food, beverage, production and industrial applications, as well as for storage and preservation purposes. They work by removing moisture quickly by operating at a higher temperature, but with reduced power consumption and minimal risk of heat damage.
The recommended temperature for drying food is around 50 °C or 122 °F. At the beginning of the drying process, you can briefly raise the temperature to around 60 °C to 70 °C or 140 °F to 158 °F, but after a few hours you should lower it to 50 °C or 122 °F.
Usually, a setting called “cottons” would typically mean a high temperature. Air fluff probably means no heat is added to the drying cycle. A setting called “casuals” could mean something in between high heat and no heat.
The heating element warms the air as it passes over the element. If a faulty element is a problem, it may produce heat continuously, even if the dryer has reached the proper temperature. When this happens, the dryer gets too hot.
It has been shown that bed bugs in all stages of life die at a minimum dryer temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit — as long as that temperature is consistent for at least 30 minutes.
Recommended drying temperatures range from 125 °C to 90 °C to 40 °C (respectively from 257 °Fahrenheit to 194 °Fahrenheit to 104 °Fahrenheit), yet a lower temperature requires a longer dry cycle (possibly up to 79 days).
Using a higher spin setting means your clothes come out less wet, which cuts down drying time. Clean the Lint Trap After Every Use: A clogged lint trap blocks airflow, which makes your dryer work harder. Clean it out after each load to keep things running smoothly.
A condenser tumble dryer uses high temperatures to dry your clothes, reaching a maximum temperature of 70-75 °C. In comparison, the maximum temperature reached in a heat pump tumble dryer is 50 °C.
While high heat can dry your clothes faster, though, it isn't always a good idea. It's energy-inefficient, bad for your clothes, and bad for your dryer.
You can see whether this is the issue by starting your machine on high heat. Then, find the outside exhaust vent, and feel whether the air is warm and has a steady flow. If you don't feel much airflow, you may be dealing with a blocked dryer vent or blocked ductwork.
The temperature in dryers can typically range from 120° to 160°F across varying cycles and platforms. There are some commercial dryers that can get as high as around 176°F.
Blocked or Restricted Vent
One of the most common reasons a dryer is getting too hot is a blocked or restricted exhaust vent. Lint accumulation or other obstructions prevent hot air from efficiently exiting the dryer. Make it a routine to check and clean your venting system regularly.
Some situations that may cause your dryer to not heat properly include a lack of power, an issue with the size of the load or its wetness, an issue with the heating element or a blown thermal fuse.
Hot water washing cycles typically have a temperature of around 140°F. This temperature is ideal to help keep your towels, jeans and certain white garments clean and ready to wear.
Cotton clothes can generally survive being machine-dried, but pay close attention to their size and blend. Those made of 100% cotton may shrink in a dryer so it's better to air-dry them. Heavy items like beddings and towels can be tumble dried at medium to high heat to ease the process.
Extra Dry –The extra dry setting means a longer cycle time, to ensure bulkier items are completely dry. This setting is perfect for drying items like bedding and towels. Cupboard Dry– This setting ensures your laundry is dry enough to be put away immediately, once the cycle is complete.
Regular/Timed Cycle
Since this is the hottest dryer setting, it should be reserved for only the toughest fabrics, like sheets and bedding, towels, jeans, and sweatpants.
Delicate or Gentle
On the other hand, delicate settings use the lowest amount of heat and tumbling action, explains Pozniak. This cycle is best for fragile fabrics or laundry pieces that may start to melt, fray, stretch, or fade in high-heat conditions.